When Pierer Industrie AG purchased Husqvarna from BMW in January, it was obvious some major changes were on their way. Pierer Industries AG is owned by Stefan Pierer, who happens to be chief executive officer of KTM, which also happens to be the parent company of Husaberg. That’s three European motorcycle manufacturers with strong off-road lineages in the same family. Something was bound to happen.

Well the other shoe has finally dropped, with the announcement of Husqvarna and Husaberg reuniting to forming a new company to be called Husqvarna Sportmotorcycle GmbH, with . The move reunites the two Swedish marques after years under the ownership of other companies in Italy, Austria and Germany.

Husqvarna and Husaberg have a shared history. Husaberg originated as a splinter group of Husqvarna engineers that started its own company in 1988 after Husqvarna was acquired by Cagiva. From that point on, the two Swedish brands went their separate paths. Continue Reading »

KTM has revealed its European-spec 2014 EXC enduro and SX motocross lineup. The U.S.-spec versions have yet to be announced and there will be some differences, such as a five-speed transmission instead of a four-speed transmission for the KTM 450 SX-F. Otherwise, the U.S. models will be mostly the same, though model and engine displacement selection may vary.

All 2014 EXC models receive new airbox covers, hand guards, headlights, fuel tanks and front fenders. The new fender received particular attention, with a new shape that reduces mud build-up. According to KTM, the new shape combined with the modified attachment to the lower triple clamp make the fender 50% stiffer than the previous component.

The SX models also get the new fender as well as the new fuel tanks. The four-stroke SX-F models also get the same fuel pump system as the EXC models, so owners can install the larger EXC fuel tanks from the KTM’s PowerParts catalog. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson dealers outscored dealers from other brands to take the top spot in the Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index U.S. Motorcycle Industry Study for the second consecutive year.

The annual study measures the effectiveness of motorcycle dealerships, rating them on how they perform in different categories, such as inviting customers to sit on a floor model, offering demo rides and asking for a customer’s contact information. The study was conducted from July 2012 to April 2013 with data collected by 2,503 hired “mystery shoppers”.

We’ve included the full scores below as well as the scores from past years. One caveat however: Pied Piper PSI has rejigged its study questions and adjusted the weighting and scoring for the 2013 study to achieve an average score of 100. This resulted in a significant scoring changes compared to last year’s study and a wider range between the highest and the lowest scores.

Continue Reading »

Monster Energy Kawasaki racer Ryan Villopoto demonstrated once again he is a the top of his sport, clinching his third-consecutive AMA Supercross championship. Villopoto cemented his title with a win in front of 43,149 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, his ninth main event victory of the season and 33rd in his career.

Though he led every lap, Villopoto didn’t have as easy a time in Salt Lake City as he has had in some races this season. He spent most of the race trailed by Rockstar Energy Suzuki‘s Davi Millsaps and Red Bull KTM‘s Ryan Dungey but withstood the pressure for the full 20 laps. Continue Reading »

KTM has initiated a recall on 2013 two-stroke off-road motorcycles because of a problem with the throttle cable.  The models affected are the 125 EXC, 125 EXC Six Days, 125 SX, 150 SX, 150, XC, 200 EXC, 200 XC-W, 250 EXC, 250 EXC Six Days, 250 SX, 250 XC, 250 XC-W, 300 EXC, 300 EXC Six Days, 300 XC, 300 XC-W, 85 SX, and 85 SXS.

According to KTM, the throttle cable on affected models can get pinched between the throttle cable wheel and the top of the throttle housing assembly. This flaw may result in the loss of throttle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

KTM says the problem was due to an improperly-produced upper throttle housing from a supplier. A replacement throttle housing has been designed to address the problem. Authorized KTM dealers will replace the throttle housing and the throttle cable wheel. The repair should take about 10 minutes and will be done free of charge to consumers. Continue Reading »

KTM announced it will bring its E-Speed electric scooter to production, with plans to introduce it to he European market in 2015.

Originally unveiled last month at the 2013 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, the E-Speed made its European debut at this past weekend’s Bike Austria show where KTM officially announced the scooter will enter production. The E-Speed will follow the Freeride E as the second electric model offered by KTM.

The E-Speed uses the same battery and motor as the Freeride E, but retuned for urban commuting rather than off-road riding. KTM claims 14.8 hp and 26.6 ft-lb. for the E-Speed compared to 29.5 hp and 30.9 ft-lb. for the Freedom E. Continue Reading »

Spy photographers have snapped shots of what appears to be a near-production prototype of the KTM 1290 Super Duke. The test mule in the pictures show some differences from the 1290 Super Duke R prototype revealed at the 2012 EICMA show.

The spy pictures reveal a stacked headlight design similar to the component used on KTM‘s smaller naked models such as the 390 Duke. Also notable is the rather large exhaust canister mounted on the right side of the rear wheel. The EICMA prototype had a custom Akrapovic system with one small silencer running up along the subframe and a second, more subtle underslung exhaust. The new larger exhaust is disappointing in comparison, though it was unlikely the EICMA bike’s exhaust would make be retained in a production model, even for the inevitable R version. Continue Reading »

Hometown hero Ryan Dungey put a stop to Ryan Villopoto‘s winning streak, taking the victory before 48,846 supportive fans at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Red Bull KTM rider from nearby Belle Plaine, Minn., stalked Monster Energy Kawasaki‘s Villopoto for most of the race before taking the lead and winning the 20-lap race by just 0.903 seconds. The win put Dungey into second place in the standings ahead of Rockstar Suzuki‘s Davi Millsaps and perhaps more importantly, cut away at Villopoto’s points lead.

The main event started with holeshot specialist Mike Alessi of MotoConcepts Suzuki first around the first turn. It didn’t take long however before Villopoto with an inside pass to take over the lead. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider won five straight races heading into Minneapolis and took aim at his sixth in a row but Dungey remained close behind ready to strike. Continue Reading »

KTM unveiled a new electric scooter concept at the 2013 Tokyo Motorcycle Show called the E-Speed. The E-Speed is the second electric model from KTM, following the Freeride E dirtbike.

The E-Speed actually shares the same electric battery and motor technology as the Freeride E, but repurposed for urban mobility. The E-Speed’s motor isn’t as powerful as the Freeride E’s however, with KTM claiming 14.8 hp and 26.6 ft-lb. compared to 29.5 hp and 30.9 ft-lb. for the Freedom E.

According to KTM, the E-Scooter weighs 309 pounds and has a top speed of 85 kph (53 mph). The E-Speed’s lithium ion battery has a capacity of 4.36 kWh which KTM claims offers a range of 40 miles can be fully charged within two hours from a normal household power outlet. Continue Reading »

The KTM Freeride 350 has cleared emission certification testing in the U.S. including the state of California, getting approval from both the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board. A leaked powerpoint slide from KTM’s North American dealer meeting in 2011, listed the Freeride 350 for 2013 and they may still happen.

The lightweight entry-level off-road model has been certified by both bodies for the 2013 model year though the Freeride 350 has yet to be officially announced by KTM for the U.S. An announcement may soon come now that the Freeride 350 has completed testing.

Unveiled at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, the KTM Freeride has been available in Europe since April 2012. One of its most notable features is the claimed weight of 222 pounds, without fuel. The fuel-injected engine is based on the powerplant of the KTM 350 EXC-F, but ditches the kickstarter and adds a new lightweight die-cast aluminum engine case. The exhaust and airbox have also been modified to provide more torque. Both the EPA and CARB list the KTM Freeride 350 as producing 22.8 hp at 7500 rpm. The electronic engine management system offers multiple mappings, allow riders to choose to optimize fuel economy or performance. Continue Reading »