2010 Husky TE125 and SMS4 125

New four-stroke 125cc Husqvarnas, in enduro and supermotard guises, have just been launched in the UK, featuring a plethora of high quality components to tempt learner riders.

Boasting a sporty new look, the 2010 Husqvarna SMS4 125 supermoto model makes use of a steel tube frame, upside-down 40mm forks and a multifunction LCD instrument cluster.

Its enduro sibling, the 2010 Husqvarna TE125, gets 40mm forks and uses a progressive-link rear shock, and like its stablemate is powered by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled 15hp (11kW) engine.

Both bikes tip the scales at just 117kg.

Unfortunately for local fans, the Husqvarna SMS4 125 supermoto and TE 125 enduro models will not be imported into Australia.

Jörg Hoffmann, the National Marketing Manager at the Paul Feeney Group (the Australian importer of Husqvarna), told the Bikesales Network the pair of new 125cc models were "not on the list," and would be unlikely to be sold Down Under.

"The 125 market is not healthy in Australia, and this is mainly because of LAMS (learner approved motorcycle scheme)," stated Hoffmann.

With the LAMS in place, the older 260cc engine capacity limit was scrapped in favour of a power-to-weight ratio system, which allows motorcycles up to 660cc to be ridden on yellow L-plates, assuming the power-to-weight ratio of the vehicle does not exceed 150kW per tonne.

As a result, LAMS has significantly increased the number of bikes that qualify as learner legal vehicles.

"Look at the Honda CBR125R -- it's sold just 109 units so far in 2010. For Honda this is not a good result. This is why we won't bring the Husqvarna TE125 to Australia, because now the learner market is not as interested as it used to be in 125cc bikes," added Hoffman.