Husqvarna Concept Baja
This cool 1970s inspired Husqvarna desert racer could be destined for production if the company's recent form guide with concept bikes continuesIf Husqvarna’s recent form guide is any indication, the Concept Baja it first unveiled at January's New York motorcycle show – and then repeated at the recent EICMA motorcycle show in Milan -- could be heading for volume production in the not-too-distant future.
The machine attempts to recreate the vibe of Husqvarna’s desert bikes of the 1970s, when riders like the legendary Malcolm Smith left an indelible mark on the racing landscape – as well as movies like On Any Sunday.
So while the styling faithfully reproduces the look from 30 years ago, the modern take – and there always is – lies with an LED headlight built into the front number plate and an LED instrument display built into the crossbar, as well as fuel-injection.
There’s a wide-ratio five-speed transmission mated to the 650cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine (borrowed from parent company, BMW) and other features include a perimeter steel tube frame with progressive-linkage swingarm, 19-inch and 17-inch wire spoke wheels, upside-down forks, Brembo brakes and an “approachable” seat height designed to suit a wide variety of riders.
Husqvarna certainly doesn’t dither once it’s released a concept, so if the response to the Baja – named after the famous desert race that’s been run since 1967 – is overwhelmingly positive, we could see it flick the production switch quite soon.
That was certainly the case with the Nuda, which went on sale in Australia in March, 2012.
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