Husqvarna Shark 900

When the new Husqvarna 900 street bike broke cover last month, it provided our first real glimpse of how the new motorcycle is taking shape.

But will Husqvarna's first ever road bike be an instant hit? Opinion is divided over its purpose, and we've spoken to equal number of people who love it and then those who just don't understand it. Is it a naked bike, a street bike, how thirsty will it be, why is the engine so large, will it come in pastel colours?

It's already been derided as poor city bike by one commenter, who argues there's "...nowhere to put a bag, nowhere to tie it down even if you could find somewhere to put it," and its design is best described as unconventional.

A new video has emerged on Youtube that shows the Husqvarna 900 street bike in action, which gives us a better idea of the bike's proportions, and sheds a little bit of light on its size. It's only a 16 second clip but it seems that the bike only appears compact when viewed from side on, suggesting a short wheelbase.

This last factor should make the bike fairly flickable, though it may also create a cramped riding position for taller bikers. Time will tell if this turns out to be the case.

There is also audio on the video clip but it's difficult to pinpoint the exhaust note, most likely due to the noise of the vehicle in which the camera (phone) operator is sitting, not to mention wind noise.

Nevertheless, the new motorcycle is certainly taking shape now and with an expected 100hp (73kW) output from its BMW-derived 900cc parallel twin-cylinder engine, the Husqvarna street bike should offer something a little different, both in terms of show and go. If the bike's weight is kept to a minimum, this could even give hooligan bikes like the Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 a run for its money. Stranger things have happened...

If you feel like commenting below, here's something to get you started - what should Husqvarna call its new street bike? Let's kick it off with the Husqvarna Shark 900.