Pierer: end of the line for Husky Nuda
Having acquired Husqvarna Motorcycles from BMW, KTM boss Stefan Pierer has said there's no future for Husky's Nuda street bike -- despite recently being launchedAs the ramifications of the recent acquisition of Husqvarna by KTM boss Stefan Pierer begin to emerge, it seems the Husqvarna Nuda and Nuda 900R streetbikes (pictured) have reached the end of the road barely more than a year after their debut.
In an interview between renowned motorcycle journalist Alan Cathcart and Pierer published recently in US magazine Cycle News, Pierer said he saw no future for the BMW-engined Nuda under KTM ownership.
“For sure I think we will do streetbikes, but I don’t see a big future for the Nuda because it has a BMW engine,” said Pierer in the interview. “In 2014 we don’t want to continue with this kind of motorcycle in the Husqvarna range since our dealers won’t be able to sell or handle it because it’s based on using a BMW diagnostic system to service it. We’ll shortly stop manufacture of the Nuda…” he added.
Pierer makes no specific mention of the TR 650 Strada or TR 650 Terra – the road and dual-pupose 650 singles launched by Husqvarna earlier this year. Those bikes are powered by a 652cc single-cylinder with a long history in BMW’s line-up, even if it is produced these days under licence in China.
He does, however, go to pains to point out that under KTM ownership Husqvarna will be returning to its competition roots, and will be sold alongside KTM’s other dirt bike marque, Husaberg, but with a different focus to KTM’s core products.
“Husqvarna will remain a separate company and the brand will stay alive – that’s the most important thing,” said Pierer. “Now we have to look into where the synergies lie with the whole KTM group. I think there’s lots in common between Husaberg and Husqvarna so we’ll want to keep their Scandinavian roots and bring them closer together especially in distribution, as something different to KTM.
“I am convinced that the first step we must take is to work to Husqvarna’s traditional strengths, which means immediately developing state-of-the-art enduro and motocross lines and also going back to two-strokes. For me, Husqvarna has a huge competence in Supermoto so that’s the perfect outlet for the brand – with Supermoto single-cylinders as its core products, I think in the first couple of years we can reach 15,000-20,000 units in sales,” he said.
Click here to read the full Alan Cathcart interview in Cycle News.
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