Jim Harmer, Author at Dirt Bike Planet

Husqvarna dirt bikes (or more commonly known as Huskys) came into production in 1903, in a place called (strangely enough) Huskvarna, in Sweden. Long before their dirt bikes began rolling out, Husqvarna had been supplying the Swedish Army with rifles - since 1689 to be precise. They then began producing bicycles in the late 19th century which progressed into motorcycles. It wasn't until 1921 that Husqvarna produced its first motorbike made entirely in the Swedish factory. It used a 550cc four stroke, V-twin engine which opened up the doors to a range of two cylinder engines of larger capacity. In the late 1920's Husqvarna began focusing on international competitions which caught the attention of other European countries. This resulted in an increase of popularity and sales of Husqvarna dirt bikes. Come the 1970's and early eighties Husqvarna dirt bikes were dominating the off-road racing scene. But despite their success they found themselves close to going out of business. In 1986 the motorcycle division was sold to an Italian company called the Cagiva Group, who subsequently turned them back around, before changing hands once again (Oct 1st 2007)- this time to the BMW Group. During this time until October 2013 the Husky range was designed and produced entirely in Varese, Italy. On 31 January 2013 BMW Group announced that Pierer Industrie AG has bought full stake in Husqvarna. The company is headed by Stefan Pierer, current CEO of KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG. As of October 2013 their production will be based at Mattighofen, Austria. So, next time you see a Husqvarna dirt bike fly by, spare a thought to their history, and where they've come from. The Husky Show must go on... Looking For Dirt Bike Finance? Read This First For full details and a look at their new range check out the Husqvarna Website What Do You Think About Husqvarna Dirt Bikes? Have you ever owned a Husky? Maybe a vintage Husqvarna? Tell us what you think of the four and two stroke range. Do you know of any design faults or problems with particular models? Maybe you have a mechanical tip to share... You can also use this forum to ask a Husqvarna related question. Someone in the know may be able to help you.