Milk Toast

Interesting nsman. I had no idea Canadians were so Italian in their business ethics. So in other words, it's kinda like, "rules-shmrules!"


And thanks Dale, some things are just too delicious to pass up!

We here in Atlantic canada do things a little different for sure.We still make handshake deals,leave our houses and vehicles unlocked etc.Keep in mind that BMG sell other product lines in Canada besides Husaberg ie Aprilia,Troy lee designs and more, so I still had an account with them.
I always liked doing business with the Italians....every day is a new deal and the food is awesome!

I'm trying to get top end parts (rockers, cam etc.) for a 1994 fe600.The rockers I ordered are to big o.d. and hit the rocker housing limiting travel.
Has anyone else ran into this? Very frustrating :cry: While I'm at it service questions are also tough.

Bobzilla said:

I dont like the old Jag anyway ...too hard to keep the motor right and the bulbs lit.

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LINEAWEAVER said:

Truth be told the darkest years for Husaberg were 2001 through 2003.
(ie their initial attempt to be all things to all riders)

Dale

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What do you think I´m going through at 42...
My ´02 is definitely a Jaguar, but I´m starting to love it, or is it just my wallet that tells me to love it or admit myself somewhere...

nsman said:

What was the incentive to start the Milk Toast topic?

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I look at it as a much needed pressure relief valve.
It feels like a natural. Thanks Dale.

moto1020 said:

I'm trying to get top end parts (rockers, cam etc.) for a 1994 fe600.The rockers I ordered are to big o.d. and hit the rocker housing limiting travel.
Has anyone else ran into this? Very frustrating :cry: While I'm at it service questions are also tough.

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hello moto,

Where are you from? you may have more luck with your question if you start a new thread in the general or mechanical forums.

If you are in the states, there are a number of dealers, although parts for a 94 i am not sure about. try Dan at Motoxotica. he may be able to help.

here ya go guys, enjoy

LINEAWEAVER said:

RockyMt said:

OK, me first.
"Why would anyone buy a pre '93 'Berg"
There Mr. Smartypants! :roll:

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Commitment:
Their are many pre 2003 Husaberg motorcycles currently in circulation which will eventually need attention.

Good Business Sense:
Very often a first purchase is second hand. If the initial experience is "horrible" likelihood of purchasing a newer model of the same brand is reduced considerably.

Because I know:
The 2000 Husaberg (ie current KTM) engine is a true masterpiece. :shock:

Need more?

Dale

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THAT boys 'n girls is what is known as an "INTERNET ***** SLAP!"....Thanks Dale, I needed that...... 8O

I've been lurkin around this forum for about a year now and the information on this site has been very useful to me. I ride a late 90's Husaberg and recently aquired a new 2005 FS650E. Tis a shame some of the members have been squabbling lately but I guess it's just human nature. Damn humans!

OK so maybe the new "milk-toast" Husabergs aren't 100% pure race bikes anymore, but what would most of us do with a pure race bike? A wider spectrum of riders can now enjoy these "more things to more people" bikes without the headaches of the good old days. Compared to the "classic" pre-2003 Husabergs the new bikes seem to be much more mechanically solid, eliminating the need to keep expensive race bike technicians and machinists on retainer. And with our new KTM daddy in the house spare parts and product support have become much more readily available.

It will be difficult to bring the new batch of "vastly inexperienced" but enthusiastic dealers up to speed on the particulars of of the older "classic" Bergs but this is really a small issue because how many pre-2003 bikes even came to the US market? I would think that it can't be that many, possibly a few hundred? Some new dealers may NEVER see an old Berg.

To say that the new Bergs are now "mainstream" seems like an overstatement (not a quote, just how I read it). I'd bet that Honda sells more XR50'S & XR100's in LA than all of then Bergs sold in the US each year! Even with the new sales growth we are still at best a "boutique" brand. The best part is that we are the only boutique brand without the boutique problems, a la TM, VOR, Vertimati, Sherco, GasGas...

Which brings me to my last question for those touting the merits of the older Bergs, Have you actually ridden a brand new 04-06 Berg? They are freakin awesome!! I suppose that I'm preachin to the choir here, but I think these bikes just keep getting better, the dealer network just keeps getting better and so on. Maybe I've stumbled on the real issue here - The recent changes are what RIDERS want/need versus what the people that sweat the mechanical issues want/need. I'd bet that BMG will continue to let sales to set the direction for the brand.

Hi Allupinya,
Welcome to UHE.

"OK so maybe the new "milk-toast" Husabergs aren't 100% pure race bikes anymore, but what would most of us do with a pure race bike?"

The big five have street, trail, dual-sport and race bikes.
Unfortunately such is not the case regarding Husaberg.
Demographics dictate a compromise leaning toward the trail. I concede For the mass majority such to be all good, however, would you not agree that said motorcycles are now more "race replica" than "race ready"?

Click on Husaberg

With all due respect as an inmate of Rikers Island how is it you get to ride?


Sincerely,
Dale
www.D-Lineaweaver.com

PS
Creative screen name.

allupinya said:

I'd bet that BMG will continue to let sales to set the direction for the brand.

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I bet you the direction for the brand has already been set. And not by BMG.
We are as far from the early Husaberg vision as we could be. But we are alive.

If that´s what it takes for the brand to survive, then hey, who am I to speak? I just feel a certain amount of frustration as a race fan.

I felt the same when SAAB quit racing and started building luxury liners for the US market, only to be swallowed by GM, who now put stickers on Subaru´s and Cadillac´s, calling it The SAAB Spirit, born from Jets...

As a former R&D engineer (EE), I can´t help but to feel this way. Sadly, the only thing engineering and marketing usually can agree on is that they need each other... if that.

But I´m here because I like it, and with the help of Dale, Taff, the rest of UHE, plus some elbow grease of my own, my 501 is becoming leaner and meaner.

Besides, something´s fishy!
Member Allupinya seems to be in it for personal gain. Too obvious...
My apologies if I´m wrong.

Since I do not wish to be looked at as a party pooper, I just need to add the following:

With every innovative step back towards the original race driven Husaberg identity, I jump with joy. Whether it be done by Husaberg Motor AB, Mediterranean tarmac racers, or mr Lineaweaver. (Not forgetting there are other quality tuners out there...)

This is progress, folks.

AND it will also show in sales numbers if taken seriously by some.

Aspen said:

I am thinking Husaberg is becoming a Jaguar old style sports tool for older men with the dollar.
Tell me I am wrong.
Please...

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No, you are not wrong.

I said the same thing 2 years ago. :cry:

Jethro Tull said it best 'Too old to rock and rock, too young to die.'

allupinya said:

OK so maybe the new "milk-toast" Husabergs aren't 100% pure race bikes anymore, but what would most of us do with a pure race bike? [\quote]

Ride it.

Mike Keidrowski (sp?) won a WORCS race in the pro class on a stock jap 450. The Kawasaki and the Suzuki 450's are real race bikes out of the box.

To say that the new Bergs are now "mainstream" seems like an overstatement (not a quote, just how I read it). I'd bet that Honda sells more XR50'S & XR100's in LA than all of then Bergs sold in the US each year! [\quote]

BMG only imports about 400 units a year. World wide sales are about 3500 units.

[quote:w0l0m18b]
Even with the new sales growth we are still at best a "boutique" brand. The best part is that we are the only boutique brand without the boutique problems, a la TM, VOR, Vertimati, Sherco, GasGas... [\quote]

Where have you been hiding? The new bergs still have their problems.

[quote:w0l0m18b]
Which brings me to my last question for those touting the merits of the older Bergs, Have you actually ridden a brand new 04-06 Berg?

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Yes
[quote:w0l0m18b]
I suppose that I'm preachin to the choir here, but I think these bikes just keep getting better, the dealer network just keeps getting better and so on. Maybe I've stumbled on the real issue here - The recent changes are what RIDERS want/need versus what the people that sweat the mechanical issues want/need. I'd bet that BMG will continue to let sales to set the direction for the brand.

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[/quote:w0l0m18b][/quote:w0l0m18b][/quote:w0l0m18b]

Yes, they are getting more dependable, bu they are still a decade behind other brands in regards to dependability. BMG has no interest in making Huasberg a mainstream brand. Their sales goals are to keep numbers relatively low (under 1000 units/year) and maintain the boutique image; with its quirks. :?

a decade behind other brands ?

that i am not so sure , we still hear of crf's and yzf's going " Chernobyl ".

Splat said:

Yes, they are getting more dependable, but they are still a decade behind other brands in regards to dependability.

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The 04's, 05's and 06's are a decade behind others in reliability? How do you come up with such a statement Splat? I recall you having to leave our group of Husaberg riders the first day of the Phoenix ride because your new Gas Gas was acting up and stalling. Didn't see any Husabergs dropping to the wayside because of dependability issues during three days of solid riding.

Still, I ask you what bikes are Husabergs a decade behind in regards to reliability? :roll:


Log

Splat said:

Mike Keidrowski (sp?) won a WORCS race in the pro class on a stock jap 450. The Kawasaki and the Suzuki 450's are real race bikes out of the box.

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If Mike K. or any others of his caliber were racing aboard a Husaberg, is there no chance he could win? You bet he could win aboard a stock Husaberg! I gotta wonder just how "stock" Mike's Jap bike really was for that race. It's true that the Japanese are making out of the box motocross race bikes as they have for many years. Maybe Husaberg will make a motocross bike in the future but it doesn't seem to be a direction that would be beneficial. Their FC 550 wasn't exactly slow. It seems Husaberg has not gone with what many might call a "race bike" below 500cc for some time. Just because they don't make a 450 motocross bike doesn't mean they don't make a race bike.

All that being said, I personally feel Husaberg's are ready to race for many venues including Vegas to Reno or similar, enduro, gncc or super moto.


Log

"I personally feel Husaberg's are ready to race for many venues including Vegas to Reno or similar, enduro, gncc or super moto."

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Hi Log,
Just my opinion:

In the amateur ranks and properly prepared I agree. Such being said I also belive an XR 650 will outshine the Husaberg in many disciplines.

I am very loosely affiliated with the HRC Desert Bikes. I know what they make and I know what they weigh.

The XR is heavier and slower then that of the Husaberg. However, said bike is also very durable, stable and comfortable.

The Husaberg "Motard Racer" is no match for a KTM of the same caliber.

GNCC and Enduro will require one to insure against boil over. Other then that the bike should be great.

Is the modern Husaberg a good motorcycle?
You bet it its!

Is the new Husaberg an out of the crate "race bike"?
Sorry, no.

The majority do not race. They wish to look as racers. Take a peak into the street market for a preview.

Hope you are well.

Respectfully,
Dale

I believe any properly running dirt bike is "race ready." I once used my sister's Yamaha TTR125 in the Little Polecat Enduro, started on the last minute, and passed almost 2 dozen men on their big bikes of varying large displacements. The "race ready" label that ktm and others use, is a gimmick.

You can CERTAINLY beat powerful large bikes in an enduro race with a small, nimble motorcycle. That has always been my point. Enduro is the upside-down world of horsepower if conditions are tight and technical.
Enduro is a test of ENDURANCE, and if you spend effort taming your beast you will pay in the end unless you are an outstanding rider.

The fastest rider in our club BY FAR is 17 years old and rides a 125cc 2-stroke like a god.

On a different note, GRUNT RULES! :evil:

Is there any doubt why Husaberg places decently in Enduro and not elsewhere??? They are comfortable, stable and fairly light, and horsepower is not the issue.

PS
Since when was any statement by marketers not a gimmick?? :lol: