PETITION KTM ABOUT THE DROPPING OF THE LDC MODELS

Taffy · May 18, 2012

and I was beginning to lose faith......

let's look how close this all came to being a success because let's be clear: KTM had a bloody good go at it like only the Germanic people can. when they do it they do it right and I think they did do it right!

If they had homologated (plated) the bikes in the USA they would have sold a lot more
if they had plated them the 570SM would have continued as a viable option worldwide
(the fuel filter issue was their only real problem and they seemed to deal with it slowly)
they would have kept up sales of SMs in europe then

that on its own would have been enough.

but they also needed to get Husabergs out of KTM showrooms and I reckon that they must have considered a "night of the long knives" about 24 Months ago and just, just, just again said "no". to have got the blue out from under the orange would have let the Husaberg see sunlight and grow.

I think that that call must have been marginal however, to relaunch the brand in 2008 they were stuck together at the hip over here in the UK and I think extricating them away from the mothership was too fraught with difficulty.

however, with all that said, they won't be allowed to go it alone again and as I repeat myself again I say: no badge engineered bikes survive..... (except mopeds!)

maybe some of you get it now....

regards

Taffy

aalto-fe390 · May 18, 2012

just don´t understand why ktm bought Husa in first place!...
if the point is to terminate Husa...why don´t seel it?

Taffy · May 18, 2012

you can't sell it now as it would be opposition!

they bought it initially because Husaberg had just won 3 world 500cc MX titles on a 4T and knew something about making them!

they stole Husabergs 2001 design and took it for themselves to make the KTM400EXC. Husaberg were forced to either keep the old engine or go with another design which they did: the 2001-2008 engine.

regards

Taffy

Johnf3 · May 18, 2012

aalto-fe390 said:
just don´t understand why ktm bought Husa in first place!...
if the point is to terminate Husa...why don´t seel it?

Many don't realize that KTM has owned Husaberg since 1997...but Taffy explained it. At the time, Husaberg was available for a pittance and KTM needed a competitive four stroke. No easier way then to copy someone else's design.

Honestly, if KTM had not bought Husaberg way back then, Husaberg would probably be long gone already. Still doesn't make the current day indiginity any better.

Goose916 · Aug 14, 2012

I feel it's the current state of the economy. Berg is sort of KTM's experimental platform. However, with the lagging European economy and only portions of the US economy on the upswing, motorcycle sales have taken a substantial hit in the market place. If Berg is where KTM tries out its R&D, I feel that the "same" bike on the showroom floor issue is only one of 2 things:

1. KTM is keeping Husaberg alive through a tough patch until it makes economic sense to maintain the brand while awaiting a better economic environment to resume the "outside of KTM" thinking that brought us the RFS and 70 degree motors; or

2. Fulfilling some contractual obligation to the original Swedish sellers and/or engineers to maintain the brand for a specific period and it's getting to the end of the line. Rebadge today = gone tomorrow.

Personally, the KTM ownership of Husaberg only made sense to me as a way of consumer testing their more aggressive ideas. Have a small company that markets to the "purists" and let them beat the hell outta the bikes and learn from it. Take the good parts and incorporate them into the more mass marketable KTM and you don't take a huge hit by creating a bike that is too "raw" for the masses. Now, however, I'm having trouble understanding the value of Husaberg to Ktm, unless it is option 1 above. I love the berg, but not if it's going to remain a blue and yellow KTM.

Raven_FE570 · Aug 15, 2012

Goose916 said:
I feel it's the current state of the economy. Berg is sort of KTM's experimental platform. However, with the lagging European economy and only portions of the US economy on the upswing, motorcycle sales have taken a substantial hit in the market place. If Berg is where KTM tries out its R&D, I feel that the "same" bike on the showroom floor issue is only one of 2 things:

1. KTM is keeping Husaberg alive through a tough patch until it makes economic sense to maintain the brand while awaiting a better economic environment to resume the "outside of KTM" thinking that brought us the RFS and 70 degree motors; or

2. Fulfilling some contractual obligation to the original Swedish sellers and/or engineers to maintain the brand for a specific period and it's getting to the end of the line. Rebadge today = gone tomorrow.

Personally, the KTM ownership of Husaberg only made sense to me as a way of consumer testing their more aggressive ideas. Have a small company that markets to the "purists" and let them beat the hell outta the bikes and learn from it. Take the good parts and incorporate them into the more mass marketable KTM and you don't take a huge hit by creating a bike that is too "raw" for the masses. Now, however, I'm having trouble understanding the value of Husaberg to Ktm, unless it is option 1 above. I love the berg, but not if it's going to remain a blue and yellow KTM.

Absolutely agree!

We still - fortunately - have some other choices. Husqvarna ssems to be better and better, by the way. Good old Japs plus Beta, Sherco, etc. I used to NOT-love KTM and after latest decisions my feelings got even stronger. I am sure they believe they have learnt everything they could from Sweedish engineers, they are very self-confident now and ready to cut the jobs and spendings, starting the process of putting Berg brand into the grave.
They are just Austrian *******s, I DO wish them full bankruptcy in next few years although I can understand all the business decisions. There should be some room for RESPECT and GRATEFULNESS for the huge engineering lesson given by the Sweeds.

GOOD LUCK!

berglsmerg · Aug 16, 2012

Goose916 said:
Personally, the KTM ownership of Husaberg only made sense to me as a way of consumer testing their more aggressive ideas. Have a small company that markets to the "purists" and let them beat the hell outta the bikes and learn from it. Take the good parts and incorporate them into the more mass marketable KTM and you don't take a huge hit by creating a bike that is too "raw" for the masses. Now, however, I'm having trouble understanding the value of Husaberg to Ktm, unless it is option 1 above. I love the berg, but not if it's going to remain a blue and yellow KTM.

They'll never suffer bankruptcy, they will liquidate whatever does not meet indicators or margins or satisfy the boards desires..... thanks ktm :finger2:

Davo · Aug 17, 2012

berglsmerg said:
They'll never suffer bankruptcy, they will liquidate whatever does not meet indicators or margins or satisfy the boards desires..... thanks ktm :finger2:

Hey Berglsmerg, are you saying KTM have put Husaberg in self exile or saying Husaberg got the arse from KTM? :dontknow:

ccasion5:

ccasion9:

ccasion9:

Just trying to use what I learnt in this post

Bushmechanic frame Build pics and Stuff

nhuskys · Aug 17, 2012

Maybe time for all the Husaberg purists to empty their retirement savings, pool it together and rescue their Swedish beauty from the Austrian tyrant. Every customer the boss, that ought to fix things!

Ruger · Aug 18, 2012

aalto-fe390 said:
just don´t understand why ktm bought Husa in first place!...
if the point is to terminate Husa...why don´t seel it?

The American equivalent was when Harley-Davidson bought Buell. First they bought 49 percent, then they bought all but a fraction, and then they killed Buell altogether. The answer is obvious: competition. It's why GM bought up the Los Angeles metro system and then tanked it - they bought the competition to destroy it. Competition is good for the consumer, but no manufacturer values it for obvious reasons.

When I finally get fed up with the weird idiosyncrasies of my FE570S, I'll buy a Husky.

berglsmerg · Aug 18, 2012

Davo said:
berglsmerg said:

They'll never suffer bankruptcy, they will liquidate whatever does not meet indicators or margins or satisfy the boards desires..... thanks ktm :finger2:

Click to expand...

Hey Berglsmerg, are you saying KTM have put Husaberg in self exile or saying Husaberg got the arse from KTM? :dontknow: ccasion5: ccasion9: ccasion9: ccasion9:

Just trying to use what I learnt in this post
Bushmechanic frame Build pics and Stuff

Something like that :bounce3: :war:

imp: :geek: :flower: :laughing3:

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PETITION KTM ABOUT THE DROPPING OF THE LDC MODELS

Taffy

aalto-fe390

Taffy

Johnf3

Goose916

Raven_FE570

berglsmerg

Davo

nhuskys

Ruger

berglsmerg

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