Whats next?

KTM History

Doesn't seem right, says KTM bought berg in 1995??

Anyway. Where I ride, all the KTM riders hangs out in one spot. It's like looking around Holland on Queens day, all Orange! Seems tight to me.

And, what does my bike being so old have to do with anything?? Here we go again, make fun of the old guys

Regardless, if Husaberg did capture a larger market share, what do we think KTM would do???

Think Husaberg could get out? Think they would want to?

Does anyone else get the feeling that KTM/Husaberg forbids their employees from going onto these forums???

Okay okay, I'll shut up for a while.

-Parsko

Heh.

I'm just sayin' what I saw at the last race was a lot of serious young enduro riders very excited about the bikes. It is a niche market, but one that needs a serious competitive 4 stroke machine.

Hey, I have to go get my guys ready for their next race this weekend.
We need to kick some more ass up here in MN so I can sell some Husabergs!

Talk at you all later!!!
fmoffroad

Okay, I won't shut up just yet. Few more points.

Berg owners are berg owners less for the niche, and more for the performance. I don't think that if there were more bergs on the trails, that people would stop buying bergs. Cause bergs are purchased because of the the performance! The niche part detracts from the desire to have one because of parts logistics. Also, it would be nice to have more bergs on the trail, it isn't always fun to be in the front!!!

And, I believe that when Jedi started this post (which is the biggest I've seen here yet!) that he asked: "What do we need in berg land now????? Looking for suggestions on what you may think would take to the next level. So far so good, but I'm ready to catch some attention." What exactly is the next level??? If I were him, or Husaberg for that matter, I would be saying, how can I make more money. That is the business they are in, making money.

What exactly did you mean, Jedi? :?:

Parsko said:

Does anyone else get the feeling that KTM/Husaberg forbids their employees from going onto these forums???


-Parsko

Click to expand...

Parkso:

You're an engineering student I believe?

Would you want to spend your free time on message boards defending products that you engineered?

Of course not. You would be out riding your Berg :wink:

Husabutt: I once did that when I was a tech support supervisor for an Internet Service Provider. I could not stand all the flaming against my coworkers and myself and entered a few posts in a Usenet Newsgroup. I got so much crap from my employer that I did not even get back under an alias. And it was a European company.

Berger: why would Berg only be a big bore, big guy bike manufacturer?

KTM is very succesful with their minis and they are considered the best bikes for squids to start on by a large majority.

Where is the written rule that a manufacturer should not look into new markets and niches? I thought it was part of the act of doing business.

I have been following this thread from the beginning and although I am very new in this community, and I feel like a total leach because I usual don't have much useful input, I do have something to say.

I am a new customer to Husaberg, so new in fact that my bike is sitting on the showroom floor at Euro Motors in Michigan waiting for me to come home for vacation. I decided about 5 months ago that I was going to get back into dirt bikes and I checked into the others and spent months on line researching and looking. Although I knew about the bergs and how serious of a bike they were I was set on a yam. Then I started to look hard at the KTMs. My mind was made up, I was just trying to decide on which one. Then I asked why not get a TM or Berg? I have wanted one or the other for some time but I remembered that there are not many dealers around and started thinking parts, service, Ect.ect. When I found that there was a berg dealer close by I asked my dad to check them out to see if it was fly by night or a serious dealer. He went, wrote back and said yes the owner was decent, and he has a serious business going, he also told me that he decided to buy a 450. It did not take me long to get it taken care of before I got my 550.

Sorry about the novel but for me being a new customer to the family it came down to three things for me.

1. Best performance bike out there. Period (I know I don't have jack for experience on this, but anywhere on the net this is the word)
2. The family of owner ship. This site in particular. It's keep the Kaw. connie on the road for over 20 years.
3. Dealer availability.

And yes # 3 was key for me. The others are just frosting on the cake. I should have just said that from the beginning and would have saved everyone the life story, eh?

Doesn't seem right, says KTM bought berg in 1995??
Negotiations began in 1995. Actual takeover in 2000.
I was present in Sweden during the first stage of negotiations.

Anyway. Where I ride, all the KTM riders hangs out in one spot. It's like looking around Holland on Queens day, all Orange! Seems tight to me.
OK

And, what does my bike being so old have to do with anything?? Here we go again, make fun of the old guys
Would anyone bother to look @ a generic ten year old dirt bike?
It is my point that Husaberg is special.

Regardless, if Husaberg did capture a larger market share, what do we think KTM would do??? Think Husaberg could get out? Think they would want to?Does anyone else get the feeling that KTM/Husaberg forbids their employees from going onto these forums???

I like the idea of KTM using Husaberg as a prototype platform as opposed to that of simply eliminating the brand. Such a platform does limit market growth of Husaberg. Such is cool for people like me whom enjoy exotic performance bikes (including all the quirks), not so cool for the average enthusiast.

Okay okay, I'll shut up for a while.

Good to hear from you Luke, keep em coming as I am just getting warmed up.

Kind Regards,
Dale

Okay, I won't shut up just yet. Few more points.

Berg owners are berg owners less for the niche, and more for the performance. I don't think that if there were more bergs on the trails, that people would stop buying bergs. Cause bergs are purchased because of the the performance! The niche part detracts from the desire to have one because of parts logistics. Also, it would be nice to have more bergs on the trail, it isn't always fun to be in the front!!!

I am the first to agree that the climate is changing and much to the efforts of Brett Saunders and BMG.

And, I believe that when Jedi started this post (which is the biggest I've seen here yet!) that he asked: "What do we need in berg land now????? Looking for suggestions on what you may think would take to the next level. So far so good, but I'm ready to catch some attention." What exactly is the next level??? If I were him, or Husaberg for that matter, I would be saying, how can I make more money. That is the business they are in, making money.

Regarding business:
Bottom line is the agenda, it has to be.
I sold my Kawasaki dealership when I was twenty five years old because doing it right always seemed to get in the way of making a profit. I indeed understand the concept and such is why I like niche markets.
Burger King or Fine Dining?

Kind Regards,
Dale

Can ya tell Dale is passionate about Husaberg? :shock:

Someday I hope to help reward that passion.

First and foremost, I am in business to have fun. I can provide many references that will support that. :twisted: If BMG were in business to make $$$, we'd be in real estate in Arizona and Florida.

The purpose of my question was to generate feedback from the grass roots level. Most of the time I get reps and dealer feedback, which is very important, but thanks to schwim, I also have the ability to get a pretty good sample of consumer feedback. With that I can fine tune an approach to go to market, and ultimately, tried ake you guys feel warm and fuzzy.

Husaberg will always remain a niche brand, just the way we all want it to remain, no worries there. It is a special bike for a special customer.

Again, thanks for your iput and commitment to Husaberg's integrity.

Cheers
jedi

Jedi,

For me it would take the commitment to run a series such as the Best In The Desert, to truly restore faith in the mark. Granted it isn't the most marketed or popular, but it IS one of thee most gruely series around and gets publicity in all major motorcycle media. It takes a reliable bike to finish races such as Vegas-to-Reno at over 500 miles (having raced VtoR I can attest that it is no joke). Sure any bike can finish one or two desert races, but only the best will make it through a series such as BITD. This would address the long-term reliability issues, as well as showcase the high performace nature of the bike.

I know that Berg's have the performance but still don't believe that the reliability is all that great. The warranty is a first step in restoring faith but now is the time to go out and prove that they can take the grueling demands of America's most challenging desert racing series!

As far as riders go look to Oregon's finest ( believe he goes by the name/acronym BOSS) as he has done quite well before in the BITD series.

Best (no pun intended)

ajt

I agree with Dale, and feel the same about not wanting off-roading to become a mainstream sport, or even as popular as circusCross. I think that with solid, reliable, well performing equipment, with a great warranty and dealer support that instills confidence, the bikes will sell themselves (along with favorable media reviews).

Parsko said:

KTM History

Anyway. Where I ride, all the KTM riders hangs out in one spot. It's like looking around Holland on Queens day, all Orange! Seems tight to me.

-Parsko

Click to expand...

Over here in central California, about half the bikes on the starting line are KTMs in off-road races. I would actually feel a little more special if I was on a jap bike. :shock: I do not feel any owner solidarity with other ktm people. The only exception I feel, is when I come across another loser ktm 250rfs. That's the bike that Velosapiens and many others categorize as a girl's motorcycle. For those that do not know, the 250rfs is basically the buck toothed, cross-eyed, red headed step child of the ktm family. It is basically similar to when ridicule and ostracism involuntarily cause nerds and geeks to group together in school.

How about a right side kick?

piggd said:

How about a right side kick?

Click to expand...

WHAAAAT!? BLASPHEMY! Oh the Humanity! :eep:

Sooo Risky1,
How do you feel about lowering the compression,smaller carb,mild cam....and oh yea....a step seat and a backrest..nsman

Dale, I've mentioned business plans/mods earlier in this post that followed strategies I was taught during my stint at Honda, but I sense you are right that Husabergs future lies more in the high performance exotic market. The buyers don't want another normal bike. But....the small niche makers usually operate on smaller budgets and can't weather out serious difficulties. KTM may have deep pockets, but I think japanese like business plans put them where they are. They won't keep a non profitable entity. I see more dealers popping up, parts availability improving, and better warranties so BMG needs a pat on the back. Must admit though, I almost bought another brand this time after 5 previous Bergs due to the reliability issues I read on this site concerning 01 up Bergs. This seems like a difficulty that could put Husaberg in a similar position as the English makers. You probably don't realize this Dale, but I spoke with you at length about the problems and you had all the answers as to what they were, why they happened, and the cures. This is why I bought another Berg, knowing if something happened there was someone that could set things right. Guess a long over due thanks is in order. I'm gonna stand by my previous statement that Husaberg needs to get some more good help on the payroll! Now I did buy my 03 Berg due to the performance, but it wasn't due to what I read about the bike. We all like to read about our exotic purchase, but I haven't seen enought test paper on 03 up Bergs to wipe with! Chuck Sun and Berg tests have fallen off the planet. The bikes are great so why not let the world know. :?:
dan

nsman said:

Sooo Risky1,
How do you feel about lowering the compression,smaller carb,mild cam....and oh yea....a step seat and a backrest..nsman

Click to expand...

Yea! and then we can paint it pink, throw some flames on it, throw on an extra rear wheel and we would have one helluva sweet ride! don't ya think?

My first post on this topic I had given my opinion on a funded race team that would increase exposure and in turn hopefully sell more bikes. Since then I have followed this thread considering everyones opinions and possible out comes if such routes were taken. After much deliberation on the subject I do believe that Lineaweaver and dsducati are right on in respects to the niche that Husaberg has and the role that the brand plays in the motorcycle market. Of course these are only my opinions but does anyone really want Husabergs common place at the track or the trail? A few more would be nice but not like we see KTM's today. Jedi stated that BMG already has this view on the brand and I think that it is a good one. The reason I bought a Husaberg was because no one else had one and they were supposedly the fastest bike on the planet. I would like to keep things this way but better support, reliability, more hard parts, and SOME racing would make things even better.

Regards,

Does anyone remember what made Husaberg special in the first place? It was the first lightweight, high performance four stroke. The only one. Nothing came close. Then as the four stroke thing started gaining popularity Husaberg came out with electric starting in 1996. E-starting and a performance four stroke prompted me to purchase one in 1997. But now things are different. Everyone make tons of high performance four stroke dirt bikes. Wait until China really kicks in. What is needed is product and engineering innovation not stagnation.

Husaberg needs to once again be cutting edge, expand and grow their business and product line or they will simply go away. There are too many competitors knocking at the door.

Bingo, Husabutt.