Infobox_Company
company_name = Husqvarna Motorcycles S.r.l.
company_
company_type = Subsidiary
foundation = 1904
location_city = flagicon|Italy Varese
location_country = Italy
industry = Motorcycle
parent = BMW Motorrad
homepage = [http://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/ husqvarna-motorcycles.com]
Husqvarna Motorcycles is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689. It now operates at Varese, Italy.
History
As with many motorcycle manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycles in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. In 1920 Husqvarna established its own engine factory and the first engine to be designed was a 550 cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by companies like Harley-Davidson and Indian. Although they once made motorcycles for street use, and raced at road circuits such as the Isle of Man TT prior to World War II, they are more well known for producing world championship winning motocross and enduro bikes. In the 1960s, their lightweight, two-stroke engined off-road bikes helped make the once dominant British four-stroke motorcycles obsolete. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s they were a dominant force in the motocross world, winning 14 Motocross world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc divisions and 24 enduro world championships.
The Husqvarna motorcycle division was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva in 1987 and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The motorcycles (widely known as a "Husky") are now produced in Varese. Husqvarna produces a diverse range of motocross, enduro and supermoto machines using their own two-stroke or four-stroke engines, ranging in capacity from 125cc to 576cc. Racing continues to be important to Husqvarna, competing in world enduro and world supermoto championships. Gerald Delepine, riding a Husqvarna SMR660, became supermoto world champion in 2005.
In July 2007 Husqvarna was purchased by BMW for a reported 93 million euros. BMW Motorrad plans to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the current workforce, will remain in place at its present location at Varese .[ [http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=29685 BMW Buys Husqvarna From MV Agusta] roadracingworld.com retrieved on September 30, 2007] ] Motorcycle championships
Motocross
*1959 - Rolf Tibblin, European Motocross Champion, 250cc class.
*1960 - Bill Nilsson, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1962 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1962 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1963 - Rolf Tibblin, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1963 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1966 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1967 - Torsten Hallman, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1969 - Bengt Aberg, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1970 - Bengt Aberg, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1974 - Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1976 - Heikki Mikkola, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1979 - Håkan Carlquist, Motocross World Champion, 250cc class.
*1993 - Jacky Martens, Motocross World Champion, 500cc class.
*1998 - Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
*1999 - Alessio Chiodi, Motocross World Champion, 125 cc class
Enduro
*1990 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
*1991 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
*1992 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
*1993 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
*1993 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
*1994 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
*1994 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*1995 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
*1995 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*1996 - 350cc World Enduro Championship
*1998 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*1999 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*2000 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
*2001 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
*2001 - 400cc World Enduro Championship
*2001 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*2002 - 125cc World Enduro Championship
*2002 - 250cc World Enduro Championship
*2002 - 500cc World Enduro Championship
*2003 - 400cc World Enduro Championship
Automobile manufacturing
Toward the end of World War II, a team comprising Bengt Magnusson (head of R&D), Stig Tham (engineer), Calle Heimdal (engine designer) and Birger Johansson investigated manufacture of a small, simple, inexpensive car. The design looked similar to the Saab 92, but with three wheels (two front, one back), and an unusual split rear window. According to some sources the similarities with the Saab 92 may have had something to do with Sixten Sason working as designer at Husqvarna. A prototype was built in 1943, powered by a 20 hp two cylinder 500cc DKW motorcycle engine with chain drive to the rear wheel. The wheels came from a Fiat 500. The project was cancelled in 1944, and the prototype was scrapped at the end of the 1950s.
Models
Enduro
* WR 125
* WR 250
* TE 250
* TE 450
* TE 510
Motocross
* CR 125
* TC 250
* TC 450
* TC 510
Supermoto
* SM 125
* SM 450R
* SM 450RR
* SM 510R
* SM 610IE
Dual Purpose
* WRE 125
* TE610IE
ee also
* MV Agusta
* Cagiva
* BMW motorcycles
* Husaberg
References
External links
* [http://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/ Husqvarna Motorcycles]
* [http://www.husqvarnausa.com/ Husqvarna Motorcycles USA]
* [http://www.husqvarna-moto.co.uk/ Husqvarna Motorcycles UK]
* [http://www.motorbikes.be/en/husqvarna_motorcycles.aspx Husqvarna motorcycles from 1970 till now]
