Husqvarna's 900cc Bikes in 2012

[DRKWNG]

all the ktm dealers seem to be pretty focused on the off road stuff, and didn't seem that interested in the street stuff

For now maybe.  But do you think they'll retain that focus once BMW starts telling "you do this, and you do that"? 

[Jarvicious]

brand recognition is another matter though

Exactly.  Average Joe:

Why would I want to buy a bike from a company that makes lawnmowers?

It's a logical point, not knowing Husqvarna's history.

As far as the parallel twin goes, I'm bothered less and less by them every time I ride my house mate's Kawi 650r.  It doesn't have a LOT of stank, but it will get you there pretty quick. 

[bikepilot]

I think the brand recognition really depends on the person.  To many Husqvarna is an old, storied and glorious name with far more allure than BMW.  Yeah there are lawnmowers with the same name on them (hasn't been the same company for a couple of decades though).  Lamborghini is a tractor company, ducati started out making mopeds (IIRC) and yamaha makes pianos...

As for why I don't care for BMW's twin, its performance is less than impressive (barely any faster than an SV650 which is a decade older, much cheaper, and sounds better).  Many have died early deaths (in the BMW 800GS guise - see all the reports on advrider) and overall quality control is questionable in my mind.  All that is tolerable though, what I can't really abide is the wet-fart sound and totally even, unexciting drumming feel of the 180 degree crank.  I like my twins with 270 degree cranks. Still, its quite fuel efficient, which is nice, and would make an ok commuting appliance (as long as it stayed running, which I assume most do).  Its an engine I can't imagine the actual Husqvarna engineers coming up with in a million years - they like things a bit more spicy (see e.g., the Folan twin of years past - built by an offshoot of Husqvarna and using vaguely husqvarna/husaberg parts/design).

As for dealer support, so far husqvarna and bmw have maintained separate dealers so not all husqvarna dealers can do bmw stuff and vice versa, though BMW is bankrolling the financing etc for husqvarna sales and husqvarna dealer support isn't half bad (in the states).  I suspect that if/when BMW starts to sell husqvarna-branded street bikes they'll support them though the BMW dealerships.  Husqvarna dealerships are typically off-road specialty shops (though not always).

FYI I raced a husqvarna off road bike in the '90s when it was made by cagiva (right along side ducatis IIRC).  Great bikes back then and, from all I hear, they are still great bikes.

[DRKWNG]

ducati started out making vacuum tubes, condensers and other radio components

Fixed that for you.

[ducatiz]

All that is tolerable though, what I can't really abide is the wet-fart sound and totally even, unexciting drumming feel of the 180 degree crank.  I like my twins with 270 degree cranks.

I guess you hate these?

1978 ducati desmo 500 sport

[bikepilot]

I've never seen one in real life, but the video doesn't get my pulse racing.

[ducatiz]

I've never seen one in real life, but the video doesn't get my pulse racing.

they are a bit heavy, but have a very low center of gravity.  old style touring bike, actually a lot of fun.  it was a dalliance the factory had with trying to compete with the japanese twins.  the main difference is the 180 deg crank.  very smooth at high rpm, but no wet fart sounds, sorry to report.

i rather like them mainly because they are such a ginger stepchild.

[sugarcrook]

Why would I want to buy a bike from a company that makes lawnmowers?

Like Honda?

[DucatiTorrey]

this i could live with, but it looks to me like engineers screwed up some hard work by industrial designers, again

Here's another concept doing the rounds on the web - this time its' from Oberdan Bezzi
Here's a link to more of his concept bike renderings - http://motosketches.blogspot.com/