The Husqvarna Concept BAJA

Off-road fascination in seventies American style.

Exactly one year ago, Husqvarna presented the Husqvarna Concept MOAB at the EICMA in Milan ‑ a study designed as a modern interpretation of the scrambler theme. It is a motorcycle which embodies both the identity and the history of the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand.

Husqvarna Concept BAJA –

seventies style and passion combined with the technology of today.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is now taking idea this one step further with the Concept BAJA. The motorcycle combines tradition and modern design and, in conjunction with cutting-edge technology, reflects the essence of what Husqvarna Motorcycles stood for in the sixties and seventies.

In over 100 years of company history, Husqvarna Motorcycles has been able to achieve outstanding success in international off-road racing, with 82 World Championship titles to its name to date. Ongoing success in racing in particular made Husqvarna Motorcycles a highly sought-after brand which became increasingly popular not just in Europe but also in the USA.

The widespread acclaim of Husqvarna Motorcycles was reinforced by famous riders of the times, but above all by one particular celebrity motorcycling fan: American actor Steve McQueen. McQueen was not just an enthusiastic motorcyclist and motor racing fan, he also achieved success himself on the race track on both two and four wheels. Among other things he entered the Six Days in 1964.

The cover photo of the US magazine “Sports Illustrated” dated August 23rd 1971 showing a bare-chested Steve McQueen doing a jump on a Husqvarna Cross 400 remains legendary to this day. The McQueen-Husqvarna combination eventually became the idol of a whole generation of off-road fans ‑ and the Husqvarna Cross 400 has been taken as the historical design role model for the Husqvarna Concept BAJA.

Using modern-day technologies, the Husqvarna Concept BAJA recalls this unique era in American motorcycle racing, featuring the purist, sporty and dynamic styling which is typical of Husqvarna.

The multi-section architecture of the body displays a very clear, purist style. The slim shape of the saddle instantly recalls the Husqvarna models of the 1970s. Meanwhile the concave surfaces of the front and rear mudguard feature certain stylistic elements which are to be found in the latest generation of the Husqvarna models.

The Husqvarna Concept BAJA is powered by a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. Power transmission is by means of a five-speed gearbox via roller chain to the rear wheel.

In terms of suspension, the Husqvarna Concept Baja features an agile chassis based on a steel tube frame. Front wheel suspension is taken care of by a torsionally stiff upside-down fork, while the rear wheel is controlled by a torsion-resistant dual swinging arm in conjunction with a central spring strut hinged on a lever system. Thanks to the bike's generous spring travel, the agile handling properties of the Husqvarna Concept BAJA go hand in hand with excellent qualities for light off-road riding. The Husqvarna study meets its aspiration to tackle light terrain by means of 19-inch and 17-inch wire spoke wheels at front and rear respectively, and solid stopping power is provided at both front and rear by a Brembo hydraulic disc brake system.

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The new Husqvarna Nuda 900 ABS/Nuda 900R ABS

 

Husqvarna Motorcycles – highly dynamic motorcycles not only off the road, but also – in the form of the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R – for the road.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is an international manufacturer of offroad and onroad motorcycles, originally founded in Sweden. The company joined the BMW Group in 2007 and has since been profiting from a dynamic and sustained boost to its innovative power.

Today, Husqvarna Motorcycles is headquartered in the North Italian town of Cassinetta di Biandronno in the Varese province and can look back on over one hundred years of traditional motorcycle building. This makes Husqvarna Motorcycles the world’s oldest motorcycle maker with an unbroken history of production, which has turned out a large number of championship winners.

For instance, the history of Husqvarna Motorcycles has recorded huge successes in international offroad racing, reaping eighty two championship titles to date. Husqvarna Motorcycles could also celebrate road racing victories in the twenties and thirties. It was therefore only logical to supplement its present model range with dynamic, sporty motorcycles for onroad riding.

Developed jointly with BMW Motorrad, the Husqvarna Nuda 900 and Husqvarna Nuda 900R models helped Husqvarna Motorcycles to make its comeback on the onroad motorcycle segment in 2011. Presenting the purist, sporty design language so characteristic of Husqvarna Motorcycles, these two crossover bikes form the dynamic riding bridge between the Supermoto and the naked bike, defying all attempts at categorisation.

Besides their daring, vital visual appeal, they also offer a sporty, dynamic riding experience where agility and performance enter into a harmonious union. As soon as they arrived, their dynamic riding properties were howered with praises from the trade press.

In just a short time, the list of their awards grew to a considerable size. For example, the Husqvarna Nuda 900R received the 2012 red dot award “best of the best”. The red dot award was established in 1955 and has since ranked among the world’s most significant awards on the sector of product design. 

Not only that, the two Nuda models also won the favour of many MOTORRAD readers in the magazine’s 2012 Reader Awards, when they took their place on the winner’s rostrum in the Supermoto/Enduro categories. Last but not least,initial sales figures verify that the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R meet the taste of many active riding motorcycle fans.

The Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R are now available with optional ABS for even greater braking safety.

Husqvarna Motorcycles has now made further optimisations to its Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R, and will be fitting the optional safety feature ABS ex works to these purist, road ready sports bikes weighing only 195 kg each. Yet the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R continue to rely on their established engineering basis. Their drive remains unchanged as a refined version of the BMW F 800 R two cylinder engine, delivering 77 kW (105 hp) at 8500 rpm and a max torque of 100 Nm at 7000 rpm.

The suspension for the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R is fitted on a torsionally rigid and lightweight tubular space frame of steel that integrates the engine as an additional supporting element. High quality suspension elements (the Nuda 900R features a fully  configurable Öhlins rear spring strut with height adjustment) will thrill the more sportier riders, especially over snaking country roads. Powerful brakes bring the vehicle relentlessly to a firm stop.

Both models are fitted with brake callipers in a radial arrangement over the front wheel. The Nuda 900 features a Brembo four piston braking calliper bolted in a radial arrangement and 320 mm brake discs operating with sintered pads. In line with its great sporting claims, the Nuda 900R is fitted with Brembo monobloc callipers. The rear wheel brake in both models takes the form of a 265 mm brake disc and a Brembo two piston braking calliper.

From the autumn of 2012, the Nuda 900 and Nuda 900R can also be ordered with ABS as an option fitted ex works. This is the most modern dual channel ABS on the market, the new Bosch 9MP.

With a system weight of about one kilogram, this ABS generation is especially lightweight and highly compact to boot. This system features valves with linear adjustments for the best possible response. The latest generation of wheel sensors with forty eight teeth monitor automatically the distance between the sensor and the sensor wheel.

In addition, a pressure sensor determines the brake pressure on the front wheel for regulating the rear wheel lift detection. When the rider wishes this, in particular for special challenges like the race track, he can disengage the ABS system.

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