AMTRA.com.au

In 2011 i plan to be riding one of these.
It's a BMW engine in a Husqvarna chasis. At the moment it's a prototype/pre production model, but it's the platform that all Husqvarna bikes will use from 2011 onwards.

looks interesting, the fuel tank looks to be the rear guard.

Wonder how much it holds.

No idea on the capacity of the fuel tank, but what i do know is the bike has 2 tanks, there's the transparent one just behind the engine, and there's another fuel tank under the seat where the air box should be.
The airbox is where the fuel tank has traditionally been located, similar to Husaberg and Yamaha's YZ 450

So what the story with the prototype? 

Is the husky going to use a rotax motor?

Seems strange to have a prototype with a BMW motor when by all accounts the Husky's four strokes are pretty good...

It looks like a photoshop factory bike to me.

Well spotted Aaron, the pic has been photoshopped, but only the graphics on the plastics, the bike is the real deal.

Chris the Husky engine is very good but it's old technology and hasn't really been developed much since the late 90's.
The BMW engine is new technology and a better engine than the current Husky one and given the fact that BMW own Husqvarna and BMW have a heap of engines left over because the G450x hasn't been very successfull, BMW will be supplying Husqvarna with engines from 2011 onwards.

So rather than getting old Husky engines, we're getting old BMW engines...  Seems a little silly to me. ;)  I'll stick to 2-strokes, now that's old school! ;D

I wouldn't call the BMW engine old, it's only been around 4 years and in a production dirtbike for 3 years  ;) it will be interesting to see what Husqvarna do with their 2 strokes, as they are only one of a few manufacturers that are interested in continuing development of 2 stroke bikes.

Easy Fix:  Don't like it, don't buy it!!! Simple.

couldn't put it any simpler myself!!!!  ;D

If those Huskies turn out alright,could be my next upgrade..
Unless KTM go fuel injection.
Huskies have kick as well as electric right?

Yes Huskies have a kick starter and electric start, and they also handle better than a ktm

That does not make sense to me. The carb is the most reliable thing on the KTM 4 stroke engine. But putting efi on it would make you buy one?

Then I guess it would be a great marketing move.

And that's coming from a KTM owner / rider!!!

Here's Juha Salminen punting the bike around the test track.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4eamh9fpds

It looks real enough to me. If Juha's choice of colour scheme is anything to go by he might have seen Pete R's black Berg and been envious !

For me a few things stick right out. The fuel tank under the seat, the angle and position of the shock, the swingarm and the engine. All of which come straight from the G450X.

For me this looks more like a BMW with a new frame and plastics than a new Husky.

Is that a bad thing ?

No it looks awesome and should be a rocket - Having spent a few hours on a race spec G450X I can tell you that they have bulk grunt off the bottom and get drive everywhere thanks to the trick front sprocket on the swingarm pivot thing.

I already own one (which I love) and have never had trouble with the carb,but KTM seems to be one of the only euro bikes these days without EFI. Fuel injection seems to be the way of the future (apart from electric)and the Husabergs
seem to be doing just fine,so I don't know why they havn't
gone that way yet.

You missed my point. What I was trying to say is the KTM engine is crap(you made me say that). So bolting on EFI will not make me buy one. Put a pig in a party dress..... it's still a pig. It is difficult to get an efi dirt bike to run well. It takes a lot of R@D to get right. There is also the cost/benefit ratio. It's very costly for little gain. The carb is the best part of that KTM engine. How do I know? I spent some time working for a KTM dealer. I did 2 things; 1 put new bikes together, 2 rebuild 450 & 530 engines. They have a few issues.

Is the carb a problem? No. So why replace it? Marketing, that's why.
 And I don't believe that any of the manufacturers have got fuel injection quite right just yet. It seems to be an add on fuel only system at this time.When they move to complete engine management it would be quite worthwhile. Not sure if the BMW is or not.
Now direct injection 2 stroke has potential. Better fuel economy, less oil, less emissions.........

Hey Aaron, did you know you can make Pig Sh!t into Strawberry Jam.