DD Motorcycles: december 2015

Husqvarna Nuda R (ABS)

Husqvarna was founded near the town of the same name in Sweden in 1689, well before even cycles were invented. The first product was a gun or rifle. If you look at the logo you are looking into the barrel and you can see the sights on top.

As with many motorcycle manufacturers, Husqvarna first began producing bicycles in the late 19th century. In 1903, they made the jump to motorcycle manufacturing. The first "Husky" motorcycles used imported engines, and it wasn't until 1918 that Husqvarna began producing machines built entirely in-house.

In 1987, the Husqvarna motorcycle division was sold to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva and became part of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. The motorcycles, widely known as "Huskies / Husky", are from now on produced in Varese.

When Husqvarna motorcycles was bought by Cagiva MV Agusta in 1987 - plans were set to relocate to Italy by 1988. The core Husqvarna development team chose to rather remain in Sweden - breaking away and launching ‘Husaberg’ in 1988.

In July 2007, Husqvarna motorcycles was purchased by BMW for a reported €93,000,000. BMW Motorrad planned to continue operating Husqvarna Motorcycles as a separate enterprise. All development, sales and production activities, as well as the workforce, remained at its location in Varese, in Italy. BMW intended to position Husqvarna as "the two-wheeled version of what Mini is to the BMW's car division.

In 2013 Pierer Industries AG (Husaberg’s owner) bought Husqvarna Motorcycles - marking the reunion of two halves of the original Husqvarna brand of the 60’s and 70’s! For 2014 the ‘new’ Husqvarna Motorcycles brand returns to it’s glorious origins with state-of-the-art technology and the iconic Swedish blue, yellow and white colour-scheme.

BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna Motorcycles introduced the new Husqvarna Nuda 900 series at the IAA 2011 auto show in Frankfurt, Germany in September.

It stayed in production until 2013

There where 2 models the Nuda 900 and the Nuda 900 R

The later 2013 models where equipped with optional ABS

Combining exotic Italian design with the technical brilliance and engineering expertise of the BMW Group, this road-going Husqvarna begs to be ridden hard and is equipped with the kind of quality components that allow you to exploit and enjoy its considerable performance potential.

Powering the Nuda is a highly modified version of the 800cc parallel twin utilised by BMW across a variety of on and off-road models. In Husqvarna guise this engine makes the donor powerplant feel soft and dull, even in BMW’s highest F800R spec’; the Nuda engine is in another league entirely. About the only thing they share are the crankcases and gearbox.

New crank, rods, piston, cylinder head, cams, valves and more compression along with a 100cc hike in capacity from a 2mm larger bore and 4.5mm longer stroke give the Nuda not only a lot more balls, but also a lot more attitude. The clincher is the switch to a 315-degree crank which gives an uneven firing order and injects a huge level of charisma that the BMW clearly lacks.

Thumb the starter button and the Nuda settles down into a gruff idle, with a surprising level of bark from the twin-outlet muffler. A twist of the throttle produces a unique note, a cross between a Ducati and a well-tuned Harley Sportster perhaps…?

Twist the throttle in anger and it is clearly more Ducati than Harley, but with better manners and a more urgent surge of torque down low than the Italian bike. And I am not just talking the slapped in the face with a soggy lettuce M696, or the M796, the Nuda donk is a match for the Monster 1100. And with both bikes on standard pipes, I reckon the Husky sounds better.

2013 Husqvarna Nuda 900R ABS - Specifications/Technical Details

Engine

Type Water cooled 4-stroke in-line two-cylinder, two overhead camshafts, dry sump lubrication

Bore / Stroke 84 mm x 81 mm

Capacity 898 cc

Rated output 77 kW (105 hp) at 8,500 rpm

Max. torque 100 Nm at 7,000 rpm

Compression ratio 13.0:1

Mixture control / Engine management Electronic intake pipe injection / digital engine management, two engine mappings (switchable by customer)

Emission control Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, emission standard EU3 Performance

Performance / Fuel consumption

Maximum speed Over 200 km/h

Fuel consumption over 100 km at constant 90 km/h 4.3 l/ 100 km [Trans]

Fuel consumption over 100 km at constant 120 km/h 5.95 l/ 100 km

Fuel type Unleaded super, minimum octane rating 95 (RON)

Electrical System

Alternator 390 W 12V

Battery 14 Ah, maintenance free

Power Transmission

Clutch Multiple-disc clutch in oil bath, mechanically operated

Gearbox Constant mesh 6-speed gearbox integrated into crankcase

Drive Endless O-ring chain with shock damping in the rear hub

Chassis / Brakes

Frame Tubular steel trellis main frame and rear frame, removable passenger footpegs

Front wheel location / suspension Sachs Up Side Down fork, ø 48 mm, rebound and compression damping adjustable, spring preload mechanically adjustable

Rear wheel location / suspension Cast aluminium dual swingarm, cantilever with Öhlins shock absorber, rebound and compression damping adjustable, spring preload mechanically adjustable, length adjustable (10 mm)

Travel front / rear 210 mm / 180 mm

Wheelbase 1,495 mm

Castor 101 mm

Steering head angle 65.5°

Wheels Cast aluminium wheel

Rim, front 3.5"x17"

Rim, rear 5.5"x17"

Tyres, front 120/70 ZR 17

Tyres, rear 180/55 ZR 17

Brake, front Brembo system: double floating discs, ø 320 mm. 4 - piston monoblock radial calipers with sintered pads

Brake, rear Brembo system: single disc, ø 265 mm with floating caliper

Dimensions / Weight