CarBrandLogos archive · Husqvarna · 2012

HusqvarnaNuda 900

A supermoto-flavoured roadster from the brand's short spell under BMW ownership.

Photo: MidoriWorks · CC BY-SA 4.0

The story

A defining chapter in Husqvarna history.

Explore the ideas, engineering and context that shaped the Husqvarna Nuda 900, then continue into its specifications and place in the marque's lineage.

Origins

BMW bought Husqvarna's motorcycle business in 2007 and spent several years trying to work out what to do with it. The Nuda was the most interesting answer: a naked roadster built around BMW's F800 parallel twin, enlarged to just under 900 cc and retuned for mid-range punch, hung in a steel trellis frame with long-travel suspension and wide upright bars.

2012 Husqvarna Nuda 900 · MidoriWorks · CC BY-SA 4.0

Design and engineering

The intent was a big supermoto for the road rather than a conventional streetfighter, and it worked, with a tall riding position, strong brakes and a chassis that rewarded being ridden untidily. An R version added Öhlins suspension and forged wheels.

In production

It lasted two seasons. BMW sold Husqvarna to Stefan Pierer's group, the owner of KTM, in 2013, and the Nuda had no place in a range that would be rebuilt on KTM engineering. Production stopped after 2013, which leaves it as a well-regarded bike that almost nobody bought.

At a glance