So on one of the matthes podcasts today he confirmed that (in the US) gasgas is staying as the second factory mx/sx team and husky is moving their factory support to offroad only. I couldnt help but think.. why? Husky has a long and storied history of motocross racing in the US and they go all the way back to the beginning of the sport here. Gasgas… doesnt. I know I heard that they were pretty badass in trials racing in the US, but thats about it.
If I had to take a wild guess at why they would choose gasgas over husky it has to be because theyre the color red… right? It has to be that. For whatever reason red is the most sought after color, which is why we have 4 different manufacturers using it in honda, gasgas, ducati, and beta. That didnt happen by accident. So it literally must have just been that the ktm group spent all that money to get a red bike a few years ago and damnit theyre not going to let that go now that they have it.
I must say when the gasgas team was tld redbull gasgas that bike looked incredible, so I cant blame them on that end. I just think husky is a much more important and prestigious brand to have in the series along with the other prestigious brands like honda, yamaha, kawasaki, at one point suzuki…etc. The white plastics are no slouch either I love the way the huskies look and owned one myself, it just seems to make no sense outside of just the color red…. What do you guys think is the reason? 
I'm going to have a swing and say more Huskys in offroad than GasGas maybe?
They have too many roosters in the hen house. Send husky to offroad. I would expect their product offerings will match this shift.
GasGas is their entry level racing brand…that’s if you go with what we were told when KTM launched it in the U.S. & if memory serves me well…they were priced in direct competition to the Japanese brands. So…going racing with that brand makes sense. Also, they’ve spent most of their racing money on Moto over here.
Husky has a deep rich history in off-road…from Baja with Malcolm and Steve McQueen to Burleson’s Enduro Domination…hence, the Heritage branding. Yes, they’ve had some great titles in MX and SX; but, I get their reasoning.
The bummer is the lost rides on factory bikes. But, again, I get it. I’m just glad they’re getting things sorted out.
I'm guessing they value the offroad market more than the MX market going forward, so a flagship brand for each discipline and an entry level gas gas for the rest.
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This is not rocket appliance as Ricky would say. GasGas was originally bought to compete with Japanese makers, which Mx/Sx is what the Japanese makers focus on. Husky does not need to be in Sx/Mx because heritage buyers in that sport do not need selling that brand, Husky's history already does that. Bajaj needs an inexpensive brand to compete pricewise in MX with the Japanese, so GasGas. Why tarnish the Husky legacy competing on price with RMZs in MX?
Just put black wheels on the Gas Gas bikes.
The new plastic style that GasGas went is ugly af to me and the previous gen looked way better.
Hey what’d Suzuki do to be brought in this, you don’t see them needing a bailout lol
As cool as Husky’s history is, you can’t really look at any of that when it comes to the moves they make today. The actual Husky brand is around in name only. They, along with GasGas, are just the other color KTM’s now. But I will say, it likely also has to donwith the fact that Husky’s enduro team has been a mainstay of their racing since KTM bought the brand. They also have the Norden. Seems like it is easier to market adventure bikes to off road/enduro fans than it is to supercross fans. Although it is going to be pretty annoying to have 3 different red bike brands to watch at races. Makes it hard to glance and differentiate riders based on bike color sometimes.
Out of the 3 bikes in the KTM group, which one would you guys purchase? I’d personally go with the Husky.
i have a husky... i dont really care for gasgas or ktm
Same.
Because Dick Burleson
Past three or four bikes, other than street bikes, have been Huskys. Next bike will be a Beta though. The Huskys have some features I like other than the KTM and GasGas.
if ktm was smart, theyd dump both of them and just let the orange bikes take care of both markets. GG is supposed to be "cheap".... LOL, $300 less than a KTM isnt qualifying as cheap. And husky, supposed to be the premium line? its a white KTM with a plastic sub frame. Sounds premium to me. Having all 3 brands is what got them into the hole they are in, they didnt attract new buyers, the divided their customers into 3 different groups.
Orange…always the pumpkin
Who cares? It is all a marketing exercise. They’re all just KTMs.
This is a perfect time for KtM to hire a brand ambassador….you know….a former Pro who has never had anything to do with KTm😂
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Husqvarna realizes that many of us want to ride dirt bikes anywhere but a motocross track.
This pisses me off, it costs the same to anodize clear as it does black. I was cross shopping all three brands before I bought my last KTM and found a couple good deals on some GasGas but you have to budget in for black rims.
The newest GasGas plastics are also kind of ugly, looks really bulky up top and thin at the frame.
Make GasGas Spanish again.
My guess to make Husky off road is their history is much stronger there than in moto, I wasn't into off road when I was a kid, but I do remember Dick Burleson winning enduro championships for like 47 years straight.
What I think would be the most logical brand mix:
KTM: Primary brand, Ready to Race. Continue as it currently is with a possibly streamlined model lineup.
Husky: Off Road brand that is a bit more upscale. More Gucci parts on it stock.
GasGas: Entry level moto brand. When the new KTM's come out GG could continue on one generation behind. Because there is Indian money involved move production there and slot them between Japanese and Chinese bikes in price.
If they followed that brand mix GasGas could be the major mover in getting the KTM group back on top and fix all money woes.
You sound like a volunteer. 😄
I'm going to sound super vain here, but I actually have less interest in owning and racing a Husky if they aren't on the gate at the pro level. It's ridiculous, I know, especially since I'm on a 350 and no pros are racing those either. I still think this move would suck - I hope they at least find a way to make the GG price point noticeably different than the KTMs, although I find it highly unlikely. Looks like around $800 difference between the 450s right now, it needs to be twice that at least.
My last two new bikes have been husky's. I race off road though and didn't want to blend in with the sea of orange and I really like my local husky dealer. The way they have handled Gas Gas truly doesn't make sense to me.
Should keep KTM the premium brand, both off road and mx. Husky off road only. Gas gas either get rid of or entry/basic with no efi/tbi, small foursome like ttr or crf to introduce people to the sport.
It's a big foul ball having the red bikes, but intentionaly making them look dumb. I have a factory edition Gas Gas, and i think it's the best looking bike. I know, my own opinion, but it's hard to belive the FE and the standard bike come from the same cloth when you look at them.
And put the Brembo brakes on as well. Lol
They bought gasgas for the trials bikes
Kind of makes sense to me. KTM is the top tier production MX bike and GG the more affordable per their plan. I guess? They have three brands they need to differentiate somewhat. No matter how they do it one brand gets shorted a bit. All three can look great in race trim. I have a KTM that is mostly black and white like a Husky. A GG with nice graphics, like the factory bikes, might be a favorite!
I’d rather get a Jap that’s still cheaper than the GasGas. 7k for a new Kawi is enticing
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