Husavarna?

If you were waiting for a 2014 Husaberg, it looks like you are out of luck (CORRECTION: We don't know if these will be hitting state side or not.) . According to a letter we received today from Husaberg, (that was distributed to both Husqvarna and Husaberg dealers) Husaberg and Husqvarna are joining forces, "combining the worldwide heritage of Husqvarna with the latest state-of-the-art technology of Husaberg."

At this point, all we have is an announcement and not much along the lines of detailed information. What we understand is the Husaberg brand is going into the history books. Bikes we know of as Husaberg will stick around, but to be badged as a Husqvarna. Italian bikes we currently know as Husqvarna will no longer be produced.

The "reunification" of the two brands puts a book end on what has been a 25 year long Swedish off-road motorcycle drama. It all goes back to 1987 when, a then nine year old company named Cagiva, purchased Husqvarna and moved them out of their originating home in Sweden to Italy. Some of Husqvarna's engineers decided to forego the move to Italy and stayed behind in Sweden and founded a new company that would eventually be called Husaberg in 1988. Husaberg started claiming championships a year later thanks in part to their four-stroke motor. This caught the eye of KTM who purchased Husaberg in 1995. Following the trend of leaving Sweeden, KTM moved production of Husaberg in 2003 from Endurovägen, Sweeden to Mattighofen, Austria. Meanwhile, Husqvarna under the Cagiva-MV Agusta company sold to BMW in 2007 who earlier this year sold to not KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, but KTM CEO Stefan Pierer under the newly formed Pierer Industrie AG. Now, a new company called "Husqvarna Sportmotorcycle GmbH" will provide what it refers to as a "rebirth" for Husqvarna.

All of this excitement for a wait and see. The 2014 Husqvarna offroad model range is set to be unveiled in Sweden in October.