There's been plenty of hullabaloo made about Husqvarna's first ever street bike, the Nuda 900R, which is due to arrive in Australia in December.
Many avid motorcyclists would agree it's good to see the Swedish (but now Italian-based and German-owned) motorcycle brand Husqvarna getting into the street scene, but the Husqvarn Nuda's styling has polarised the motorcycling community.
That was the Husqvarna Nuda 900R. This is the Husqvarna Nuda 900 -- the plain Jane, no bells and whistles, keep-your-carbon-fibre-thank-you-very-much model.
What do we make of it? Well, for fear of inciting violence we might keep our opinion to ourselves for this one. But here goes anyway... In short we don't mind it [correction, Feann doesn't mind it - Ed]. The pointy design is so different that it should get even non-motorcyclists attention, and Husqvarna has showed it is a brave company to attempt something so different.
While the non-comformist Nuda 900R is equipped with up spec components, such as Brembo monobloc brake calipers, Ohlins rear suspension and a smattering of carbon fibre, the Nuda 900 will be the bare bones model and it is probable that it will be the volume selling model due to its more affordable price.
A Sachs rear shock replaces the Ohlins unit, but the front forks appear to very similar to the Sachs unit featured on the 900R. Lower specification Brembo brakes appear to be fitted fore and aft.
As the photos show, the Nuda 900 is not hugely different to the 900R, losing nothing the style department. The radical design has not been altered, meaning the sharp (oddly angular?) styling will ensure it's not ignored as it hammers past, the BMW-derived 900cc parallel twin potentially beating away rhythmically at the rider lofts the front wheel.
Power levels of 100hp (74kW) are likely to be slightly reduced on the standard Husqvarna Nuda 900, and the claimed weight of "under 175kg" for the 900R is likely to be balloon out to "over 175kg" for the bog standard model.
Other changes include the exhaust, which appears to be the same unit sans carbon inserts, and the overall colour scheme is not as flashy - though it does looks suitably threatening in black with a white accents front and rear.
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