The earliest record of Husqvarna dates back to 1903, when Husqvarna produced a single cylinder engine mounted on a bicycle which was boasted at being able to create 1 1/2 horsepower and able to obtain a maximum speed of roughly 50 kilometres per hour. By 1916 Husqvarna Motorcycles received their first victory in competition at the Novemberkasan and in 1921 their first motorbike was made entirely in Husqvarna's Swedish factory featuring a 550cc engine which became the launch pad for production of their large capacity two cylinder engines.
By the end of the 1920's, Husqvarna first began their efforts in the international competitions which sparked the interest for Husqvarna Motorcycles in the European market and allowing them to sell over 1000 motorcycles. Between the years 1928 and 1936 the Husqvarna single cylinder motorcycle models used proprietary engines by Jap or Sturmey Archer since their low production volumes did not justify the means or cost of the special tooling equipment necessary for producing their own engine Husqvarna Using state of the art production methods for their time, Husqvarna reached a level of commercialisation that lasted throughout several decades and also earned Husqvarna a spot in motorcycle history. From the year 1938 to 1954, production of their "Black Mill" model continued in an uninterrupted fashion and totalled sales of over 60,000 units.
In the 1950's Husqvarna continued to confirm their sporting commitment by putting more resources into the competitions of Enduro and Motocross racing. The "Dream Bike", which was a 175 cc single cylinder, 9 horsepower, and two-stroke machine, was the first to represent this commitment to racing. The "Silverpil", which featured a set of telescopic forks, hydraulic dampers and powered by an engine which doubled as a stressed element for the frame. This resulted in a good combination of reliability, power and handling for that era in Husqvarna history.
Big name riders of the time such as Tibblin and Nilsson are remembered today not just for their driving skills, but to have also given the first laurels to Husqvarna in the Motocross racing circuits. Nilsson won the 1959 World championship for the 250 cc class and later won the 1961 500 cc class. During these earlier years the production capacity of Husqvarna had grown to such a great level that required them to export not just to the European markets, but to the U.S. market as well. This direction created by Husqvarna in the 1960's and 1970's , allowed them to produce machines that were completely unique to the motorcycling world, and also allowed the hallmarking of great riders like Mikkola, Aberg and Hallman as well as writing some of the most unforgettable pages in the racing history of Husqvarna.
In 1979 Husqvarna exchanged ownership to Electrolux which maintained the owning control until 1986 when Husqvarna was sold to the Cagiva Group in Italy. Thanks to the Cagiva Group, Husqvarna was given a great deal of technological innovation that was married with their prestigious manufacturer as well as being able to boast its association with the prestigious Cagiva Group and their motorcycles.
With the addition of Husqvarna to the Cagiva Group, the company was able to kick-start their expansion into the international market-place as well as reinforce their commitment to racing.
Original Authors: Nicholas
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 07/06/2008
