Devon TRF Group Forum

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

New Huskies 2014

gaschef · Devon's Best

Oh Dear a fully plastic back end, will have to extend the range of replacement metal parts to cope with the soon to be expected demand, cheese side stands were one thing but how long will that bit of plastic last. Pity to see a excellent make going down the slippery slope of plasticity

Pete · Devon's Best

Carbon fibre = snap on/snap off easily = stupid on a dirtbike.
Look how bulky they have had to make it to try to make it solid.
Expensive in the extreme too I expect for something so fragile.
Good luck with that one.

Jerry atterick · Expert

At least the true Husqvarnas will be getting cheaper!
Good if you want one, not so good if you own one.
Guess which one I am!
Rode one of the lads from Weymouths 310.
Stunning!
My rather special WRF and not so special KTM will be for sale shortly.
So if anyone selling their late 310 etc etc.

RichT4 · Champion

Plastic subframes on Huskies is nothing new, they been that way for while I believe. Just looks like it's been upgraded to carbon fibre, I can't see that being any worse than plastic but will be lighter & stronger.
You've got to wonder why though. Mine is alloy and weighs sod all, is it worth the effort to make a carbon fibre version?
The original plastic ones must have been similar in weight to alloy ones on most bikes.

Jerry atterick · Expert

Just check out the price of those new bits!

I bet that subframe will be £300+ - Why?

Like other comments, the alloy ones weigh nothing and can be tigd if the need arises.

No denying they are pretty, but just another KTM.

Nothing wrong with that, just BORING!

Viking · Account Deleted

I'll be keen to see one. Think it's a hard one between this or a beta 300rr for my Xmas pressy.

jt · Powermonger!!

RichT4 wrote:

You've got to wonder why though.

Bling...... disbelief biggrin gold would be to heavy....

Nige · Expert

Carbonfiber has had the same reaction everywhere its been introduced and has excelled in most applications. 10 years ago they said it will never work on bicycles now nearly all the downhill bicycles are carbon.

But rest assured in another 10 years you'll be saying the same about 3d printing!

Jerry what do you want for the WR?

John Harvey · Clubman A

According to the blurb the sub frame is Polyamide which is the chemical name for Nylon. In the photos the sub frame looks injection moulded with all the ribs and part lines being the main clue. As far as I'm aware, due to the need to align the weave in carbon fibre, it's not possible to fully injection mould carbon fibre.

mud sweat n gears · Clubman B

LOVE IT

but then I am a sucker for plastic fantastic biggrin

Lee

Biff · Expert

Jerry atterick wrote:

Just check out the price of those new bits!
I bet that subframe will be £300+ - Why?
Like other comments, the alloy ones weigh nothing and can be tigd if the need arises.
No denying they are pretty, but just another KTM.
Nothing wrong with that, just BORING!

Gasgas have gone down the plastic/ nylon route , and I believe are going back to alloy
Must have been a cost / fashiom thing. Who knows?
There must be a reason behind all design changes ,
Or is it the case of some new engineer applying materials to a area he/ she is unfamiliar with?

Jerry atterick · Expert

The number of REAL improvements is tiny, practically all fashion!
We all like a smart bike and the rest pretty much follows.
What possible real advantage can there be with a plastic frame compared to alloy etc.
KTM used to regularly bark on about their braking improvements year on year, ie single pot, twin pot calipers etc etc.
Having owned KTMs for 30 years or more, I came to realise that all they were doing was going from one to the other and back again.
If you check out part numbers etc.
Springs down one side, damping down the other etc, springs and damping down both.
Few break throughs really - YZF for four stroke, not much drastic after that, KTM 200, 2T Yamaha WR, generic disc over shoes.
What does make a difference is a "NEW" bike, where everything is top notch.
If a good rider, ie top national level, took the majority of bikes from mid 1980s onwards, new out of the box, the difference in their performance would be small.
Take a knackered old bike or degrees of, then it will be just that - knackered!
Has little to do with technology and nothing to do with fashion.
Mind you, I would like a 310 Husky!
Why are KTM so popular - better marketing than everyone else!!
Loads of the other bikes are / could be just as good / even better than KTM, just down to packaging and marketing.
So what does all this marketing and packaging cost? Lots.
This cost is passed onto us, effectively pricing 50% out of the marketplace - that in turn makes the 50% who are prepared to pay feel so much better than those that cannot!
Generally has absolutely nothing to do with riding ability - just feel good factor / fashion / bling.
We all fall for it - Me included.

gaschef · Devon's Best

John Harvey wrote:
According to the blurb the sub frame is Polyamide which is the chemical name for Nylon. In the photos the sub frame looks injection moulded with all the ribs and part lines being the main clue. As far as I'm aware, due to the need to align the weave in carbon fibre, it's not possible to fully injection mould carbon fibre.

You beat me to it, Polyamide is a long chain molecule plastic, like most of its kind it will suffer degredation and fatigue weakness. Its engineering design will be another source of revenue in time to come. Remembering most manufacturers do not make much, if any profit on vehicles, there real money is made on spare parts and accessories. So the more things that they can design that will break after the warranty period expires the more money they will make. especially when the item has been designed to prevent or discourage repair. JUst look at the ribs in that subframe, how would or could you repair it, you can also have a bet that the material is made from, has been designed and produced to prevent glue sticking to it once again preventing repair

RichT4 · Champion

But one good thing about the plastic rear subframe - the whole thing can become a long range fuel tank!

Husaberg's have had plastic rear ends for a while and they can be replaced with an additional fuel tank..., actually when I previously said "Plastic subframes on Huskies is nothing new" I actually meant 'Bergs.

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

People soon forget, i wonder what was said when plastic tanks came out ?

Jerry atterick · Expert

You are right, but they were cheaper than steel and had obvious advantages - like they dont dent.

Plastic subframe is one thing, but carbon fibre - that is plain stupid.

Brittle, unrepairable and hideously expensive.

Looks pretty though.

delvey91 · Devon's Best

It isn't carbon fibre though

Jerry atterick · Expert

In that case, cant be a problem.
Someone posted it was!
Cheaper for KTM then.

jt · Powermonger!!

jt · Powermonger!!

Rich - I now think I understand - you are a Vulcan, henceforth I shall refer to you as Spock biggrin

-- Edited by jt on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 08:57:28 AM

RichT4 · Champion

JT - I think that's how others often view me lol.
I seem to remember Harty once recoiling from my lack of emotion about a subject and called me a "bloody robot".
I simply exterminated him and moved on...

-- Edited by RichT4 on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 06:46:58 PM

RichT4 · Champion

I didn't rate that video, I can't put my finger on what was wrong with it..., but I suppose it was because after watching it I'm still 'non-the-wiser' for it. confuse

Are they saying you'll no longer need to remove the engine often? wink

jt · Powermonger!!

I may try this next time we meet, re kick starts or two stokes wink biggrin

mud sweat n gears · Clubman B

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqRWic1GP8

mmmmmmm polymer biggrin

jt · Powermonger!!

So basically a Husky is now a KTM but with less metal and more plastic then hmm

mud sweat n gears · Clubman B

No jt its not plastic it's polymer confuse