Husqvarna Unveils Radically New 450
Jean Turner | April 26, 2010
Husqvarna’s BMW-powered TC450 motocross weapon is revealed.
Check out the all-new Husqvarna TC450. Engineers at Husky – now in a joint effort with BMW – are quite obviously taking bold strides toward building competitive motocross machines. These “spy photos” (are they really spy photos when they came from Husqvarna?) show some rather innovative designs and features on their premier class motocrosser.
We don’t have much info on Husky’s new creation, so obviously we can’t comment on the performance of the all-new 449cc fuel-injected TC. But one thing is for certain – the guys at “Huska-beemer” are thinking outside the box.
Starting with the motor, it is a 449cc DOHC BMW motor with EFI and electric start. Judging from the photo with the laptop computer, it’s a programmable EFI. The head is angled further forward than its predecessor, and like Honda’s CRF450, the head pipe wraps around the front of the frame rails.
The chassis is quite radically redesigned. First off, the fuel tank is under the rear of the seat. The fuel cap is at the base of the rear fender, and the lower part of the fuel tank is visible next to the head. The location of the fuel tank and cap allow the seat to extend forward almost all the way to the steering head, which will allow for a lot of rider movement.
The bodywork on the TC is all one piece from the radiator shroud to the rear number plate – or at least what they’re calling the rear number plate.
The TC450 is fitted with Kayaba suspension front and rear and Brembo brakes. At first glance it appears that the shock attaches directly to the swingarm ala KTM. But here’s where it gets funky. The linkage system is on top of the swingarm, and the all-new frame features what Husky is calling a “concentric axle traction system.”
The TC450 is fuel-injected, and judging from this photo it’s programmable.
The Kayaba shock is mounted on a linkage system above the swingarm.
The fuel cap is at the rear of the seat.
One-piece body work extends from the radiator shroud to the “number plate.”
