We drove: Husqvarna Nuda 900 / R - This is not a BMW!

text: Matevж Hribar, photo: Milagro, Matevж Hribar

German-Italian recipe:

In the darkest scenario, BMW will be on F 800 GS installed 17-inch wheels, a different fender, better brakes and Husqvarna decals. This is not unusual for 2011! But thanks to the sausage and beer lovers for taking a different approach and making only the essential ingredients available. With their due courage and racing enthusiasm, they put together a Nudo different from BMW and different from Husqvarna.

Look: BMW entered the more relaxed youthful motorcycle world back in 2007 when the trio was shown in Cologne. G650 (Xmoto, Xcountry, Xchallenge). We took a closer look and thought - KTM has won a tough competition! Well, it's not. Despite the interesting design and seemingly real construction (Xmoto as a supermoto and Xchallenge as an enduro), the bikes lacked something.

Although each was the sportiest BMW in its class at the time! I exclude the Xcountry from this story, as it is a perfectly decent example of an unpretentious and useful motorcycle for a beginner.

Husqvarna with BMW quality control

By expanding its range of sales in a direction other than serious touring bikes, BMW is now taking a different approach. They bought a Husqvarna, give them proven components and keep them free. Well, not really – the biggest issue for the Germans was quality, so the Italians were regularly looked down upon and their end product was tested as the first Husqvarna according to their durability test method, which includes 20.000 kilometers of challenging driving in all conditions.

“In the case of the test cars, we found some minor defects in the final design (inaccurate casting of the gear lever and an ugly rubber seal under the valve cover)” we wrote after the first test Husqvarne TE 449 last fall, but I didn't find any similar "bugs" on Nudi after looking at the details in detail. Even the most pizzerias can be bothered by the weld spots on the frame, the tight fuel tank lock and the ugly cast Husqvarna lettering on the side caps, and everything else is flawless. Italians benefit from German control.

Puzzle F 800 R, F 800 GS and – Nude

So how did Nuda come about? Frame This is a BMW than the 800cc GS, but half an inch shorter, with a larger tube at the head of the frame (80 millimeters in diameter) for greater rigidity and a sharper front fork angle for easier reversing. The inline two-cylinder engine from the F 800 R includes: increased diameter (+ 2 mm), and the stroke (+ 5,4 mm) and compression ratio increased to 13,0: 1. The biggest change is the offset of the main shaft angle, which increased from 0 ° to 315 °. The result is a different engine sound and response, now more like a V2 engine and 20 more horsepower than the BMW Enduro GS. In order not to be mistaken about what kind of engine it is, the valve cover is "blown up" with red paint.

The engine is great!

The engine has three characteristics that currently put it in first place in the class: it is powerful, almost does not vibrate (even less than the GS!) And does not “knock”. It's a cross between the smoothness of in-line three- and four-cylinder engines and the brutality of large V2 engines. Nuda easily shifts into first gear on the rear wheel and confidently accelerates beyond the legal speed. On a mid-length treadmill, 190 was getting close on the digital display and is definitely over 200.

In the bend at the knees or with the leg extended forward?

In terms of driving, Nudi wouldn't attribute the purebred character of a supermoto, at least not the usual version. It's a nice mix stripped motorcycle and supermotoLightweight and stable in all conditions. There is nothing wrong with going on a longer journey with her, and even if your right hand is bothering you and you turn to the knife several times. The frame, along with good suspension and brakes, keeps the motorcycle safe even while riding, after which a police officer can charge you a bill for endangering yourself and others ...

Since we don't need such payment receipts and we value life, we tested the R version on the racetrack. Mores Racecourse... It was interesting to watch how different journalists drive: some of them behaved like real supermots on Nuda (elbows up, leg extended forward), and even more of them caught turns in the CHD style, that is, with their knees on the asphalt. Nuda can do both, but on steep descents on asphalt it slips not only with pedals, but also with a side step.

In addition, another drawback is worth mentioning: the protruding front fender can be nice, but not functional. We started out on a wet road and had to do a lot of paper towel work before the photo shoot as the entire front of the motorcycle (fender, lights, even fluid cooler) was sprayed. I also tested the performance on a wet surface. engine rain program: it calms the engine down a bit, but less than what is felt in an Aprilia with a similar system.

With all the changes to the engine, fuel consumption (on the dashboard the figure ranges from 4,6 to 6,8 liters) and the service intervals, which remain the same as for a BMW with a similar engine, are surprising.

Instead of a conclusion: Italians know how to make a great motorcycle (and a car, and a ravioli, and a cappuccino), but despite all the improvements in recent years, they are still (at least a little) "sloppy". And in this I see the greatest advantage of the German-Italian package. German quality, Italian style. Bon Appetit!

For more sporty motorcyclists: 1.680 euros for the letter R

The R somehow stands for Racing and thus Husqvarna's combat color combination and some more lively driving components. Thus, fully adjustable (return, compression, preload) telescopes are screwed into the front crosspieces. Showaand also adjustable between the frame and the rear swingarm. Shock absorber Öhlins with the additional possibility of adjusting the length (10 mm) and, accordingly, the height of the motorcycle (from 875 to 895 mm).

For better brake lever feel and sharper decelerations, it was designed for him. more powerful front brakes (Monoblock Brembo). That's not all! With a very simple trick, they added more sharpness to the R version with a smaller chainring for the teeth. With the same power, the Nuda R in second gear independently connects to the rear wheel and consumes (according to factory data) about half a liter of fuel more.