
Husaberg FE 390
Years: 2010 – 2012
When Husqvarna’s motorcycle division moved to Italy in 1987, a cadre of Swedish engineers stayed behind and created Husaberg, determined to keep Nordic enduro DNA alive. Their bikes were raw, light, and shockingly fast, wrapping four-stroke engines in minimal chassis that prioritized traction and agility. The brand’s engineering adventurousness peaked with the 70° engine layout—tilting the cylinder to mass-centralize and lower the CG—yielding a knife-edge feel beloved by expert riders. Financial realities led to KTM acquisition in the 1990s; technology cross-pollinated, quality climbed, and Husaberg became a skunkworks for ideas that later influenced orange-branded machines. In 2013 the name was sunset as Husqvarna’s modern era began in Austria, but Husaberg’s imprint endures in how contemporary enduros steer, start, and deliver torque. Historically, Husaberg proves the power of a small, stubborn team: when you optimize for feel and speed in the trees, you can change a whole category’s expectations.