On The Pegs March 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 3 | Page 106

On The Pegs
P 106
at 61 x 85 millimetres for this electrifying engine. Like Husqvarna's previous Moto-
Rève power units, the latest creation from Switzerland also had a semi-cylinder
head engine. A three-speed gearbox and a kick-starter were included in the nov-
elties. This was a real motorcycle and would set the future standard for the factory
in Huskvarna. The 145 had a dry weight of 90 kilos and the performance included
a top speed of 70 km/h. The model cost 1,500 Swedish Kronor at the time.
Soon after, a model 145 A version was manufactured for the Swedish military
and the army deliveries began in 1916, during the Great War, which lasted for an-
other two years. Raw material was now scarce and production became lean. But
despite world troubles, Husqvarna set a new sales record in 1917. They churned
out 315 units of the 145 model, which included delivery of the ‘A-version’ to the
military forces.
Another big leap in the history of the brand came in 1919 when the factory
produced their first own product - with a Husqvarna engine. It was the Model 150
and would be made for almost a decade-and-a-half until 1933. At the time of its
market introduction in 1920, this newcomer was priced at 2,900 SEK (approx. 600
dollars). The Model 150 was equipped with a homemade 550cc four-stroke engine
with side valves and an initial output of 5hp. In reality it was more, but for taxa-