On The Pegs March 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 3 | Page 107

On The Pegs
Vol. 4 Issue 3 - March 2019
P 107
tion reasons, the official performance figure was kept low. The twin-cylinder was
also built in a V-configuration with sturdy components and the cylinders with side
valves were cast in one unit. The ‘petrol box’ swallowed 12 litres of fuel and the oil
tank had a capacity of two litres. The wheels had a dimension size of 28" x 3" with
steel rims, but the bike still lacked front-brakes. However, this machine could be
delivered with a gas-light or electrical lighting from Bosch as an option.
Gustaf Göthe was a young man with an engineer's degree when he joined
Husqvarna in the first month of 1917. He was going to be responsible for R&D for
the coming Model 150 with a half-litre engine manufactured in-house.
“The task given to me was two-fold; partly I was to enhance the riding character-
istics of the existing machine, and partly to develop a brand-new engine, which
would make Husqvarna an entirely domestic product. Actually, the first plan in-
cluded two vehicle versions; one lighter motorcycle for solo riding and one sidecar
unit. But due to financial restrictions and other limitations, it was only possible to
make the solo version, which could be fitted with a sidecar as an option.”
The rest of Göthe's interesting story will be highlighted in a coming, more per-
sonal blog text.
In the ten years from 1911 to 1920, Husqvarna made a big leap forward in terms
of engineering and sold some 1,600 units in total. The following 10 years would be
influenced by the decadence of the twenties. It not only included Charleston and
Champagne, but also some technically interesting motorcycles, which attracted
many customers – both wealthy, but also fans from the middle class. After the
Great War, people started to move around in a new way for transportation. And
two wheels were more affordable than buying a four-wheeler! n