from google translation from the bike mag: " moto verte" News Fretigne Convalescence Express David Fretigne who still hopes to participate in the Dakar 2011. Decision on December 23. © JM Pouget Seriously injured in the Morocco Rally, David Fretigne is since October convalescing. He gave us some news on his health and his chances to participate in the Dakar 2011. Mainly affected the vertebrae and ribs, neo-BMW driver had to support three full weeks of immobility. But since mid-November, he started his rehabilitation at the center of Perpignan Présports with the help of his coach Christian Millet. Despite the seriousness of his wounds, calcification of his ribs was fast, which allowed him to regain some mobility. Under the eye of Dr. Christian Fournols, it has started swimming, bike room and forced himself on several sets of pumps each day in addition to long sessions of physiotherapy. "These days I found my strength almost before the crash. I'm as much of pumps!" We said No. 3 of the Dakar 2010. Decision on December 23 Yet if his ribs do suffer more, the affected vertebrae are currently weak, especially at the apophyses not yet fully rewelded. The decision whether to participate in the Dakar 2011 has been postponed to 23 December. "From my side, I am confident. I'm all for it, " concluded David recovered more than ever. JMP
I asked this question else where and this thread appears to have given me the answer. I asked if the speedbrain bikes used a cush drive...the photos in this thread seem to indicate they did not. It has been my understanding that cush drive was always a given for rally bikes, or is this only on the larger capacities? How many of the 450s of other makes ran cush drives...any? I also heard somewhere that Verhoven's 450 had a 6 speed box, he was clocked with the highest speed on the last stage. Any insights here would be useful. Cheers Pilbara
They added a 6th gear, running a 47 rear sprocket on that stage. Dont know about the cush drive on the BMW, Aprilia dont use it if memory serves me well. Cush drive is more comfy, thats about it i'd say. Might introduce an extra chance of failure with those rubber blocks..
Hi Kelvin I can't say for sure whether they use a cush-drive, best to check out their picture gallery here: http://www.speedbrain-rally.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=categories&Itemid=3 Verhoeven did, however, tell me they went the extra mile and redesigned the gearbox to fit a 6th gear which would allow a top speed of something like 185km/h :eek1 If you don't already know they also fitted a new left hand side cover from the new Husky that increases the oil capacity a bit and allows for an oil filter to be fitted:
What's the future for the 450X? It didn't do very well here in the US. I see it is still on the BMW web site. WIll there be a 2011 model? I have never got a chance to ride one. I did a trail ride with a guy on one, it looked like it worked just fine to me.
your dealer is right. bmw isn't a very popular brand with the young kids - to whom the 450 was dedicated. so bmw will stay with the "old, settled" bikes, and husky will will be the brand of the "young, crazy" offroad-bikes. sadly, the image of a company can be the out for some excelent products... Martina
Here is a BMW from one of Frans's friends for sale; http://allroadmaniacs.nl/forum/index.php?topic=11000.0
BMW has become Husqvarna for the Abu Dhabi desert Challenge http://www.abudhabidesertchallenge.ae/jart/prj3/desertchallenge/data/uploads/ADDC%202011/Moto_Entry_List_2011_-_240311.pdf
Call it a Husky, paint it like a husky, but that's a G450RR frame & swingarm through and through. They probably didn't have time to mod the Speedbrain stuff for the new Husky model and this was a quick fix. The engine is the same so who cares. All I want to know is where I can get the extended swingarm for my G450RR project. Speedbrain hasn't offered those up yet.
