Race fans with a technical flair seldom miss the chance to tune motorcycles. When Husqvarna’s 175cc Dream Machine was launched in 1953, engineer Birger Berggren set his sights on building a TT racing replica – with a 250cc power source. Here is the unique story of a rare 4-stroke.
When the weapons factory presented the 281 model, it was powered by a 175cc 2-stroke engine, giving a performance of 7.5 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. This motorcycle represented a new era for Husqvarna, selling street machines on a large scale. After the war, good transportation was in great need, but most people could still not afford a car. They relied on economic two-wheelers, so the nationwide market for the new motorcycle was immense.