HÄGGLUNDS

350 XM 74 Enduro · 1974

Nordic warhorse

Sweden's motorcycle industry is best known for the products of Husqvarna, Monark, and, more recently, Husaberg. But another firm, specializing in the production of armored half-track vehicles, has been producing motorcycles since the start of the Seventies. When the Swedish Army was looking for a new military motorcycle, Husqvarna and Monark responded with bikes derived from their enduro machines, but Hagglunds turned their total lack of two-wheeler experience into a virtue, allowing their engineer Bjorn Andersson to approach the problem with a totally clear outlook.

Pressed steel frame and Infinitely Variable Transmission

The XM 72, unveiled in 1972, was highly original, with its monotube front suspension, its spoked wheels, its disk brakes, and its pressed-steel backbone frame. The military authorities were bowled over by how easy it was to control, thanks to its infinitely variable automatic transmission. But the cycle part was not so satisfactory, and Hagglunds had to go back to the drawing board.

Unsuccessful Bid

The second version, XM 7 4, was slightly more conventional, and the faults had been ironed out, but Husqvarna wound up getting the military contract over Hagglunds. Hagglunds sought consolation by returning to its traditional enduro products, and the forty or so XM 74s which had been built were acquired by the factory employees, who now run twice-yearly enduros restricted to these machines.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: Air-cooled Bombardier-Rotax 345cc (76x76mm) single-cylinder

Power Rating: 24 hp @ 3300 rpm

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: Tillotson automatic diaphragm carburetor

Transmission: Variable-pulley belt drive

Suspension: Monotube telescopic (front); single arm (rear)

Brakes: disc (front); disc (rear)

Wheels: spoked 21in (front); 18in (rear)

Weight: 306 lb with military equipment

The second version of the Hägglunds was developed by Bill Nilsson, twice world motocross champion.