Motorcycle specifications HägglundsXM 72 1971

Motorcycles aren’t always just about passion. Hägglunds is certainly one of the best examples of this. This century-old Swedish company has long specialized in the production of railway equipment and tracked vehicles—both military (notably tanks) and civilian (construction machinery).

In the early 1970s, sensing a lucrative opportunity in a major tender from the Swedish government—which wanted to equip its army with two-wheeled vehicles—Hägglunds set out to design its first prototype, dubbed the XM72.

Starting from a blank slate, the company was able to meticulously tailor its specifications to the Swedish government’s requirements; Hägglunds was taking significant risks by competing against established motorcycle manufacturers, including the industry heavyweight Husqvarna. Additional requirements included off-road capability, ease of use and maintenance, as well as a reduced weight (140 kg) for easier transport to mission sites.

Hägglunds engineers turned their lack of experience in the motorcycle industry into a fantastic strength by proposing completely new ideas that did not originate from the motorcycle industry: interchangeable 18-inch wheels, a single-arm swingarm, single-beam frames serving as fuel tanks and rear fenders, and above all, a 25-horsepower Sachs engine with a variator transmission, final drive via a shaft (integrated into a rear single-arm, 8 years before the BMW system), and equipped with a hand-crank starter (a cord like on lawnmowers). This prototype could even be fitted with a pair of side skis to move through the snow.

Weighing just 120 kg, with an air-cooled engine featuring a variator and a cardan shaft, the XM72 was bound to win the bid. The motorcycle was lightweight, handled like a moped, and required minimal maintenance.

Initially, five units of this prototype were produced to be presented to the Swedish government. However, since the XM72 was still in the early stages of development, its road handling left much to be desired. The XM72 had to make way for another motorcycle whose chassis was developed, this time, by a specialist, Bill Nilsson, a former Swedish motocross champion: the XM74.

Tanthallas - Photos: Manufacturer