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Driving report Highland 950 V2 Outback
There can only be one
She is strong as a bear, quick as a fiddle, and she knows no opponents: the Highland 950 V2 Outback with over 70 hp and a weight under 150 kilograms. An enduro that has never existed before.
Nowadays it is not easy to create real novelties. One more horsepower here, one kilo less there, sensations are rare. The Swedish manufacturer Highland is now promising this with the Outback, a real off-road hammer with V-two-cylinder drive. Not comparable to the thick ships from BMW or Honda, more like a sporty off-road single, just with an infinite amount of pressure. The secret of this concept is the drive. The construction of the 55 kilogram 60-degree V-engine comes from Folan, meanwhile the dohc four-valve engine is manufactured and assembled at Highland in southern Sweden. A solid 75 hp of the originally targeted 100 remain in the noise-dampened production version. Still a lot of wood for a 145 kilogram light enduro.
The engine comes to life with an electric starter, a kick starter is missing. If the battery is intact, the Outback starts up reliably. Otherwise – as is the case with the test drives in the field – pushing is the order of the day. Slight vibrations can already be felt while idling. In the lower speed range, the V-engine behaves like two asynchronously pounding Husabergs, higher speeds make the Outback gracious. This is hardly a problem off-road, but when strolling at low speeds on the country road, the vibrations can become annoying in the long run.
The thrust from the basement is decent, but hardly surprising in view of the generous displacement. Only from the middle area does it become clear that the outback has the power of two hearts. It pushes and pushes, turning up to almost 10,000 rpm without complaint. How fast the Highland is could only be guessed at because of the rough terrain tires and winding country roads, but the specified 190 km / h seem realistic. The tires are generally a problem: There are currently no studded tires in the sizes 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear that allow speeds of over 170 km / h. The series machines will initially be sold with the Metzeler Enduro 3 and 170 km / h speed limit sticker on the speedometer. The straight-line stability is calming even with coarse tires at 160 km / h. The handling is just as good, almost like an LC 4, the 950 can be circled around the slippery bends around Lake Iseo.
But it was not because of the small streets that the importer Andy Zimmerer chose the area near Bergamo for the presentation. Rather, to provide evidence that a V-Two in the field need not shy away from comparison with sporty singles. The Highland surprises you on the first steep ascent with deep, washed-out grooves. Thanks to the engine, it creates an incredible amount of traction. Where some single-cylinder with a bobbing rear wheel desperately seek a grip, the double-stroke of the two-cylinder brings continuous grip. The slightly lower ground clearance only reduces propulsion in extreme cases. On the subsequent winding paths with rubble and roots, confidence gradually grows, the Outback pleases with good handling and neutral steering. Certainly not as agile as a TE-Husky, it comes close to an E-Start-LC 4 or a TT 600 R. The long-stroke suspension elements are also in keeping with a hard enduro. The sensitive WP Extreme fork shows itself to withstand the highest loads. The directly hinged shock absorber also responds gently, but the rear wheel loses contact with the ground on mogul slopes. The crashing landing after small hops emphatically indicates the limits of resilience, the rear suspension lacks progressiveness.
D.still. the concept of the Highland inspires, it opens up new off-road dimensions. In order for the euphoria of the buyers, who have to shell out a proud 24,500 marks, to last, the Swedes still have to make ample improvements. Because the test drives uncovered a lot of problems with the prototypes – which were admittedly extremely tough. One question mark is the thermal stability, the pre-series machines looked pretty hot-blooded. The oil only splashes against the crankshaft, whether the lower connecting rod bearings can do that at high continuous speeds? The engine ventilation blew oil into the air filter box, the clutch suffered from plucking and swelling coatings. The carburetors have to be tuned even better in the partial load range, and here and there there are minor processing defects. There is still a lot to do with the Unique.
Data: Highland 950 V2 Outback
Engine: water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 60-degree V-engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, wet sump lubrication, a Mikuni flat slide carburetor, o 40 mm, contactless transistor ignition, no exhaust gas cleaning, electric starter, three-phase alternator 140 watts, battery 12 V / 12 Ah, bore x stroke 95 x 66 mm, displacement 936 cm³, nominal output approx. 55 kW (75 PS) at 5800 / min Beams and subframes for suspension strut mounting, telescopic fork, standpipe diameter 50 mm, adjustable tension and compression damping, swing arm made of steel profiles, central spring strut, adjustable spring base, tension and compression damping, front disc brake with double-piston caliper, o 300 mm, rear disc brake with single-piston caliper, o 220 mm, spoke wheel front 1.60 x 21 spoke wheel rear 2.50 x 18 tires Metzeler Enduro 3, 90 / 90-21 front, 140 / 80-18 rear Chassis data: Wheelbase 1530 mm Steering head angle 62.5 degreesSpring travel f / h 280/300 mmDimensions and weights: Weight (without petrol) 145 kgTank capacity 22 litersWarranty: one year with unlimited mileage ?? Price: incl. VAT 24,500 marks, additional costs 400 marks, importers: Mo-Shop Zimmerer, phone 08824/1334, Team Vahrenkamp, phone 05732/71711
From MCM to KTM to the Highland
As early as 1994, the California-based MCM 948 with Folan V2 engine was presented at IFMA, at that time still with Husaberg cylinder heads. The engine was supplied by the owner of the Swedish engineering forge Folan, Lars Nilsson, who also played a key role in the design of the Husqvarna and Husaberg single-cylinder. For lack of donors, the MCM disappeared again into oblivion. The Highland with the new Folan engine with dohc heads emerged from this concept. In the meantime, KTM was also interested in the Folan two-cylinder (see MOTORRAD 14/1997). However, after countless problems with the prototype, the Austrians dropped the project.
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