Husqvarna was a designated "outdoor power products" before venturing into the world of motorcycles. They have made supermoto and endurance motorcycles along with a recently found keen and distinctive take on street bikes as well. Swedish automakers are well known for their distinctive design inspirations and a fine fusion of retro aspects to it. After being acquires by KTM in 2013, they have worked together in providing accessible and fun riding motorcycles to the world. The latest entry-level duo of this prodigy includes the likes of Swartpilen and Vitpilen.
Husqvarna Svartpilen is the more rugged one of the two and is evident with its knobby tires and upright sitting position. It shares a lot with the KTM Duke 390 including the mainframe and engine but has been extensively tuned by Husqvarna to cater more to the rugged urban picture it portrays. It was notably updated with tweaks to the subframe and a new paint job as well. So, it is highly unlikely to get any new changes in 2021. Speaking of which, the Huskies have, from inception, been a bold set of bikes among entry-level offerings and sets itself apart with neo-retro design language coupled to explosive fun to ride characteristics. It has a niche set of competitors that includes the Honda CB300R and its twin, KTM 390.
The 2021 Husqvarna Svartpilen will continue to be a neo-retro motorcycle for the urban jungle with a timeless appeal and explosive performance for its class.
Engine And Performance
Husqvarna wanted its baby Huskies to be accessible, peppy, and compact which is the reason why they went with the much loved 22.76 cu. in. (373 cc.) single-cylinder 4-stroke unit. This is the same unit that is used in the KTM Duke 390 and RC390, albeit in a different state of tune. The 2021 Svartpilen will continue to use this powerplant as it has proved to be a sweet little thing that also happens to provide with the most horses per cu. in. in its class.
This peppy motor pumps out 43 hp and 25.9 lb-ft and is coupled to a 6-Speed gearbox that is equipped with clutchless up-shifts and down-shifts. This is not because of a quick-shifter but a cleaver sensor that detects the rider's inputs which in turn allows the ECU to change the engine characteristics, at any give RPM. There are no moving parts here that set it apart. It has a top speed of 105 mph which is rather quick for a single-cylinder motor.
Related: Here's What We Expect From The Husqvarna 701 Supermoto
Handling And Riding Dynamics
Husqvarna has made the Svartpilen in the guise of a scrambler. Knobby tires, a shorter sub-frame, and an upright sitting position help it double up as such. We say that because the Svartpilen is as fierce off the roads as it is on them! The shorter wheelbase comes in handy and makes it immensely maneuverable, instilling confidence in newbies at the earliest as well.
It shares the main trellis frame with the KTM Duke 390 which has impressed us earlier as well with its high endurance rate. Even at prolonged top speed runs on the highway at a constant 6000+ RPM, the Husky doesn't show any sign of strain. It's WP upside-down front forks and mono-shock rear setup works in harmony with the balanced frame layout to provide for an easy to ride layout both on and off the roads. The hydraulic brakes on this bike are sourced from ByBre and provide with ample bite to get hold in any given situation. Husqvarna will mostly carry on with this well-balanced layout without any tweaks.
Technology And Design Features
The Swedes have always had a keen taste for minimal designs. They have their way with a minimalist design language that speaks highly of art. The same has been implemented in the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, which is also shared with its elder. They have managed to fuse classic and timeless motorcycling cues with a modern approach. The bodywork is minimal but turns heads. Unlike sharp lines and edges that dominate its twin- the KTM Duke 390, this Husky gets smooth lines that are uninterrupted.
Coupling this simplicity with 17-inch knobby tires and spoke alloys have an even more dramatic approach than most fully-faired motorcycles out there! Technology is also well backed but it too has been embodied with a minimal approach. The lighting is LED and the headlamp has a halo ring around the edge, vaguely reminding us of the latest Ducati Monster line-up. The instrument cluster is circular and surprisingly fits a lot more information that is expected from such a form factor. It's an all-digital layout that along with all the other attention-seeking features will be carried over for 2021 as well.
Pricing And Warranty
The 2020 Husqvarna Svartpilen is priced from $6,299. This is expected to be carried over unchanged into 2021 as this peppy off-road-ready urban runabout will be getting no notable updates. Apart from the standard bundle Husqvarna also offers a host of accessories that includes a performance exhaust system from Akrapovic as well as performance clutch kits from Rekluse. It also includes various touring centric bits like a toolbox, lashing strap set, smartphone bracket, and many more which will also be carried over.
It comes with a standard warranty of 2 years/unlimited miles which is ample for a peppy urban motorcycle that likes to gets its shoes dirty, once in a while. This will also be carried over unchanged in the 2021 Husqvarna Svartpilen as well. The baby Huskies have helped revive an automaker that was frankly unknown to many. But with KTM's help, they have managed to bounce back up and provide for a sweet little package that is high on thrills yet cheap on the wallet. Expect this feat to continue for 2021 as well.
Sources: totalmotorcycle.com, Husqvarna.com, Wikipedia.com, Reddit.com