Husqvarna’s Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 are minimal and rider-friendly bikes

Michelle Liew

March 13, 2018

Photo credits: Husqvarna

Swedish brand Husqvarna made a grand impression with their production versions of the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 during the U.S media event in New York. The brand is currently owned by KTM.

The Vitpilen 401 exuded a traditional vibe with its simple appearance. Although minimal, its performance is undeniable. The bike features a steel handlebar, spoked wheels and semi-knobby Pirelli tires. Its counterpart Svartpilen 401 is more of a sporty bike with its aluminum clip ons and stickier Metzeler rubber.

Both bikes are based on KTM 390 platforms due to their steel trellis frame, upside-down fork and monoshock suspension setup. They also come with disc brakes with a four-pot front caliper and single-piston rear. The bikes are backed by a 375cc four-stroke engine mated to a six-speed transmission. It produces 43hp at 9,000 rpm and 27 lb-ft. of torque at 7,000 rpm.

Photo credits: Husqvarna

Photo credits: Husqvarna

“The bikes are not intimidating at all,” says Maxime Thouvenin of KISKA Inc., the Austrian design house behind the new Husqvarna street bikes. “This was very important. We needed (the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401) to be attractive, but also really approachable.”

“This was one of the key elements back in the day,” adds Steve Masterson, KISKA’s stateside boss. “Everybody was riding because motorcycling was inclusive. You just swung your leg on and you’d do it. Over the years, (street bikes) got bigger and bigger and badder and badder, more performance … Today, people are still buying motorbikes, but they’re buying them differently. They’re buying old bikes and customizing.”

Very minimal and rider-friendly; Vintage yet stylish; Many accessories making it much more feasible for the riders. The bikes are definitely the perfect selection for beginners and style-conscious commuters.

Photo credits: Husqvarna

Photo credits: Husqvarna