2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 Review

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2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 Review

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 scrambler (above) and Vitpilen 401 roadster have been updated with a new engine, chassis, and tech. (Photos by Kevin Wing)

When the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 debuted back in 2018, they stood apart from the usual crowd of new bikes with hard-to-pronounce Swedish names and minimalist neo-retro styling. Their sculpted body panels that ran from the tank to the subframe and stubby tailsections were modern, but their single round headlights and spoked wheels had an old-school vibe.

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (right) and Vitpilen 401 (lef) are the same except for styling, wheels, and tires.

While their names might sound like a set of bookcases you'd find at Ikea, Svartpilen means "black arrow" and Vitpilen means "white arrow" in Husqvarna's Swedish mother tongue. To avoid any confusion, the Svartpilen comes in black/gray and the Vitpilen comes in white. Both are built on the same platform as the KTM 390 Duke, which got a major update for 2024 that carries over to the 'Pilens.

The ‘Pilens are powered by the same 399cc LC4c Single found in the KTM 390 Duke.

Their shared single-cylinder engine has a 4mm-longer stroke, bumping displacement from 373cc to 399cc and boosting output to 44 hp (up from 43) and 28.8 lb-ft of torque (up from 27). The engine also has a new cylinder head, revised fuel injection, and an updated airbox. Gear changes are smoother thanks to changes to the 6-speed transmission, which is mated to a slip/assist clutch. And the Easy Shift up/down quickshifter is now standard equipment.

The tubular-steel trellis frame is stiffer, and the rear shock has been moved to the right side of the bike.

Wrapped around the engine is a new steel trellis frame with more torsional rigidity than its predecessor. Both the frame and the new curved cast-aluminum swingarm were designed so the rear shock could be mounted on the right side of the bike, which enables a lower seat height (32.2 inches, down from 32.9) and space for the new exhaust system's chamber ahead of the rear wheel.

The Svartpilen 401 has spoked wheels that require tubes and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR adventure tires.

Both bikes are equipped with WP Apex suspension, with 5.9 inches of travel front and rear. The 43mm inverted open-cartridge fork has separate damping functions, with compression in the left tube and rebound in the right tube. Convenient tool-less fork-top adjusters allow five clicks of damping adjustability, but spring preload is fixed. The rear shock allows five clicks of rebound adjustability with a flathead screwdriver, and it has a ramped collar that allows 10 steps of preload adjustment using a spanner (both tools are in the toolkit).

Atop the fork caps are convenient finger-turn clickers for rebound and compression adjustment.

The rear shock is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping.

In addition to the lower seat height, the Vitpilen's clip-on handlebars, which were mounted below the triple clamp in the past, have been replaced with an upright handlebar like the Svartpilen's, though with a slightly lower rise to suit its roadster style. This gives both bikes a comfortable upright seating position.

Both bikes have a tapered aluminum handlebar, and the Svartpilen’s (shown) has a slightly taller rise.

The main differences between the 'Pilens are styling and wheel/tire fitment. The Vitpilen leans into the roadster theme with 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels shod with Michelin Power 6 sport tires. The scrambler-ish Svartpilen rolls on 17-inch spoked wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR knobby tires.

With short wheelbases, sporty geometry, and low weight, the 401s are feisty little canyon carvers.

Gear Up

• Helmet: Arai Corsair-X
• Jacket: Joe Rocket Alliance
• Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5
• Gloves: Joe Rocket Seeker
• Pants: Joe Rocket Anthem Jeans
• Boots: Joe Rocket Sonic X

2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

Husqvarna hosted a launch for the 401s that allowed us to ride one bike in the morning and the other in the afternoon. After loading up on caffeine and carbs at the breakfast bar, I threw a leg over the Svartpilen.

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401’s scrambler style includes spoked wheels, knobby tires, and a small skid plate.

Bikes like these always feel diminutive for a 6-foot-1, 210-lb guy like me, but by no means do they feel cramped. Their handlebars have just the right amount of height and width, and their narrow seats make it easy to flat-foot at stops. As naked bikes, they are free from the visual mass of a fairing. Weighing just 341 lb for the Vitpilen and 351 lb for the Svartpilen, they are slender, compact, and purposeful. The Svartpilen's spoked wheels, chunkier tires, flyscreen, skid plate, and passenger grab bar account for its extra weight.

The 5-inch TFT color display has vivid graphics that make it easy to navigate settings and menus.

For bikes priced at just $5,899, the 'Pilens are equipped with some nice tech features. In addition to the quickshifter, they have throttle-by-wire that enables two ride modes (Street and Rain), lean-sensitive traction control with three modes (Street, Rain, and Off), and cornering ABS with two modes (Road and Supermoto; the latter disables rear ABS). They also have a 5-inch bonded-glass TFT full-color instrument panel, a Bluetooth connectivity system, a USB-C charging port, and LED lighting.

Deer Creek Road, which rises steeply from the Pacific Coast Highway, is a fantastic road for testing bikes.

The launch for these bikes was in California's coastal Santa Monica Mountains, aka the Malibu hills, which are north of Los Angeles and have been used as one of our go-to testing and photography locations since Rider was founded in 1974. Familiarity with these roads allowed me to focus more on the bikes than what was around the next bend. In Street mode, the Svartpilen has quick throttle response, and the 399cc Single spins up quickly.

The WP Apex suspension on the ‘Pilens is quality hardware, and the adjustability is a real plus at this price range.

With a modest 44 hp that peaks at 8,500 rpm, keeping the engine revved up is essential for fast cornering. Comimg out of a corner in a gear too high or allowing the revs to drop kills one's drive, so it pays to keep the throttle cranked and to give the quickshifter a workout. Therein lays the appeal of the 'Pilens: rider engagement. On bigger bikes you can short-shift and get lazy, but the 401s demand the rider's full attention and input to squeeze the most out of them.

With a short wheelbase, sporty steering geometry, and narrow tires (110/70-R17 front, 150/60-R17 rear), the Svartpilen bends into and out of corners effortlessly, and it transitions from side to side with confident ease. The entire exhaust system is tucked under the bike, helping to keep mass low and centralized. With rear preload set for my weight and the clickers clicked for a firm ride, the suspension smoothed out the dips and cracks that are so common in the Malibu canyons.

2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs have large tread blocks that gripped the pavement well, and they weren't noisy like some knobbies can be. Single-disc brakes front and rear with steel-braided lines are supplied by ByBre, with an opposed 4-piston radial front caliper pinching a 320mm disc and 2-piston floating rear caliper pinching a 240mm disc. Braking power and feel were satisfactory, but given my husky weight and the pace of competitive, caffeine-addled motojournalists, I swear I could hear the brake pads groan in pain each time I gorilla-gripped the lever.

The Vitpilen 401’s Michelin Power 6 tires give it a slightly sportier edge over the  Svartpilen.

2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401

Nearly all the riding impressions above also apply to the Vitpilen. Except for the color of their bodywork and the Svartpilen's slightly taller handlebar and wee screen peaking above the TFT instrument panel, you can't tell the difference between them from the saddle. They sound the same, feel the same, and respond the same.

2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401

What it really comes down to is tires. The Vitpilen's Michelin Power 6 tires are smoother, grippier, and have a more responsive profile than the Svartpilen's Pirelli knobbies. Both are premium tires, so the difference isn't night and day. But the Michelins sharpen the steering and feel more stable when leaned over in corners, which imparts more confidence to the rider.

The single-disc front brake could use more power, or maybe I should just lose some weight.

Both bikes are a lot of fun to ride and are suitable for a wide range of riders. Their size and price naturally make them seem like they're intended for new or young riders, but an experienced old guy like me would love to have one in my garage. But which one?

They're priced the same and they offer nearly the same riding experience, so what it comes down to is styling preference – and tubeless versus tube-type tires. I love scramblers, so the Svartpilen would be my first choice based purely on styling. But its spoked wheels require tubes, which are a real headache when it comes to roadside flat repair.

Black arrow or white arrow? You can’t go wrong with either one.

For my money, I'd buy a Vitpilen, and then I'd dig into Husqvarna's accessory catalog to turn it into a street scrambler. I'd add a flyscreen, headlight protector, crash bars, radiator grille, and lever protectors, and when the Michelin Road 6s wear out, I'd replace them with some semi-knobby tires to complete the look.

2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 / Vitpilen 401 Specs

• Base Price: $5,899
• Website: HusqvarnaMotorcycles.com
• Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
• Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse Single, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
• Displacement: 399cc
• Bore x Stroke: 89 x 64mm
• Horsepower: 44 hp @ 8,500 rpm (factory claim)
• Torque: 28.8 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm (factory claim)
• Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch
• Final Drive: Chain
• Wheelbase: 53.9 in.
• Rake/Trail: 24 degrees/3.7 in.
• Seat Height: 32.2 in.
• Wet Weight: 351 lb / 341 lb
• Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gal.

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