Motorcycle specifications Husqvarna801 Svartpilen 2025 A detour to Bla Jungfrun

Swedish fragrances produce creatures with enigmatic accents. Long after the confidential 900 Nuda (under the BMW era), Husqvarna took advantage of the impetus provided by its owner (KTM) to review its roadster philosophy and launched the 701 Svartpilen and Vitpilen. Here too, success was mixed, due to a singular design and a motorization that was not very fashionable in its segment. A gromono when everyone else is riding a twin or a tri doesn't really fit in, even if the block in question offers a crazy 75hp output.

Husky is back with a new 801 Svartpilen, still surprising but this time with a much more up-to-the-minute engine. It takes full advantage of the Mattighofen organ bank, starting with the well-known twin-cylinder of the 790 Duke and Adventure. Punchy, fast and fun! But the Svartpilen doesn't hold back like its 95-hp cousins. No, the 801 is almost as strong as the old 790 Duke (2018 - 2020). The 799 cm3, 52-kilogram twin delivers 105 hp at 9250 rpm and a handsome 8.9 mkg of torque at 8,000 rpm. A more polite engine management system enables it to offer a different response from its Austrian cousin.

By giving a little more than the 790 and a little less than the 990, the 801 Svartpilen avoids sniffing their behinds and offers an intermediate alternative of robustness in addition to its stunning design. Like all "Pilen" models, the 801 has a very distinctive look. Its round Norden look, its runic shapes, the reinforcement bar on the handlebars, its Pirelli MT60 RS shoes, the aluminum engine cover, the drab colors.... It's a far cry from its Duke cousin and its incisiveness. So much the better, as inbreeding will be harder to establish.

This Svartpilen combines genres in an iconoclastic sense. It's a roadster, with most of the attributes, suspension, wheels and frame designed for the road... but equipped with cobblestone tires (with very good grip, by the way), gentle off-road style, in 120 and 180 sizes. A mix between a Duke and a Ducati 1100 Scrambler?!?

The chassis, like the engine, comes from the Austrian workshops. The backbone is a minimalist tubular structure in chrome-molybdenum steel, using the mechanics as a stiffening element. Around it hang APEX-type WP components, such as a 43 mm inverted fork with 140 mm travel and a monoshock with 150 mm travel. The duo can be adjusted for compression and rebound damping at the front and preload and rebound damping at the rear. Husqvarna uses the same braking solution as KTM, with 4-piston J.Juan radial calipers gripping 300 mm discs. At the other end is a 240 mm disc. And on top of them, a cornering ABS, with Supermoto function to deactivate the rear and give the Svartpilen's hind end a bit of a jiggle on suitable terrain. A steering damper, on the other hand, is there to prevent the front end from becoming too casual.

The Swedish millstone is less frigid than it appears, combining mischievous escapades with an ambassadorial air. And all with a healthy dose of technology. The engine can count on an anti-drible clutch to avoid racket damage and an Up&Down shifter. Electronics are in line with Pierer Group standards, with angle-sensitive traction control that can be deactivated, 3 riding modes (Street - Sport - Rain) + an optional Dynamic Mode (bringing with it engine slip regulation, wheeling control with 5 levels of lift + off, and cruise control), a 5-inch TFT color screen with its own display theme (not a Katoche copy-paste), backlit controls, LEDs for all lighting and Smartphone connectivity installed as standard - a Bluetooth link to enjoy music, phone calls and the "Ride Husqvarna Motorcycles" app for simplified navigation, among others.

The "Black Fleche" weighs barely more than the Duke in its segment. Very logical, given its genetic make-up. at 181 kg, it's right up there with the best in its class. Its price is well above that of the 790 Duke, but its equipment is richer. Its genesis doesn't make it a sharp, aggressive roadster, but a pseudo-scrambler with an esoteric charm.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos