Motorcycle specifications HusqvarnaSvartpilen 125 2023 Wheels and runes

we tend to forget it, but Husqvarna was not just a huge motocross player. The brand also won in speed, sold road models in the first half of its existence, and had a reputation for innovation. But that was before...

after many setbacks and changes of ownership, Husky really got back into the road business with its Svartpilen and Vitpilen roadsters - forget the Nuda episode. In just a few years, sales have risen spectacularly. We might as well take advantage of this trend and offer the family in the particularly buoyant 125 cm3 format.

as a result, we're seeing a little Svartpilen hit the roads. Apart from its off-road models, we haven't seen a Husqvarna in this size range for... a very long time. With its design based on the 701 and 401, this little lady has a very different identity from anything else on the market. Neither manga, nor retro, nor techno, nor even less consensual, the 125 Svartpilen is a shockingly chic motorcycle.

let's kill the suspense right away as to the true origins of this Swedish bike. It's a nationality in name only. Engine and chassis come directly from KTM (the parent company); more precisely, from the 125 Duke. Except that the designers had the intelligence and good sense to create such a specific bodywork that it's almost impossible to see the little Duke underneath. This allows the Svartpilen to avoid a confrontation on the same ground. The Duke is aggressive, taut, biting and protruding, while the "black arrow" takes a more hipster approach, with offbeat art, street experience and unusual shapes. And it works! It's strange only at first glance, then quickly gives off a hypnotic sense of young Hasgardian warrior.

so, yes, its ambience can be disturbing or enchanting. But you've got to admire the tour de force in bringing together in harmony its sides, stretched out like a puddle of ice, the horizon of the saddle and tank, this chainsaw-planed rear end, the beautiful inverted fork, the spoked rims wrapped in off-road tires and a headlamp that's as round as it is bionic. Special mention must go to the package holder hanging above the fuel tank. Unprecedented, intriguing and striking.

let's change our view. We've only glimpsed the Katoche underside of this Svartpilen. Let's take a look at its engine. The Austrian single-cylinder gets Husqvarna-badged crankcases to cleverly fool the world. Cool! Equipped with 46 mm fuel injection, 4 valves, double ACT and liquid cooling, it produces the legal maximum of 15 hp at 9,500 rpm. 12 Nm of torque are on tap at 7,500 rpm. The bike can therefore be seen parading alongside its Duke cousin, but also croc-en-jambering the Mondial HPS, CB 125 R, Zontes Scrambler and Yam XSR.

the black-painted steel trellis frame is as unobtrusive as possible. It won't be bent by the mill's measured power; there's no risk of it buckling under load, so it can easily hold the 43 mm WP fork and shock absorber of the same origin. Only the latter is preload-adjustable. The suspension offers a little more travel than most roadsters, with 142 mm of travel. These extra few mm of travel augur a little more comfort.

at 146 kilos on the scales, the little Svartpilen is in the upper middle of the 125 weight class. This won't be a problem for the ByBre braking system, already installed on the top range. The large 320 mm front disc is clamped by a 4-piston radial caliper. The rear is less demanding, with a 230 mm disc and a single piston to calm it down.

with its KTM "Ready to race" genetics, it can be tempting to provoke the Svart', push it into sporty riding and have fun stressing the chassis. But the tires will prevent you from fully exploiting the Husqy's potential. Their large cobblestones will limit on-road efficiency. On the other hand, these Pirelli Scorpion STRs will allow some off-road excursions.

on the instrumentation side , we remain in the fratricidal spirit. Only circular shapes are used to manage the display, whether for the LCD screen, the rev counter or the whole unit. Information is plentiful (speed, gear engaged, engine rpm, fuel gauge, engine temperature, clock, text indications, etc.). However, the superimposed glass can blur legibility with various reflections, especially in sunlight.

husqvarna shoots its arrows successfully. With their design apostrophe, the 'Pilen are not roadsters like the others. This 125 follows the same philosophy. But it pays the price. The youngest Svartpilen is also one of the most expensive bikes in its class. Riding different is a choice or a crush.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos