KTM, or more specifically parent company Pierer Mobility Group, have been hoovering up motorcycle brands in recent years – taking on GASGAS and Husqvarna and buying into Chinese company CFMOTO as well as legendary Italian marque MV Agusta.
And it makes sense. KTM is one of the most focussed motorcycle brands on sale today and this must surely compromise their ability to expand into new sectors. Painted bright orange and developed to meet the company’s motto ‘Ready to Race’ it is hard to imagine KTM making a scooter, a cruiser or… a retro. Which is where Husqvarna comes in….
The ‘Swedish’ motorcycle brand started out way back in 1903, part of a manufacturing group which made everything from guns to sewing machines and gardening equipment. The brand still makes lawnmowers and chainsaws, although the motorbike company has been completely separate since 1987, and part of the Pierer group since 2013.
Anyway, we’ve seen quite a few new Husqvarnas over the last decade – all more or less badge engineered versions of KTMs. They have been off-roaders or small capacity road bikes with more classic lines than their KTM cousins, but this new-for-2024 Svartpilen 801 is the most sophisticated Husky yet. Sure it shares its underpinnings with the orange brand, but it’s got a good chunk of its own character too – creating the sort of motorcycle you just couldn’t see KTM releasing under its own banner.
On the surface it’s a restyled version of the KTM 790 Duke, a machine which remains in KTM’s range as a budget, Chinese built, alternative to its own 890 Duke in the premium middleweight category. The Svartpilen (which translates as ‘Black Arrow’ from Swedish) shares the 799cc parallel-twin engine with the 790, albeit in a slightly higher state of tune. The chassis too is largely the same as the one found in the Duke, although again in modified form. Overall the spec is much higher than that of the 790 Duke, which is reflected in the significant price difference (£10,499 against £7999). With the Svartpilen 801, it’s much more of a parts bin special than a case of badge engineering.
And then, of course, there’s the styling. Husqvarna call it distinctive, minimalist and scrambler-inspired. The scrambler touches can be seen in the headlight design, the steel crossbar on the tapered handlebars and the adoption of Pirelli MT60 RS tyres, rubber which has a mild off-road styled tread pattern on it. Our bike also had the optional flyscreen fitted, a £116 accessory which really enhances the look.
Two things struck me when I climbed on board for the first time. First is the riding position. It’s not particularly tall (the seat height is 820mm, with a suspension lowering kit available to drop that by 25mm available as an accessory) but it’s got that typical upright scrambler stance which feels really commanding. The second thing is the feeling of lightness. In my mind the styling makes the Svartpilen look a little chunky but the official weight is just 181kg (without fuel) and it carries it ever so well.
Starting the motor begins the entertainment. It’s a proper firecracker. You get a full fat 103bhp, meaning there’s no option to restrict it for A2 licence holders, and its well matched with the chassis. KTM nickname the 790 Duke ‘The Scalpel’ so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the Svartpilen is also a bit lively. As we mentioned before, the Husqvarna’s frame is a modified version of the Cro-Mo steel unit found on the Duke, the main difference being the shallower steering angle, which should blunt the scalpel’s edge slightly, but without riding them back to back it is impossible to say how they compare.
Either way, the Svartpilen is phenomenal fun on the back roads. It’s a vivacious ride but I still felt like I was able to boss the bike thanks to the upright riding position and wide ‘bars which, combined with the light weight, made it easy to chuck around.
With their heavy treads, those Pirelli MT60 RSs look like they should be mediocre on the road but the truth is they are more than enough tyre for most of the riders most of the time. Frankly I should know better as I’ve ridden plenty of bikes on them and have always been impressed. Whether the style of the tyres suit the bike’s look is another matter, but wanging down back roads you won’t be disappointed with their performance. From an aesthetic point of view, I think I’d rather have spoked wheels instead of the cast alloy units fitted. That’s how it is with the 390 Duke based 401 Svartpilen, but this hasn’t been followed through on the bigger twin. It’s a shame, as I think it would have made the 801 stand out even more, but I am sure there are some reasons behind this.
It's not a cheap bike but you do get a lot for your money. Suspension is more premium than you’d find on the 790 Duke. They’re fully adjustable ‘APEX’ units courtesy of the KTM-owned WP brand, with a steering damper also fitted to help calm things down on bumpier roads. Brakes are Husqvarna branded and left no lasting impression either way, being neither mind-blowingly powerful nor disappointing weak. It all works well enough and benefits from the latest cornering ABS technology.
The engine loves to be revved and it’s backed up by a very strong electronics package. The standard up and down quickshifter works well and you get three selectable ride modes Rain, Street and Sport out of the box. Adjustable lean-angle sensitive traction control is also included but, disappointingly considering the price, you need to pay extra to unlock all of the electronic features. The Dynamic pack sits behind a £360 paywall but gives a user defined fourth riding mode, five-level anti-wheelie, adjustable engine brake and more sophisticated nine-level traction control. The cruise control is also a £250 extra and while I am sure the manufacturer has worked out the numbers, the idea of paying over £600 more for ‘software enhancements’ on a £10.5k bike is likely to wind up some potential buyers in this increasingly tough marketplace. Holding it all together is a crisp TFT dashboard which really looks the part.
There’s not a lot on the market like the Svartpilen 801. You’d naturally look to the retro market, where Ducati’s Scrambler and Fantic’s Caballero 700 are more classic scramblers but nowhere near as powerful as the Husky, leaving the Yamaha XSR900 as probably the closest direct competitor we can think off.
Like the Yamaha, the Husqvarna is less mellow scrambler and more a stylish alternative for those of us who love those fast middleweights, but aren’t so keen on the minimalist and aggressive styling and ergonomics which usually comes with them.
That’s why I really loved my time with the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801. Even after having plenty of time to reflect, I’m still not too sure what I think about the looks. It’s quirky and downright odd in some places, but it certainly isn’t boring and I think that’s the brilliant thing about it. Every time I take a look I see something different and, in a world of Dukes, MTs and Zs, it is a fresh alternative to those bikes, as well as a higher performance option to the more mellow retro scramblers.
I really enjoyed riding the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801. It’s a bit different, yet playful and easy to ride. I found it decently comfortable, well specced and nicely detailed. At £10,499, it’s cheaper than the Ducati Scrambler Nightshift and priced right up there with the likes of the Triumph Street Triple RS and Yamaha XSR900, although it will be easy to add a stealthy grand on top by unlocking all the electronic features and adding a few popular accessories like the flyscreen and some crash protection.
Whether it has enough to appeal to attract riders to Husqvarna remains to be seen, but it’s a welcome addition to the range of this revived retro brand and a very credible alternative to more conventional roadster designs.
2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 specification
Price: £10,499
Engine: 799cc parallel-twin, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
Power: 103bhp (77kW) @ 9250rpm
Torque: 87Nm @ 8000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed, chain final drive
Frame: Chromium-molybdenum steel frame with engine as stressed member
Suspension: (F) Fully-adjustable 43mm USD fork, (R) Fully-adjustable mono shock.
Wheels: Cast aluminium, 17”/17”
Tyres: (F) 120/70 x 17, (R) 180/55 x 17
Brakes: (F) 2 x 300mm discs, four-piston radial calipers, (R) 240mm disc, two-piston caliper. Cornering ABS as standard equipment
Weight: 181kg (without fuel)
Wheelbase: 1,476mm
Seat height: 820mm
Fuel tank: 14 litres
Service intervals: 9300 miles/12 months
Warranty: 24 months unlimited mileage
Contact: www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com
