Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 First Ride Review: 3 Likes And 2 Dislikes

This Swedish 400cc neo-retro scrambler-themed roadster is like Clark Kent baring his Superman suit

Husqvarna is a Swedish bikemaker, well-known for their bikes with clean, premium design mixed with KTM-derived performance. While its 250cc bike range didn’t have as much impact as the KTM bikes because of their lack of practicality, Husqvarna has listened to the general feedback and has come with two new offerings, the (new to India) Svartpilen 401 and the updated Vitpilen 250. We got to ride the Svartpilen 401, and here’s what we think of the 400cc neo-retro scrambler-themed bike:

Likes:

Elegant Design

The Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen range were always known for their graceful design, and the new Svartpilen 401 is no different. Its round headlight has a circular LED DRL. The squarish flyscreen does a good job of hiding the visual dissonance between the circular headlight and the contrasting rectangular TFT instrument cluster (it’s pretty info-packed too). While the fuel tank is compact, it holds a generous 13.5 litres of fuel. Its extruded portions boldly bear the numbers ‘401’ along with a neat yellow strip at the edge.

The fuel tank panel extends all the way down, eliminating the need for separate side panels. There’s a distinct diagonal line that flows right from the tank extensions to the monoshock, giving the motorcycle a very clean look. The pillion grab rails do look somewhat out of place but they are pretty functional. So is the traditional rear mudguard with its integrated number plate holder as it prevents mud splashes. I’d have liked having the option to go for the tyre hugger-integrated number plate holder like the older generation bike, though. That would’ve kept the tail section really clean. The overall proportions are about 20 percent larger than before, including a roomier seat for better rider and pillion comfort.

So as far as design is concerned, the Svartpilen 401 will be loved by everyone - be it a more mature audience or even the Gully Gang  - as long as they appreciate neat, elegant design.

As Exciting To Ride As The New KTM 390 Duke:

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 gets the same 399cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine making 46PS and 39Nm. The gearing, sprocketing is all the same as the new Duke 390. As a consequence, the Svartpilen is ever-so-eager to go faster, and you’re already doing triple digit speeds before you know it. There’s barely a hint of strain in the engine even as it pushes past 130kmph. You could comfortably cruise at 110-120kmph (where the vibrations are minimal), and can easily hit speedo-indicated bursts to 140+kmph. There’s a bit of a buzz from the handlebars and footpegs but it’s not very bothersome as you’ll mostly be concentrating on the road at higher speeds. The engine really comes to life after 5,000rpm, so you can effortlessly sit at 6000rpm doing a speedo-indicated 100kmph on the 6th gear.

That said, even the low-end torque in the first to third gears is enough for hassle-free city commutes, not to mention the light clutch lever action. Oh, it also gets bi-directional quickshifter as standard. It can be a little jerky under 3000rpm in the first two gears but nothing too jarring. As the revs climb, the quickshifter works super seamlessly. All in all, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is very usable in the city, and will put a smile on your face every time you hit even a short open stretch of road. 

For those who are curious about the ‘Kitna deti hai’ aspect of the bike, Husqvarna claims a mileage of 30.4kmpl for the new Svartpilen 401, which isn’t that bad for a performance-oriented 400cc engine.

Excellent Handling:

Just like the new KTM 390 Duke, the new Svartpilen 401 also gets compression and rebound adjustable inverted fork up front and preload and rebound adjustable monoshock at the rear - both WP Apex units. That means, the suspension is versatile enough to be tweaked as per your weight and the kind of road condition you generally encounter. The stock setting was perfect for both everyday commutes and spirited riding. It easily soaks up those annoying small, sharp speed breakers and the bike maintains its composure even while switching lanes on a very uneven road at triple digit speeds. Despite the light 171kg kerb weight, the 390 Duke-borrowed chassis is impressively predictable at high speeds. What’s even more reassuring at such speeds are the brakes. The front brake’s lever action is progressive, offering fantastic feedback. You can modulate the brake with just one finger, and it ensures you’re always in control every time you go fast. The premium Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres offer enough grip on the road as well as on the light trails we encountered. For added safety, the bike also gets switchable traction control, and for versatility, a dual-channel ABS with SuperMoto mode. Switch off the traction control and tune the ABS to SuperMoto mode, and you can have fun sliding the bike on gravel. 

Dislikes:

No Tubeless Tyres:

Sure, the spoke wheels add to the Svartpilen 401’s flair, but they’re not compatible with tubeless tyres. Though those Pirellis are technically tubeless, they run on tubed setup on this bike because of this. The spoke wheels help in dealing with our bad roads as they can absorb shocks and impacts better than the relatively rigid alloy ones, but living with its disadvantage of not having tubeless tyres is not worth it in my opinion. Thankfully, Husqvarna will offer the option to swap out the new Vitpilen 250’s wheels with the Svartpilen 401, which will allow the Pirellis to run a proper tubeless setup. The pricing and warranty considerations are being worked upon, so we’ll have to wait and see. 

Not A True-blue Scrambler:

Other than the spoke wheels and the off-road friendly tyres, the Svartpilen 401 does not get additional suspension travel as compared to the new 390 Duke. In fact, even the 177mm ground clearance is 6mm lower than the Duke. Husqvarna has dialled down the purposefulness of the Svartpilen 401 for the sake of everyday usability. So if you’re a proper scrambler enthusiast, you might want to look elsewhere as the Svartpilen 401 is more of a scrambler-themed roadster. 

Should You Buy The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401?

The India-spec bike doesn’t have an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), so it does not get the lean angle-sensitive traction control or multiple ride modes. Even smartphone connectivity is optional. All these changes result in the Svartpilen being Rs 18,531 less expensive than the Duke - Rs 2,92,000 (ex-showroom, at the time of writing). 

So if you’re someone who doesn’t want fancy electronics and are looking for pure performance with subtle (but tasteful) design, practical pillion seat, and with features that cover all the basics, the Svartpilen 401 is the perfect bike for you.