In an entirely unsurprising move, Husqvarna has comprehensively updated the Svartpilen 401, along with the Svartpilen 125 and Vitpilen 125/401. We’ve been expecting this ever since KTM refreshed its Duke 125 and Duke 390 bikes, as the aforementioned Husky models use those KTMs as a starting point.
And so, the Svartpilen/Vitpilen 125/401 have arrived with a new frame, revised engines and fresh tech including a smart five-inch colour TFT dash. Pricing is still very reasonable, with the Svartpilen 401 - our pick of the bunch - coming in at £5,599.
If you don’t want to part with that much cash or aren’t able to, and if you’d rather not tie yourself up with a finance deal, there is the option of a used Svartpilen 401. These bikes have been around for a while now, so while you’d be missing out on all the improvements, you do stand to save a lot of money and end up with a riding experience which shouldn’t be all that different.
You still get a trellis frame, a 373cc single-cylinder engine (slightly less capacity than the thumper in the facelifted 401) which will eagerly scream its way up to around 10,000rpm, and those achingly cool neo-retro looks. 44bhp (giving A2 license compliance) might not sound like much, but the 401 is a light motorbike, tipping the scales at just 150kg, so it feels plenty quick at full twist.
The pithy weight figure means it’s a nimble-feeling bike too, and one with a limited degree of off-road ability thanks to the Pirelli Scorpion tyres wrapping its wire wheels, and a ‘Supermoto’ mode that disengages the ABS.
Our used pick is for sale at an independent dealer in Thame and is up for £2,995 - only a little over half the price of a box-fresh Svartpilen 401. It's not a bike you'll want to do particularly big distances on, as evidenced by the mileage being pretty low at 6,900. A fresh MOT is promised at the point of sale, and it's just had a new battery fitted.
Tempted?
