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First Look: Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, 401 Vitpilen and 401 Svarpilen

Husky Is Back on the Street! PLUS two radical concepts from Husqvarna!

November 5, 2014

In the short period of time that BMW owned the Husqvarna brand, a small number of streetbikes rolled out of the Italian factory, with the promise of many more to come. That fell away when BMW dropped Husky like a psychopathic blind date, but now that it’s an entity under KTM ownership, things are starting to turn. Albeit slowly.

First Look: Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, 401 Vitpilen and 401 SvarpilenPhoto: Husqvarna

Proof is the 701 Supermoto, introduced at the EICMA show in Milan. Make that “re-introduced,” since the 701 was displayed as a concept article last year. But now Husky has confirmed that it will indeed make the Supermoto as a 2015 model.

First Look: Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, 401 Vitpilen and 401 SvarpilenPhoto: Husqvarna

Wrapped in a new steel-tube chassis and slathered with somewhat controversial bodywork (featuring “functional ribbing”) lies the beating heart of a familiar thumper: the 690cc, liquid-cooled engine from KTM’s 690 Duke. Fitted with ride-by-wire electronics, the Husky version of the engine makes 67 hp and gets three engine maps, Standard, Soft, and Advanced.

First Look: Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, 401 Vitpilen and 401 SvarpilenPhoto: Husqvarna

Using a unique frame, the Husky 701 comes in at 320 pounds. The white wonder is slightly larger than the KTM 690 Duke, with a 58.3-inch wheelbase (up by 0.6 inches) and a seat height of 35 inches (compared to the KTM’s 32.9).

Husky has not yet released prices for the US.

EICMA 2014 CONCEPTS FROM HUSQVARNA

Husqvarna Motorcycles presented two radically new concept motorcycles at EICMA: the 401 Svartpilen and 401 Vitpilen The concepts pay homage to Husqvarna history and draw on the DNA of the 1953 Husqvarna Silverpilen ("Silver Arrow").Photo: Husqvarna

One of two concepts shown at EICMA 2014 is the 401 Vitpilen, or white arrow. Based on a new 400cc liquid-cooled thumper, the Vitpilen embraces the barest of street fighter aesthetics. It’s penned by Kiska Design, which is partly owned by KTM and is responsible for many of its designs.Photo: Husqvarna

Husky’s other concept bike at EICMA, the Svartpilen (black arrow) is a clear shot at the heart of Ducati’s new Scrambler and bikes of that ilk. Using the same chassis and 400cc single, the Svart goes full urban/agro with an enduro bar, knobby tires, and functional racks. This is the bike Mad Max would ride.Photo: Husqvarna

EICMA 2014 CONCEPTS FROM HUSQVARNA

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