Motorcycles

Husqvarna gets back on the road with Vitpilen 701 and Svartpilen 701 concept

Husqvarna gets back on the road with Vitpilen 701 and Svartpilen 701 concept
The Vitpilen will be released in March 2018 with an expected price tag of US$13,000 -$15,000
The Vitpilen will be released in March 2018 with an expected price tag of US$13,000 -$15,000
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The Svartpilen 701 flat-tracker concept at EICMA 2017
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The Svartpilen 701 flat-tracker concept at EICMA 2017
The production model of the Vitpilen 701 at EICMA 2017
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The production model of the Vitpilen 701 at EICMA 2017
The Vitpilen 701 is Husqvarna's modern take on retro styling
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The Vitpilen 701 is Husqvarna's modern take on retro styling
The Vitpilen 701 has really low-slung and sleek proportions with its flat silhouette on top of the bike
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The Vitpilen 701 has really low-slung and sleek proportions with its flat silhouette on top of the bike
Up close with the Vitpilen 701
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Up close with the Vitpilen 701
The retro-styled Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 packs a lot of modern features, such as ride-by-wire, traction control and ABS
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The retro-styled Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 packs a lot of modern features, such as ride-by-wire, traction control and ABS
The Vitpilen 701 takes its engine and gearbox from its off-road cousin, the Husqvarna 701
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The Vitpilen 701 takes its engine and gearbox from its off-road cousin, the Husqvarna 701
To ensure that the bike handles and stops as good as it looks, the bike comes standard with WP suspension and Brembo brakes
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To ensure that the bike handles and stops as good as it looks, the bike comes standard with WP suspension and Brembo brakes
The Vitpilen will be released in March 2018 with an expected price tag of US$13,000 -$15,000
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The Vitpilen will be released in March 2018 with an expected price tag of US$13,000 -$15,000
Husqvarna’s intention with the KTM-powered Vitpilen and Svartpilen range is to break into the road-bike segment
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Husqvarna’s intention with the KTM-powered Vitpilen and Svartpilen range is to break into the road-bike segment
The Svartpilen 701 shares its engine and chassis with the Vitpilen, but with some styling changes to give it that flat-tracker look
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The Svartpilen 701 shares its engine and chassis with the Vitpilen, but with some styling changes to give it that flat-tracker look
The exposed conical air filter that was a styling cue shown on the original Vitpilen 701 concept
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The exposed conical air filter that was a styling cue shown on the original Vitpilen 701 concept
Prepare to get stung when you blip that throttle with Svartpilen's wasp nest-like exhaust baffle
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Prepare to get stung when you blip that throttle with Svartpilen's wasp nest-like exhaust baffle
With it's upright riding position and dual sport tires, the Svartpilen 701 can be used to hit the dirt
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With it's upright riding position and dual sport tires, the Svartpilen 701 can be used to hit the dirt
The Svartpilen 701 concept is extremely stripped back with no dash or reservoirs for the brake and clutch
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The Svartpilen 701 concept is extremely stripped back with no dash or reservoirs for the brake and clutch
The side cowl is the spot on the flat-tracker where the race number is usually placed on competition machines.
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The side cowl is the spot on the flat-tracker where the race number is usually placed on competition machines.
The Vitpilen 701 concept bike – the production bike looks nearly identical to the concept minus the exposed airbox and rear hugger
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The Vitpilen 701 concept bike – the production bike looks nearly identical to the concept minus the exposed airbox and rear hugger
The Vitpilen 701 is almost a carbon-copy of the mouth-watering concept teased in 2015
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The Vitpilen 701 is almost a carbon-copy of the mouth-watering concept teased in 2015
View gallery - 18 images

Husqvarna hasn't manufactured a purely road-focused machine ever since it culled its stunning Nuda in 2013. Back in November 2015, though, Husqvarna wowed audiences at EICMA with the Vitpilen 701 concept, which clearly showed that it still knew how to make a kick-ass road bike. Now Husqvarna has unveiled a production-ready Vitpilen 701 as well as a flat-tracker style Svartpilen 701 concept that we'd like to see make the same leap to production.

Husqvarna's intention with the KTM-powered Vitpilen and Svartpilen range is to break into the road-bike segment, and the company has already announced plans to release the smaller Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 in February 2018.

Vitpilen, Swedish for white arrow, serves as Husqvarna's café-racer model in its new line-up. Like the concept, the Vitpilen 701's 75-hp (56-kW) single-cylinder thumper and six speed transmission with a slipper clutch is lifted directly from the Husqvarna 701 dirt-squirter. It also comes with a suite of electronics that include ride-by-wire, traction control, ABS, and a full digital display.

The production model of the Vitpilen 701 at EICMA 2017
The production model of the Vitpilen 701 at EICMA 2017

Stopping of the hipster Husky is handled by a 320-mm disc and a radially-mounted four piston Brembo caliper on the front, and a single disc with a single piston Brembo caliper on the rear. When it comes to the Vitpilen's suspension, there's WP 43-mm inverted forks on the front and a WP shock on the rear. But it's the Vitpilen's styling that is the true show-stopper here.

Apart from the addition of a rear hugger and enclosed airbox in the production model, the Vitpilen 701 is almost a carbon-copy of the drool-worthy 2015 concept. With its sculpted fuel tank and seat, forged aluminum triple clamp with clip-on handlebars, LED headlamp, 17-inch spoked wheels, low-slung stance, and the prominent "split" yellow striping, Husqvarna's modern-take on retro styling is sure to impress.

The Svartpilen 701 flat-tracker concept at EICMA 2017
The Svartpilen 701 flat-tracker concept at EICMA 2017

Following with Husqvarna's minimalistic design regime, the company also unveiled a flat-track-style Svartpilen 701 concept bike (pictured above) that pays homage to the Silverpilen from the mid-fifties. The concept is extremely clean and stripped back with no dash and no reservoirs for the brake or clutch.

The sculpted seat, fuel tank, driveline and chassis are taken from the Vitpilen, with the addition of a rear side cowling that is a tribute to flat-track race bikes. The concept also features dual sport tires, an exposed air filter like the Vitpilen 701 concept, a subtle digital-camo paint finish on the fork shrouds, headlight cowl and the tail piece, as well as a futuristic-looking exhaust baffle that resembles a wasp's nest.

Prepare to get stung when you blip that throttle with Svartpilen's wasp nest-like exhaust baffle
Prepare to get stung when you blip that throttle with Svartpilen's wasp nest-like exhaust baffle

These fine details combine to make a winning design in our eyes, and we'd be eager to see a production model eventuate, but unfortunately there's no word on that front yet.

Along with the smaller 401's, the Vitpilen 701 is set to be available in March 2018 with an expected price tag of $US13,000 - $15,000. For a closer at the Vitpilen 701 and Svartpilen 701 concepts, check out the videos below.

Also be sure to take a look at our extensive EICMA photo gallery full of mouth-watering new models from the 2017 show.

VITPILEN 701- Simple. Progressive. | Husqvarna Motorcycles

SVARTPILEN 701 - Restart the Fire | Husqvarna Motorcycles

Source: Husqvarna

View gallery - 18 images
2 comments
2 comments
DavidRogerBrown
Beautifully done but $15,000 (add the dealer's extras/taxes,etc.) for 700c.c. Good luck Husky/KTM.
Martin Hone
I think a lot of the flat-tracker concept got lost.............