Husqvarna has simply introduced the 2024 iterations of its avenue bike lineup within the type of the Vitpilen and Svartpilen within the international market. While the brand new bikes are certainly slated for launch within the US as we highlighted in a previous article, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the primary nation to get them is the nation they’re made in: India.
Pierer Mobility, KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas’ father or mother firm, has had a long-standing relationship with Indian motorbike producer Bajaj. In phrases of manufacturing capabilities and sheer gross sales quantity, Bajaj is taken into account one of many greatest producers on the earth, and ever since KTM ventured into the small-displacement avenue bike market in 2013 with the 390 Duke, has been stamping out all types of small-displacement bikes in partnership with the European conglomerate.
Now, in 2024, the Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen have been given a radical refresh, similarly as to how their orange sibling, the KTM Duke, obtained a refresh within the earlier mannequin yr. Needless to say, the Duke and Svart/Vitpilen are primarily the identical bike by way of underpinnings, with styling, bodywork, and different minor options the one issues setting them aside. With that, the 2024 Svartpilen, in its 125, 250, and 401 flavors, have been given a radical refresh with a brand new body, improved engines, and refreshed styling.
Over in India, pricing for the brand new Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 250 have been revealed, with each fashions commanding fairly a lovely price ticket that’s certain to entice fans seeking to get their first style of a premium, but accessible, avenue bike. Kicking issues off with the Svartpilen 401, it carries an MSRP of Rs 292,000, or roughly $3,511 USD. Following within the footsteps of its orange brother, the brand new Svartpilen 401 is rocking a revised single-cylinder engine. Now displacing 398.6cc, it delivers barely extra energy than the earlier era with 46 horsepower and 39 Nm (28.9 pound-feet) of torque.
Just just like the 390 Duke, the brand new Husky Svartpilen 401 additionally will get a slew of fancy digital rider aids consisting of throttle-by-wire, traction management, and ABS modes. All pertinent trip information could be considered through a big five-inch TFT show. There’s additionally a helpful Type-C charger and optionally available smartphone connectivity. Yet one other excellent function of the Svartpilen 401 is its spectacular suspension system consisting of 43mm WP Apex inverted forks and an adjustable WP Apex monoshock. Brakes are 320mm and 240mm discs entrance and rear respectively, and dual-channel ABS comes as commonplace.
Up subsequent, we have now the sportier Vitpilen 250. Announced in India for an MSRP of Rs 219,000, or about $2,633 USD, it gives riders a extra aggressive ergonomics bundle and aesthetics which are harking back to its larger, extra premium sibling, the Vitpilen 701. That being mentioned, for now, solely the 250 has been introduced in India, and it’s powered by a 249.07cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine. With 30.57 horsepower and 25 Nm (18.5 pound-feet) of torque on faucet, it’s loads highly effective for a quarter-liter avenue bike.
Like all of the fashions in KTM and Husky’s lineups, the Vitpilen 250 comes with some fairly severe tech. For starters, it will get traction management, throttle-by-wire, a quickshifter, and even ABS. Suspension duties are dealt with by a pair of 43mm inverted forks and an adjustable monoshock each from WP. Like the Svartpilen 401, the Vitpilen 250 will get entrance and rear disc brakes with dual-channel ABS.