[nigelkk29]

I recently purchased a Svartpilen 401 and here are my observations so far on the bike (1500kms and counting)
Quick Summary of the pros and cons. More on this later.

Pros
1. The power band is very linear and not jerky like the 2nd gen 390 I used to own.
2. Design - minimalistic and does not stand out too much. People often confuse it for an electric bike for some reason.
3. Packed Features - USB-C charging port, adjustable suspension, auto cancelling indicators, quick shifter, and the list goes on.
4. Handling - as it shares the same platform as the Duke, the handling is amazing. Quickly tips into corners and is very manoeuvrable in the city.

Cons
1. Tyres - while the first few units sold had Pirellis, we now get Apollos but at the same price
2. Tube Rims - this is a pain and they could have offered tubeless spokes or at least an option to go for alloys at the time of purchase but sadly we HAVE to buy with the spoked tube rims and then pay extra for the alloys
3. Tail section - while the previous bike had a beautiful rear section, this one had become humungous and spoiled the look of the bike
4. Pillion comfort for long rides - my wife has complained that her legs start cramping during a few of our long rides since the passenger footrest is very high up.



This is how I came to purchase the Svart 401. I have always been into bikes and I learned riding my uncle’s first-gen Pulsar 180. I remember the number of embarrassing moments I had on that bike - falling down at a stop sign since I was not strong enough at that time to handle the weight of the bike, false neutrals when dropping a girl home, and so many more. I was hooked since then and that never stopped.

For my studies, I moved to Hyderabad and ended up getting a job here as well. When I got my first job, I finally bought a used FZ to take me to and from the office and that bike would always hold a place in my heart being the first bike I bought with my own money. Over the years I changed jobs and also changed bikes along the way - FZ25 (bought new), ER6n (which I again bought used when I felt like I needed more power - but unfortunately, I was a bit naive when it came to purchasing it and got a money pit. The bike spent more time with the mechanic rather than with me and I eventually sold it off for a loss but did enjoy some memorable rides on the occasion that it was working. I also did many mods on the bike after realizing it was not perfect and learned a lot along the way).



By then, I understood that while the FZ25 was underpowered, the ER6n was too much for my use and I got myself a Duke 390. This was the bike that was a perfect fit for me and I loved every bit of it. Unfortunately, COVID hit, got laid off and after struggling for a few months, with much deliberation and with a heavy heart - sold the Duke 390.

Last year in early 2023, things were looking up again and I was in the market for a new bike and was looking at options. I have always liked the styling of the G310R and when a good deal came my way, I jumped at it. I enjoyed the bike for a year but there was one major drawback - service cost. There was no way that this small 300cc bike would cost more in servicing than what my mother would pay for her Taigun.



And then the Svartpilen 401 was launched and that reminded me of the good old days I had with the duke. I was not a fan of the looks of the 2024 Duke, but this Svart - fixed all the issues of the previous gen which was tiny and had the updated engine as well. So I made plans accordingly, sold off the 310 (with hardly any loss thankfully), and got the Svart after multiple test rides.

I was all smiles from the day I took delivery and it hasn’t stopped since. There were a few things that I wanted to change - the rear section had become humungous but it was a simple enough job installing a tail tidy. (I don’t mind the minor dirt and splashes the rear tire throws as I can simply wipe it off. During the monsoons, I would simply install a tyre hugger and it would be gone once the monsoons stop. As is the case in all my previous bikes) The next part was the tube spoked rims - I gave them a chance to test their durability but two punctures and the hassle of repairing tubes quickly changed my mind. I ordered the Vitpilin alloys and got them installed and have faced no issues since then.

Experiences so far
The power is exactly in the sweet spot of what is usable for my needs. More than enough for both cities and highways. I already went on a couple of weekend rides with friends and the bike nicely sits on the highways at 100km/h at around 55000 rpm.
The handling on the stock rims and tyres was good but since the swap to alloys(changed the rubber to Road 5s), the ride and handling have improved drastically. The bike feels a lot more agile and the tyre does inspire more confidence in all situations.
The seat is decent - not the best and not the worst either. On one ride of around 300kms, my backside did start aching towards the end but that could also simply be a sign of my age.



Another useful feature that I liked was the presence of a USB C charging port - so no need to hardwire any aftermarket kit. I also realized after a few days that the indicators were auto-cancelling. Coming to the adjustable suspension - still learning what settings work for me and playing around with the settings - some settings work great while at times it’s horrible. For now, I’ve found that sticking with the stock settings works best for daily use in the city. Pillion comfort as well is decent as the bike does get a long flat seat. Not advisable though for long rides as knees get cramped pretty quickly due to the position they are in.
The only thing that Husqvarna/(KTM?/Bajaj?) could have done better was to at least sell the bike with either the spoke rims or alloys. I did have to shell out 15k for the alloys but it is definitely worth it when compared to the hassles I have faced patching up the tubeless tyres. (Also, even though Bajaj did mention in their release that the Vitpilen alloys were a direct fit when I enquired in the showroom, most of the staff were adamant that it would NOT fit. Finally managed to convince them to just place the order and viola! It fits as claimed!)

If you’ve made it this far, do let me know if you have any questions for me and I would love to answer them. Thanks!

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by nigelkk29

The only thing that Husqvarna/(KTM?/Bajaj?) could have done better was to at least sell the bike with either the spoke rims or alloys. I did have to shell out 15k for the alloys but it is definitely worth it when compared to the hassles I have faced patching up the tubeless tyres. (Also, even though Bajaj did mention in their release that the Vitpilen alloys were a direct fit when I enquired in the showroom, most of the staff were adamant that it would NOT fit. Finally managed to convince them to just place the order and viola! It fits as claimed!)

The Vitpilen alloys look great on the Svart. It's something I had in mind ever since it was launched. Bajaj/KTM missed a trick by not offering the Vitpilen 401 in India, imo. These pseudo scramblers don't really need spokes.

[CloserToTheEdge]

Congratulations !!!

That's some motorcycles you have owned and ridden.
Though i must say that this version of your Svartpilen 401 with the tail tidy and alloys looks too good.
Has the riding dynamics changed after to switching over to the alloys ?

[venukrithish]

Thank God for this tail tidy. I hate the rear and this fixes it to a great extent.

[dsuman]

Congratulations on you new Acquisition. The bike looks good. I too am contemplating a middle weight single and Svartpilen 401 is good contender. i will be hooked to your Thread.

[N_Karthik]

Hi Nigel!
Great review!
I have a Svartpilen in Bangalore and the dealer strictly was against swapping to the alloys from the Vitpilen saying it will affect the warranty. Have you faced any issues while going in for services post the swap?

[ads295]

Thanks for this thread!
There are hardly any Huskies around in my city. These bikes are a breath of fresh air in today's market according to me. That it gets the newer engine is just cherry on top. The RC390 is still stuck with the old engine so I really wonder how they're managing to juggle two engine production lines and supply chains at once.

I'll just repeat what others have said - the alloys look really good on this thing!

We concur on the ER6n being too much for city use, having owned one from new myself for a few years before selling it on because it was too heavy, too powerful, and too much!

- That said, how's the engine heat from this bike? The KTM single has inherently higher thermostat temps (~90°C+) so it's just designed to run hotter than most engines. How do you cope with that in the city? My ER6n was hot of course, but it was more comfy in traffic than a Duke 200!

- Does a tyre hugger completely eliminate mud splash from the rider? Of course the bike's going to get a little dirty but even a fleck on my formal pants would be a problem.

[nigelkk29]

Thanks to all for the love and appreciation shown.
1. No issues with warranty as even the official Husqverna website says that the alloys are a direct fit. Since, technically, all the parts are OEM, it does not affect warranty and I have faced no issues with the SVC here in Hyderabad.
2. Ride has improved by a lot. But this was mainly due to the swap in rubber. As b16h22 mentioned, this is more of a pseudo scrambler and the swap to road tyres made sense and made all the difference. The Michelins Road 5s are excellent in every scenario - cornering, stability at high speeds, and also handles the rain very well.
3. The husqy shows low temps if it's below 75, and I have seen that when riding, the normal temperature ranges from 85-95. No heat issues as of now and will update once the horrendous Hyderabad summer starts!
4. Since, it's winter and no rains, I have not installed a tyre hugger yet. Will keep you updated once the monsoon arrives, install one, and see how effective it is.