Penned by famed design house KISKA, Husqvarna’s Svartpilen has been one of the most hyped and hotly-anticipated motorcycles in recent history. And though the Swedish marque has already rolled out 125, 200, 401, and 701 versions of its neo-retro scrambler and cafe racer, the brand has now announced that it will be expanding the Svartpilen and Vitpilen lineups for the first-time in several years, with the rollout of the completely redesigned 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801.
Constructed around a chromium-molybdenum steel frame that utilizes the bike’s engine as a stressed member, the Svartpilen 801 is a modern naked motorcycle that combines futuristic design cues with some retro scrambler inspiration. Based on the same engine and chassis platform as KTM’s existing 790 Duke, the Svartpilen 801 is kicked along by a 799cc LC8c twin-cylinder engine cranking out 105hp and 64.16ft-lbs of torque. Sporting the same signature tank found on the rest of the Svartpilen and Vitpilen lineup, the new 801 model boasts a low-profile tracker-inspired tail that’s complemented via a nacelle-capped circular LED headlight, and a high-mount exhaust — the latter of which can be upgraded to a carbon-tipped Akrapovič unit. The thing also comes loaded with a PASC Slipper clutch and a bidirectional quick-shifter — both as standard. Other standard amenities include a connected 5” TFT display, a ride-by-wire throttle, four ride modes, and a cutting-edge best-in-class technology package in the form of a suite of electronic rider aids that can also be upgraded via an optional Dynamic Pack with ten levels of slip adjustment, five anti-wheelie settings, motor slip regulation, cornering traction control, and cruise control.
Riding on a 17” five-arm cast alloy wheel design, the new 801 model also features adjustable WP APEX suspension fore and aft, plus J.Juan braking hardware paired with a lean angle-sensitive Bosch cornering ABS system. The Svartpilen 801 tips the scales at just shy of 400lbs — making it slightly heavier than its 790 Duke counterpart. And though its powertrain and framework are borrowed from the mid-sized Duke, this newly-debuted Svartpilen model represents the largest motorcycle currently offered by Husky (albeit not by too much, as it’s only 6cc’s larger than the outgoing 701 series). Just like with previous model years, Husqvarna will be offering this neo-retro scrambler with a slew of available factory add-ons and accessories.
Priced starting from $10,899, the 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 is slated to hit dealerships in April.
