2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 Spied Testing For The First Time

The upcoming scrambler seems to have borrowed several parts from the 2022 KTM 390 Duke

• The 2022 iteration shares the same redesigned trellis frame as the next-gen KTM 390 Duke.
• Comes with an adjustable front fork and an offset rear monoshock.
• Brakes are similar to the current-generation model.
• International launch likely in mid-2022.

The 2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 has been spotted testing for the first time. Going by the spy shots, the motorcycle seems to have borrowed several elements from the upcoming 2022 KTM 390 Duke, which was last spied in April this year. 

The one aspect you instantly recognise on the 2022 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is the redesigned trellis frame, which looks similar to the Austrian hooligan. However, the engine mounts are different. The frame is paired with an extruded subframe, and while the swingarm shape is similar, the truss pattern seems different. Husqvarna is likely experimenting with different units to find the right setup. 

And like the next-gen 390 Duke, this one too features an inverted front fork (adjustable for compression and rebound) and an offset preload-adjustable rear monoshock. While the brake rotors in the upcoming KTM are different, this one seems to use the same 320mm front (with radial caliper) and 230mm rear disc (with dual-channel ABS) as the current-gen KTM 390 Duke. The bike seems to roll on 17-inch spoke wheels wrapped in dual-purpose rubber.

The current-gen bike’s 373.2cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine is powerful enough for its category (45PS and 37Nm). So, Husqvarna (and KTM for that matter) will likely only improve the refinement levels or perhaps add multiple riding modes. The engine casing is similar to the 2022 390 Duke, and it will likely get a bidirectional quickshifter as standard.

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The body panels look too spartan as the bike is in its initial testing stages, so the final production version might look slightly different. The fuel tank extensions have been beefed up, and we reckon Husqvarna might have improved the fuel tank capacity by a couple of litres as the current 9.5-litre unit is a tad too small. There’s the distinctive tank rack too, and the lighting system is all-LED. Expect the instrument cluster to come with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation as that is the norm with most modern motorcycles. The windshield looks like it will be a part of the accessory list.

Since the bike is still in its early pre-production stage, Husqvarna will likely launch the bike internationally only around mid-2022. The Swedish manufacturer may not bring the Svartpilen 401 to India, considering even the more affordable Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250 aren’t selling all that much. Moreover, the 250cc segment itself isn’t raking in big numbers, which is why manufacturers have been reducing the prices of their quarter-litre motorcycles lately. 

That said, the 2022 iteration looks like a more wholesome upgrade over the current-generation 401, and we think it has the potential to work well in developed markets.

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