Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 Spotted Testing In India

The near-production-ready model hints at a couple of cosmetic and mechanical changes

[Update: Husqvarna Vitpilen 250, Svartpilen 250 Launched In India]

• The Svartpilen 401 test mule has been Indianised to keep costs in check.
• The motor is likely to be BS6-compliant. 
• Features the same underpinnings as the KTM 390 Duke.
• Will be launched in the next couple of months.

Last year, ZigWheels, our sister site, brought you the exclusive new of two very Austrian bikes testing on India roads: the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401. Although those were CBU models, Husqvarna has since then been working on Indianising these bikes. We’ve already seen the India-spec Vitpilen 401 doing its rounds in India. And now the Svartpilen 401 seems to be following suit in its almost-production-ready avatar.   

Unfortunately, we were only able to capture the bike from the rear, so there isn’t a lot of information to swear by. But what’s visible to the naked eye showcases a couple of cosmetic and mechanical changes compared to the international-spec model. 

The Svartpilen, Husqvarna’s take on a scrambler, now gets its LED turn indicators mounted onto a tail tidy kit. The model sold abroad has its rear indicators mounted onto its tyre hugger. It does away with its spoked wheels for alloys which are cheaper and easier to manufacture. 

Notably, the handlebar bar brace is absent in this test mule, though the bike does have provision for one. We feel the brace must have been removed for the time being and will be added once the bike makes it to production. The tread pattern on the tyres hints at a lower-spec MRF tyre to keep costs in check. And then there’s the addition of a saree guard.

Though the front end isn’t clearly visible, a peek at it showcases its upright riding posture and by extension its raised handlebars. Underneath the rugged looks is a KTM 390 Duke. As a result, it employs the same 373.3cc motor that produces 43.5PS of power and 37Nm of torque. However, we expect the engine to be tuned differently to complement its scrambler trait. We also believe that the bike is likely to comply with BS6 emission norms considering the slightly different exhaust unit that was seen on the Vitpilen test bike a while back. It uses a steel trellis frame suspended upon WP 43mm USD forks and a WP monoshock. Anchoring the bike are disc brakes at both ends paired with dual-channel ABS.

Both the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 will be launched in the next couple of months. We expect the Vitpilen 401 to be priced between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 3.2 lakh while the scrambler may carry a slight premium of around Rs 3.1 lakh to Rs 3.3 lakh (ex-showroom). Dealerships have already started accepting unofficial bookings for the duo.