Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 | Ride Review

The all-new Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 has appropriated the mighty KTM 790 parallel twin engine and wrapped it in the sharp ever-evocative Pilen aesthetic. Our man @garethBSMC headed to Marseille for the global launch and after a morning riding sunny mountain roads and an afternoon in rain sodden valleys, delivered his first impression of this striking machine.
If words are your thing, head to bikeshedmoto.c... for his written report.

[@Thegeordiemonkey]

They need to bring back the Nuda but fit the 990 duke motor, i had a Nuda from new and was an epic machine with a great engine note.

[@alkanhel]

Maybe it's just me but it looks kinda boring. Duke 790 with fanicer design and that's it. Old Vitpilen 701 was unique, this one is just another street bike.

[@jeremieyirmeyahu3468]

Kind of agree ! I bit dull! Sometimes on pictures it look good. And sometimes with the plate holder, the exhaust and this big radiator it looks à bit odd. For me svartpilen 401 first gen and 701

[@aaccmm1398]

Thank you for the video! I was wondering, does it have any modes specific to gravel or dirt? Thanks!!

[@bikerbeliever8169]

Im in same situation got the advwnture bike but dont adventure much like i thought i would. I need a bike more like this 😏

[@htothejay]

Love Husqvarna and own a 701 vit my self but this is a bit to main stream...plus, 790 parallel twin..come on, do something different.. like they did with the thumper 701.

[@viperq]

IMO save your money get a CF Moto 800nk, kind of the same bike.

[@vorjay]

no

[@viperq]

@@vorjay same engine

[@vorjay]

@@viperq made by a Chinese company. Zhejiang Chunfeng Power Co

[@cascarification]

Muy pesado, muy caro , motor chino , más feo que el 701 .. No creo que vendan muchas.

[@PissTakeProduction]

They need to make a Vitpilen 801 or 901

[@twinpotracer]

The 701 was bloody epic and a real investment for the future in my opinion

[@maddogmcbainsmotorcycleadv3159]

I am considering putting a deposit down on an 801, but I absolutely regret selling my 701. It is such a gorgeous bike.

[@FunWithAJ]

If i didnt already have 4 bikes in the garage? Id consider it. Like what they've done.

[@getheroutofthetruck]

So disappointed, looks like a Chinese knock off of an SV650. Sticking with the 701.

[@meekdook4236]

The correct way to pronounce the names is: Vitpilen = ”Veetpeelen”, not ”vittpillen”. Svartpilen = ”Svartpeelen”, not ”Svartpillen”. Svartpilen = Black arrow Vitpilen = White arrow.

[@fliskturner]

So the talk about not having any previpis history is completely wrong. The ’pilen’ models go wayyy back.

[@urbanstrencan]

Love this bike Husqvarna did superb work with Svarpilen 801❤❤❤

[@zhvn89]

Beautiful bike. But I think that engine is produced in China. The only ugly thing about that bike is an engine.I would rather support European or Japanese produced brand with my money.

[@cfvgd]

Is it true??

[@zhvn89]

@@cfvgd I think this is the same engine KTM use in Duke 890. It's a good robust engine. But made in Chine to cut costs.

[@TheLightningII]

Only the block and maybe some small parts are produced in China. It's known that some parts such as the cam followers are made in India. Unknown if final assembly for the engines in these bikes will be in China or Austria. The 801 final assembly is in Austria.

[@ans05]

Looks small 😢

[@kenm1533]

Buyer Beware. I have owned a new Svartpilen 401 for almost two years now. I have spend the past six months waiting for a replacement for a defective radiator fan. My efforts to reach out to KTM, including corporate, did not help. Not even a response, explanation, apology, or effort to expedite the part. I have waited previously for a month for an oil filter to become available. I'm going on 10 months to a year waiting for other less critical parts. I was eagerly wanting to place an order for the new 801. Now I'll be afraid to take the bike more than 30 minutes from home when and if it's finally repaired. When I did research on the 401 none of the reviewers mentioned the reliability and parts availability problems. I wish I had been warned. I think this is a systemic problem at KTM that they have somehow kept relatively quiet and instead flooded social media with positive videos about new bikes.

[@thetonetosser]

As an MV owner, that story has just destroyed my confidence in the KTM ownership of the brand.

[@cowmath77]

It is beautiful, but I’m so bored of P-twins… I’d happily take another 10-15kg for a more interesting motor.

[@yohanyonsson]

These weights need to be sorted once and for all. Some say 181kg dry, some say 181kg wet but without fuel. Some say 191kg filled up. So which is is?

[@emanueleguarnuto4056]

181 dry

[@krancan25]

I agree, this engine is so much more.. money when you have to pay for new cams.

[@TheDfelan]

Wish it had spoke wheels.

[@v1100b]

Big thanks in the name of the tall riders out there! I like your review with a 6'4 tall guy. Finally, I have found you. Being tall myself at 6'5 (196cm), how often do I get excited about this or that model to find out in real life that, at best, I look like riding a chihuahua, and that very often, I simply can't lodge my legs. That was the case with the 701. I like it so much, however a no go for the ergonomics with my knees sticking out and above those fancy reservoir scoops. I can see here that besides the very appealing looks (to me) and its good papers, this one should fit. Yeaahh! Can't wait...

[@v1100b]

Edit. It has arrived in the shops here, I sat on it. Not totally convinced by the fit. At 6'5 (1,96m size jeans 34/34) I can just fit my legs. But when I actuate the shifter, my knee bumps in those tank scoops. Not handy at all. Not a total no go but a serious issue. I could maybe improve that by adjusting the shifter. That would require some proper adjustment and testing before I buy.

[@wiii432]

Too heavy.