Indian FTR1200 vs Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 : King of the Hooligans

Read more on Countersteer : www.jpcycles.com/countersteer...
Patrick was in the market for a true hooligan machine, a real ticket machine with dirt tendencies. Was the American made muscle twin cylinder machine enough to scratch the itch or was the Swedish made, lightweight thumper what the doctor ordered?
#FTR1200 #Svartpilen701 #Hooligan

[@axslinger99]

I'm an Indian guy...have a Scout and a Springfield, but Husky has always made great products. I was partial to their chainsaws and their 70's dirt bikes. Bad ass!

[@OAK_MTN]

Again...patiently waiting for the 901 Husky

[@timbrwolf1121]

Soon...

[@JC-lk3oy]

Svartpilen 801 will be available very soon.

[@Theo-hx3wt]

Svartpilen does have supermoto mode ! Press menu until it shows “road”, hold set button and it switches to “supermoto” and disables rear ABS.

[@MattLacey]

Keep finding different posts about how to do this... will give this a crack!

[@Mike-sBike]

No,not tru

[@Theo-hx3wt]

@@Mike-sBike True for Svartpilen in France i have one

[@Firestorm637]

I love the lower license holder. No tail tidy needed.

[@JCrozier1]

These are the exact two bikes I'm looking to pick between. Thank you so much for the step-by-step head-to-head comparisons. The only thing that wasn't touched that I would have liked to have seen was cost. I think the husky is a few thousand cheaper, which might be what helps me besides the weight and futuristic styling.

[@ronallen2458]

Nice comparison. I pick my 701 up on Thursday!

[@touseefk]

Best review of 701 so far I have been watching since last couple of weeks... thanks man!

[@llalire17]

I had money down on the Husky but could not take the order as the leaking fuel tank recall took months to fix. Ended up getting my deposit back and buying a FTR because it was June and COVID had me bored as hell. I have never once regretted my choice as the Indian is a huge amount of fun. Still wish I could have rode the Husky, if only i had the money for both.

[@twinshock175]

Great comparison, love the concept of both these bikes, still love the Husky.

[@CaffeinatedCruiser]

I’ve literally been asking for this from so many channels

[@S14tube]

What a great vid - thank you!

[@rocketrollsvlogs7625]

So glad you did this comparison. These are two bikes I've been cross shopping. I would definitely go slip on with the FTR. Put some bar mirrors on the Husky.

[@nikitis13]

Interesting comparison. I actually shortlisted these two bikes and test rode both. I bought the Indian which was a riot to ride, but only kept it a few short months. In hind-sight I'd buy the Husky if I did it all over again. I think if Indian could make a 750cc twin, bring it in at under 200kg wet and change the wheel setup for a 17inch wider section rear and 18 front (like the Husky) It would be a whole lot better for it. The Svartpilen 701 just proves that less is more. Light, powerful bikes are simply more fun on a daily basis.

[@jpcycles]

We would love to see a lighter 750 FTR on the street.

[@IsaacRodriguez89]

Definitely looking at the Vitpilen for my first bike! Great review!

[@satur9satur9]

This was my choices as well. I went with the 2020 svartpilen because of the new color and spoked wheels. They are both "flat track inspired"

[@Not_Sure-2020]

FTR does sell an option with spoked wheels. www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-us/ftr-rally-titanium-smoke/build/

[@Adel-sj4ue]

you have an elite taste in bikes sir

[@p-dub7422]

Good review! I have the 2020 701 Svartpilen with the spoke wheels and like it. I usually prefer the kind of wheels on your bike for easy cleaning and I like the appearance of them. I got this bike for many reasons such as the uniqueness of the bike and I think this bike can be used for multiple purposes a round town and commuting and general riding. I put bar end mirrors on my bike that is the only change because to me this bike looks good out of the box and even better in person. I like to know did you upgrade the exhaust? What up grades did you do and have you traveled long distance on this bike and if so how far? What are you doing for carrying things on this bike like luggage and this bike does not have a place to fasten your helmet so what are you doing? Do you have any more videos on this bike? And what about service costs on your bike? Thanks

[@Firestorm637]

Fantastic review. I like the Husky as unique, boutique type bike. Single cylinder easier maintainence

[@doncaruso1949]

You need to compare the Ducati desert sled with them.

[@dr.bherrin]

The 2020 model of the Svart has Supermoto mode, which does turn off the ABS in the rear...just saying.

[@SlackBallSack]

also has lovely spoked wheels

[@tubingforever]

If you want a great bike around the city that's fun to ride kinda down lown and if price doesn't matter, which one would you recommend between Svartpilen 701, the Trident 660 and the MT-07?

[@TheReverb1]

Hello; seems that US do not have the Husqvarnas with the best options; like LED small turn signals; spoke wheels; tail tidy etc

[@markstill8258]

I have a 690 enduro and it is surprisingly good on the road and is a missile off road.

[@danielkang7789]

almost a decade of motorcycle life. i've never ridden or owned or never interested in bikes that are under a liter(1,000cc). But Svartpilen701 is just so epic... perfectly made. hands down.

[@johnlethlean8980]

Hi Patrick very enjoyable review. Re the Svartpilen - could I - occasionally - sit on 70 mph for an hour at a time?

[@jpcycles]

I ride my 701 occasionally on the highway and its fine. But if I was going to do it an hour a day I would add a small wind screen and possibly a seat pad. - Patrick

[@johnlethlean8980]

@@jpcycles Thanks Patrick

[@robhives6996]

I have a svartpilen. A small fly screen moves highway wind up to your chest rather than stomach. Which is fine for an hour or so. Not many options that look good for screens yet. An airhawk seat pad or similar gives all day comfort for me. This is a better option than permanently changing the seat.701 has more legroom than the indian.

[@markfoos9280]

@@robhives6996 hgfhdhfhh

[@h.nguyen4193]

i want to see an FTR vs speed triple.

[@ricecakeFTW]

You put a midpipe on that Husky, it's friggn LOUD.

[@jpcycles]

I'm totally doing that. - Patrick

[@Firestorm637]

Underbelly exhausts look great vs a huge muffler on the side of the bike. Of course you want ground clearance off road.

[@nessadipity]

Sooo lost owner’s manual for my 701.. Need help!! Errrr my ODO is set as KMH reading.. (I’m foreign and a chick give me break) but I do need to know how do I placed it back in MPH reading.

[@ilianotin1035]

Lol, it’s time to get used to the only adequate system - metric:))

[@dynai1]

its not the same as paper... but there is a digital version on the husky site :) www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-ca/service/user-manuals.html on page 76 -Press theMODEbutton briefly and repeatedly until ODO appears on the display. -Press theMODEbutton for 5 seconds. The units display appears. Info: The units display is shown on the ODO display for each menu by keeping the MODE button pressed. -Press the SET button briefly and repeatedly until the desired unit appears. -Do not actuate MODEbutton and SETbutton for about 5seconds. The units display disappears and the selected unit of the first line is adopted and saved hope this helps, very happy with the smaller 401, put 7500km (4660miles) on it in 3 month

[@wereyouaking]

I see a lot of bikes in the US have bulbs in their indicators, but in Europe the same model is LED. What's the deal with that?

[@paintup46]

Some legal reason, stupid. We want LED indicators as well.

[@kennethcooley3445]

Pick my Svartipilen up Friday

[@Firestorm637]

Husky 370 wet/75 horsepower, Indian 518 wet/122 horsepower. Fairly similar power to weight

[@panpestowski]

Yeah, but not necessarily handling away from tarmac. And true hooligan bike HAS TO deliver in light terrain as well.

[@christopherp1318]

your issues with the FTR are all solved by having the S version, abs and traction off, 3 different drive modes

[@2ScoopsOfZeke]

Yes and paying alot more money too!

[@christopherp1318]

@@2ScoopsOfZeke in my country it was literally +1000 on the base model, thats nothing. the carbon is like 3

[@Tx7sleepyjoe]

2019** Ftr1200

[@Firestorm637]

Less weight helps everything.

[@toofastnobrakes]

Ftr, all day everyday, especially the 2022

[@SlackBallSack]

Husky gets waaay better mpg

[@matthewbennett3595]

You chose a 700cc single cyl, single front brake over the beast FTR? Like choosing a Prius over a Corvette...

[@jpcycles]

Having spent a lot of time on both I can tell you that your analogy couldn't be further from the truth. The Husky weighs 347lbs, the Indian weighs in at 497lbs. The Husky has no problem out braking the 150lb heavier Indian. The Indian mid-range is insane and it pulls really hard. But when you compare the horsepower to weight ratios the Husky's 70+ rear wheel horsepower more than holds its own. The Indian comes in 4.51 lbs per horsepower and the Husky at 4.95 lbs per horsepower. It comes down to riding style on what bike works better. For longer trips the Indian was better. for ripping tight canyons and dirt roads/trails he Husky was superior. - Patrick

[@felitoscano]

@@jpcycles I've owned an r6, 48 Sportster, Ducati 848, and my favorite bike out of all them is my new svartpilen 701! The smile on my face when I ride it! Best bike I've ever owned !!

[@markstill8258]

Guessing you have never ridden a LC4 powered bike? They are giggle inducing machines and can harass full on sportbikes on tight roads.

[@johnroe3915]

Hahaha king of the hooligans. Let me introduce the MT07.

[@panpestowski]

Hahaha, riiiight, let’s take it off the pavement. MT07 will struggle against both these bikes, and many others in the dirt. You cant even stand up properly due to the position of the pegs. And it’s just terribly boring ;D

[@bsteele5287]

Had an MT07. It was ok. Recently sold it and bought an FTR. The FTR is so much more fun to ride, so much better looking, and has a lot more character. No contest.

[@Not_Sure-2020]

I like almost everything about the Husky...except that gas tank. Sorry, I just can't get past that.

[@matthewbennett3595]

apples and oranges

[@brianwright3014]

Assuming his bike is so ugly in comparison that he decided to stand in front of it the entire video