Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 arrives

The 2019 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 – part of Husqvarna’s Real Street Range – has arrived in Australia, joining the Vitpilen 701 that debuted last July and the smaller-capacity, LAMS-approved Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401 that arrived here earlier in 2018.

As the ‘Vitpilen’ translates from Swedish as ‘White Arrow’, the ‘Svartpilen’ is ‘Black Arrow’. And as these names imply, each is defined by colour, with a predominantly white finish on the Vitpilen and black on the Svartpilen.

Both are designed for urban use, both have very futuristic styling and both are very similar in terms of appearance, but where the Vitpilen is a café racer-inspired roadster, the Svartpilen swings towards a street tracker look with its higher handlebars, repositioned instrument panel and distinctive offside ‘race plate’ design feature. Elements like the tail, radiator surround and headlight surround also differ from the Vitpilen 701.

Same Bones, Same Heart

While the styling may be a little different, what the Svartpilen 701 shares with its ‘white’ sibling is just about everything else.

The 692.7cc single-cylinder engine is the same as that used in the Vitpilen 701, with this liquid-cooled powerplant also used in Husky’s 701 Supermoto and the KTM 690 Duke.

With a 105mm bore and 80mm stroke, the big single features a Keihin EMS, with dual ignition, a 50mm throttle body and ride-by-wire control on the Keihin EFI system. Compression is listed at 12.8:1 and, thankfully for a big single like this, starting is electric.

Listed maximums are 55kW at 8500rpm and 72Nm at 6750rpm. This is the same as the Vitpilen 701, but compared to the 690 Duke, power is slightly higher and torque fractionally lower.

The engine is hooked up to a 6-speed transmission, with shifting made easier thanks to an APTC slipper clutch. Final drive is by chain on a 16/40 ratio.

On the cycle parts, the frame is a trellis type in chromoly steel powdercoated in black, while the subframe is aluminium. But where the Vitpilen 701 used handlebars that were essentially a clip-on arrangement, the Svartpilen 701 uses a more traditional handlebar. Set on risers and with a broad spread to suit the street tracker style, this handlebar is also adjustable.

WP suspension features at both ends, as per the Vitpilen 701, but the Svartpilen 701 offers more suspension travel – 150mm at each end, compared to 135mm on the white version. There’s rebound and compression adjustability at each end, with easy-to-use click adjusters on the 43mm USD split front fork, while Husqvarna says the WP rear monoshock can be adjusted to suit “a variety of urban conditions”.

Brembo braking features at each end, too, with a 320mm disc on the front, fitted with a four-piston radial-mount caliper, while the 240mm rear disc features a single-piston floating caliper. Bosch ABS is standard but can be disengaged.

Svartpilen 701 wheels are the same lightweight cast alloy design as the Vitpilen 701, but in an 18-inch front and 17-inch rear combination and finished in black. Pirelli MT60 RS scrambler-style tyres are standard.

Other features include traction control (disengageable), a bi-directional quickshifter, LED lighting and a multi-function digital instrument display.

Svart Style

In terms of styling, there’s simply nothing else on the road like the Svartpilen/Vitpilen duo. The product of the same Kiska studio that produces other Husqvarnas and KTMs, the design is not just modern, it’s positively futuristic, with bodywork treatment that wouldn’t look out of place in a science fiction movie.

The 12-litre fuel tank carries the ‘701’ identification on each side in projections that almost appear like a stubby set of wings, while the matte black finish of the tank and other bodywork is offset with a gloss black frame and engine, plus matte copper finishes on the engine covers, fuel cap and silencer strap.

A subtle yellow stripe separates the fuel tank from the seat and tail section. The saddle combines a perforated border with suede-look centre and has been well incorporated into both the tank and tail section.

That tail piece, with its subtle rear spoiler, is a hard plastic item, so presumably it can be swapped out for a pillion pad, as there are pillion pegs fitted. However, all the imagery and promotion for this bike pitch it as very much being a solo ride.

There’s a headlight surround on the Svartpilen 701 that the Vitpilen 701 doesn’t get, but the design feature that really sets the Svartpilen 701 apart from its sibling is the stylised ‘race plate’ fitted to the offside. Inspired by flat track racers, the use of this - on the right-hand side only - adds an asymmetrical, quirky touch to the design.

A swingarm-mounted bracket carries the number plate holder and indicators, but the tail light is tucked up under that stylish back end.

While ‘701’ and ‘Svartpilen’ identification features on the bodywork and handlebar, actual Husqvarna identification is noticeably restrained, limited to the grips, exhaust silencer and fuel cap, with Husky’s crown logo subtly added to the saddle, instrument pod, radiator covers and offside engine cover, with very subtle crown logos on the wheels, too.

Marginally heavier than the 150kg Vitpilen 701 at 158.5kg dry, the Svartpilen 701 also has a higher seat (835mm v 830mm), but offers more ground clearance (164mm v 140mm) and the aforementioned additional suspension travel.

Available Now

Released in Australia at the end of June, the Svartpilen 701 launched with a ride away price of $17,595, which is almost $1,000 less than the Vitpilen 701’s launch price. Like the rest of the road bike range, the Svartpilen 701 is only available from ‘Husqvarna Street Dealers’. See said dealers for more details.

New Style

Recently unveiled in Europe is a ‘Style’ version of the Svartpilen 701, which swaps the matte black paint for metallic grey and adds Akront 17-inch wire spoke wheels in place of the alloy rims.

European release of the Svartpilen 701 Style version is expected later this year, with Australian delivery TBC.