From the Webike Community's My Bike, the "Owner Review Summary" introduces various motorcycles based on the voices of owners who actually ride or have ridden them. This time, here's what the owners have to say about Husqvarna's「Svartpillen 401」.
To be honest, Husqvarna "SVARTPILEN401" is this kind of bike!
SVARTPILEN401 is a sport naked from Husqvarna. Husqvarna began as a firearms factory in Sweden and developed into one of the country's leading machinery manufacturers. The company has been producing motorcycles since the early 1900s and has earned a reputation in the world of off-road motorcycles, but is now one of the brands owned by KTM.
Therefore, the SVARTPILEN401 was developed based on KTM's small DUKE series and shares basic components with the same vehicle.
However, while the small DUKE series has a street-fighter-like design, the SVARTPILEN401 has been given a neo-classic exterior form with a scrambler flavor. The motorcycle's name, SVARTPILEN, is Swedish for "black arrow," a reference to SILVERPILEN, the famous Husqvarna motorcycle of yesteryear, which was named after the silver arrow, and its sibling, VITPILEN, which means "white arrow".
The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC, 4-valve engine has a displacement of 373 cc, and although its name says "401," it can be driven on public roads with a standard motorcycle license. Although not particularly powerful in terms of specifications such as maximum output, the single-cylinder engine has a stretchy feel with excellent pickup, making for a truly exhilarating ride.
The frame is made of steel pipe in a trellis shape for high rigidity and a direct feeling of responsiveness to the rider's input. The suspension is also luxurious, with WP units used for the front and rear suspension.
It is equipped with wide bar handlebars and block-pattern tires as elements of the globally trendy scramblers, but the wheel size is 17 inches both front and rear, and the body dimensions are those of an on-road bike itself. It is not suitable for serious off-road riding. It is best to think of it as a slightly easier bike to ride when encountering unpaved roads during touring. The main stage of SVARTPILEN401 is on-road. Handling is quick and sharp.
It is good at winding roads, and you can also enjoy agile riding in narrow city streets.
The design is truly unique, with a tail cowl that looks as if it is cut off at the rear end of the rear seat and a mounting stay on the fuel tank to which a special bag can be attached. As the name "Black Arrow" implies, the coloring is also attractive with its dark tones. Fun to look at and fun to ride, the SVARTPILEN401 is recommended for riders who want to enjoy their motorcycle life in style.
HWhat can say about SVARTPILEN401?
SVARTPILEN 401
Average price of the new model: (approx.) 5406 USD
Used model price: approx. 4221 USD
Number of reviews: 8
Data as of June 27, 2023
Average owner satisfaction rating is 4.08 out of 5 (102 people rated)
It should be noted that the average satisfaction rating is over 4 points. Among these, driving and looks received near-perfect scores.
On the other hand, the load ability of the vehicle received a low score of 2.54 points. Some commented that "forcing bags and carriers on it would ruin the nice design" and "pannier cases don't fit.
SVARTPILEN401, Quick Summary
Advantage
- What can be said about its original style?
- Lightweight and compact body with a reasonably powerful engine
- Very good acceleration
- Nimble footwork with a short wheelbase
Disadvantage
- Difficult to customize due to the already completed design
- The gasoline tank capacity is small (about 9 liters)
- Fuel indication is sketchy
- Cargo capacity is low, so ingenuity is required
SVARTPILEN401 Owner's Voice
Here are some of the most impressive voices among the many reviews.
Chan mā
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | Buy at first sight |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | If you think this design is good, you should ride it. The ride is a vigorous high-revving bike with enough acceleration to pull you along. The vibration of the single cylinder seems less than that of the SR400. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | The foot grounding is not good, so I feel like I am doing my best to stand on my tiptoes. The tank capacity is 9.5L, so I refuel once every 200 km. For long tours, refueling is a concern. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | There are few Husqvarna distributors, so if there is no store near you, you will have to travel long distances for routine maintenance, etc. |
Marlboro
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | I was screwed by the style. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points |
About the design The design is a sense of style that is not shared by any other manufacturer. I am often approached by people when I am out and about. About the engine I have been driving the motorcycle for a year and a half since I bought it, and it has been trouble-free. The engine became smoother and smoother after 6,000,000 km, probably due to the engine additive. The power is very exciting from the mid-range RPM. About the chassis The frame and suspension are very rigid and do not break down even in the gaps in the corners. It is not possible to see the limits of the bike without high-grip road tires. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | The fuel display is sketchy, the fuel range goes from 120 km or less to an Empty display at once. Below 4000 rpm, the engine vibrates and must operate above that. The numeric portion of the tachometer does not emit light, making it difficult to check the RPMs accurately at night. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | The already completed design makes customization difficult. Improving your riding skills and choosing the right riding clothes is the best part of this bike. You can see a different world from the enjoyment of old motorcycles and cruisers. |
Fuku fuku
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | love at first sight |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | It looks good, but it also rides well. It is light to handle, so it is very fun to drive. Especially on mountain roads with low to medium-speed corners, it is fun to ride and makes you feel like a good driver (safety first). |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | Anyway, the range is short (tiny tank!). Fuel economy is not bad, it can run 280 km on a full tank, but after 160K miles, the warning message comes on. Pannier cases don't fit, so you need to be sensible when installing side bags, etc. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | It is said that the quality has gone down since it was made in India (which bothers me a bit), but so far I have had no problems with it. I recommend it without hesitation to anyone who thinks and looks different from others. |
Check out SVARTPILEN401's competitors
The SVARTPILEN401 has a sibling, the VITPILEN401, which shares much of its bodywork.
While the SVARTPILEN401 has scrambler elements, the VITPILEN401 is a pure on-road bike with separate handlebars and sports tires. The separate handlebars are not mounted extremely low, but the forward lean of the upper body is enhanced to a certain degree. The SVARTPILEN401 has the advantage when considering the burden on the body over long distances, but the riding position of the VITPILEN401 comes into its own when sport riding.
Both have their own charms that are hard to discard.
Also attractive as part of the SVARTPILEN series is the SVARTPILEN701, which has a larger displacement. The engine is a liquid-cooled SOHC single-cylinder with a displacement of 692.7 cc, derived from the KTM 690DUKE. The power is nearly doubled, and the big single's distinctive bouncy acceleration is a big draw. Unfortunately, production of the SVARTPILEN701 will end in 2020. Currently, only used motorcycles exist and there are not many in circulation, so if you want to get your hands on one, you'd better hurry.
Now, if you are interested in the reviews of our competitors, check here!
*Average owner satisfaction and number of reviews are as of June 27, 2023.
HUSQVARNA VITPILEN401
Average owner satisfaction rating: 3.46 (33 persons)
Average price of new model: (approx.) 5291 USD
Average price of used model: (approx.) 4282 USD
Number of reviews: 8
HUSQVARNA SVARTPILEN701
Average owner satisfaction rating: 3.50 (13 persons)
Average price of new model: ──
Average price of used model: (approx.) 9742 USD
Number of reviews: 2
