EICMA 2016: Husqvarna rolls out the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401

Husqvarna has rolled out the production version of the Vitpilen 401 and the Svartpilen 401. Based on the KTM Duke 390’s platform, these motorcycles are expected to go on sale in India in 2017.  

The Vitpilen 401, or the White Arrow, has been designed to resemble an old-school cafe racer. It features minimal bodywork, ribbed seat, low clip-on handlebars, and a classic round headlamp to give it the retro look. The Svartpilen 401 on the other hand has been styled to look like a scrambler and gets button tyres and bash guard to go along with its character. 

Both Vitpilen 401 and Svarpilen 401 are built around the Duke’s steel trellis frame with a 375cc single-cylinder engine as a stressed member. Both feature a ride-by-wire throttle, WP suspension setup and disc brakes supplied by Bybre. ABS is offered as standard. 

Just like the sub-400cc Duke range, the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 will be manufactured at Bajaj’s plant in Chakan, Maharashtra. While the Duke 390 range has established its credentials as a performance-focussed motorcycle, it is not looked upon as a lifestyle product. This is where the Husqvarna models will step in. They will be positioned above the Duke 390 with a price tag of around Rs 2.4 lakh.