With all the fuss and attention around adventure bikes in South Africa – much of it justified, it has to be said, thanks to their all-round practicality, excellent dynamics and performance – it’s easy to forget that a motorcycle can exist to simply be entertaining and fun to ride, with no alternative higher purpose.
In Europe, riding conditions and general availability of off-road riding opportunities mean that motorcycles other than adventure bikes are just as, if not more, prominent in the sales figures. This is reflected in the number of naked models that are available and also hugely popular.
Husqvarna, originally a Swedish manufacturer, which, for several years, has been part of the Pierer Mobility stable that encompasses KTM and GasGas, has undergone a radical change in the products offered. For so long a specialist in enduro and MX motorcycles, Husqvarna has not only entered the adventure bike market with the Norden 901 but also the naked sports bike market with the ultra-modern-styled Svartpilen and Vitpilen, two models that properly established a new design language.
As is the norm with motorcycles today, the 2018 Svartpilen/Vitpilen theme was due for an upgrade and, in the form of the Svartpilen 801, it has arrived. If, at first, there might be a sense of disappointment that the design language has been diluted to the point of slight anonymity, there can be no doubt that the riding experience has survived undiluted. Which, let’s face it, is the whole point of the exercise in the first place!
The biggest change is in the engine. The Svartpilen 701 was powered by the 692cc, 75bhp, single-cylinder engine from the KTM 690 range, whereas the Svartpilen 801 utilises the 799cc, 104bhp parallel twin-cylinder engine from the 2018 KTM 790 Duke, housed in a new tubular steel chassis, with calmer steering geometry, fully-adjustable WP suspension and a host of electronic rider aids. If the new model loses some of the uncompromising – but still playful – aggressiveness of the Svartpilen 701, then it more than makes up for it with a new-found sense of performance and sportiness.
I’m not going to even comment on the price, which is R206,699, because I’m sure we’re all bored of talking in incredulous tones about the cost of motorcycles these days. We really have to adjust our thinking and accept that they are no longer inexpensive; not that they ever were but the psychological barrier of a relatively ‘ordinary’ bike costing more than R200,000 is hard to overcome.
What might seem a little incongruous is the standard fitment of Pirelli MT60 RS dual-purpose tyres, which have an 80/20 road/off-road bias; quite why anyone would contemplate taking this bike off-road is not entirely clear but thankfully the tyres have more than enough grip for road riding and, to be honest, they do look brilliantly chunky and purposeful.
As a riding machine, the 801 is sublime; the chassis and suspension are brilliantly executed, the latter offering a plush ride without ever feeling like it’s losing control when pushed, and the springing is on the soft side, which enhances the feeling of quality. Naturally, the suspension is WP, fully adjustable, while the braking is handled by J. Juan, Brembo’s Spanish subsidiary. No complaints in that department at all.
The riding position tips the rider slightly forward but not to extremes and there is plenty of space, even for taller riders. The seat is a typical KTM offering, being flat, wide and reasonably comfortable, although you will want to take a break every hour and a half to get some feeling back into your backside.
It would be tempting to assume that the Svartpilen 801 is merely a KTM 790 Duke in different clothes but, having ridden the two bikes back-to-back, thanks to a friend who owns a 790 Duke, the Husqvarna somehow feels a little less manic and edgy. Don’t worry, it will still bring out the hooligan in you and cater for that side of your personality perfectly, it just does it in a slightly more civilised manner.
The engine is familiar to anyone who has ridden the 790 Duke and there is nothing you can criticise. 105bhp pushing along 181kg (wet) will always produce fireworks but it’s not peaky, nor does it have a violent delivery; there’s a linear spread of power and it is linked to a smooth and benign throttle. Fans of the old Svartpilen 701 might lament the loss of the single-cylinder engine and, compared to that, the parallel-twin engine in the 801 has lost a bit of character, but the performance has improved, just as the vibrations have reduced.
The electronics are extensive, with variables for ABS and traction control and there’s even a Supermoto mode for the ABS, that turns off the ABS at the rear, allowing the show-off rider to skid the rear wheel at will; it’s great fun but not great for rear tyre life! The bi-directional quick-shifter is brilliant, with a solid-feeling click to each change, the ABS and TC are lean-sensitive and there is, of course, the ubiquitous full-colour TFT dash as an interface for adjustments as well as riding information.
The Svartpilen 801 isn’t really a direct replacement for the 701, as it smoothed out some of the rough edges of the previous machine and turned into something a bit more civilised, if not slower or less dynamic. It’s as if it has grown up a little, which is no bad thing. Personally, I would have liked the styling to have been as ground-breaking as the original but perhaps it’s more a case of being used to the styling after six years of seeing them on the road. Maybe it would look more distinctive in another colour but it’s available in any colour you want, as long as it’s black…! All very stealthy, and I’m certain that no one will agree with me!
If I had to sum the Svartpilen up in one word, it would have to be “fun”. There was never a moment when it didn’t thrill and entertain, never a moment when I wanted more power or better handling and braking, never an opportunity missed to ride it, even if the journey was merely a couple of kilometres. If my day-to-day riding – including weekends – was limited to the urban jungle, the arguments for the 801 would be hard to resist.
Husqvarna 801 Svartpilen
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