Husqvarna Svartpilen & Vitpilen 401 No Poseurs Needed

Sometimes a manufacturer presents new bikes in a way that really doesn’t do them any favours. From the way Husqvarna has been talking about its new Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 you would think customers without plaid shirts, oiled beards and skinny jeans need not apply. But if you thought that, you would be missing out on two great little bikes.

- Chris Moss

At their official launch, the assembled press quickly learned of the alternative philosophy behind the new Austrian-built Husqvarnas. Husky’s PR man told us that the 401s are “unique motorcycles, which shouldn’t be looked at using the normal parameters. These are imaginative machines for the fashion conscious set, and not a bike built for sheer performance. They represent Husqvarna’s vision for the future, and are the first in its new Street Range”. He went on to stress the 401s’ simple, progressive, and clean design, labelling them as “urban progressive roadsters, built to endure the demands of urban exploration”.

His marketing-speak and references to the needs of a new and expanding bike market began to trigger a bit of cynicism in me. Being a bit old school I was worried the announcements might well be a case if getting the excuses in early for stylish, but ultimately poorly performing motorcycles. Still, as it’s my job to listen to such corporate information, I waited patiently for the chance to ride them.

I got the key to a Svartpilen first, though when the time came to get underway, the combination of rain and riding though fairly congested Bristol traffic quickly tempered my enthusiasm. Luckily the gods soon turned off the precipitation tap, and as the Husky was making such easy work of negotiating the traffic-laden routes my frowning stopped. Progress through the city is made even easier on two wheels thanks to being permitted to use bus lanes. But even when you can’t use them to bypass the queues of metal, the Svartpilen does a damned good job of getting you to your destination effectively. A number of key aspects assist this.