Husqvarna revamps retro Svartpilen, Vitpilen models in 2024
The modern-classic Husqvarna Vitpilen and Svartpilen return for 2024, both in an updated form and in 401 and 125 flavours
Husqvarna’s light and middleweight rosters are updated and bolstered for 2024, with comprehensive updates to both the Husqvarna Vitpilen and Husqvarna Svartpilen.
Both the Vitpilen and Svartpilen will be available in 125 (125cc) and 401 (399cc) forms in 2024, as they receive some familiar updates.
2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 125.
Changes have been made across both engine and chassis on all four bikes - Vitpilen 125, Vitpilen 401, Svartpilen 125, Svartpilen 401 - and are reflective of the updates KTM brought to its 125 Duke and 390 Duke for the 2024 model year.
Firstly, that means redesigned engines. Although there is an obvious difference between the motor used in the 125s and that used in the 401s, both units are based on the same KTM LC4c design, just with a smaller bore and stroke on the 125. The similarities between the engines mean that the updates found on the new 398cc engine in the 401s are also found in the 125cc unit found in the smaller models. These updates include a new coating - plasma rather than the Nicasil used on the previous generation - and the introduction of a counter balance shaft to reduce vibration. Further, the torque curve has been adjusted with more now found lower down in the rev range, and the cylinder heads have been revised, too.
On that latter front, a larger valve cover has been implemented with a flat sealing surface area for its split line, while the cylinder head itself is now smaller. The thermostat has been repositioned for “more stable thermal sensing,” Husqvarna says, while the heat-up time of the engine has been shortened in conjunction with a quickening of the reaction of the cooling system.
2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401.
New camshafts (single on the 125, double on the 401) have also been brought to the new engine design, providing more lift to the benefit of the flow of both the fuel-air mixture and exhaust gases.
That shared engine design also allows the chassis around the engine to be the same on the 401s as on the 125s. For example, a new, larger airbox has been introduced on both new models. A redesign of the rear suspension has been necessary to accommodate the new airbox, with the monoshock now positioned off-centre, and this is the case on both the 125 and 401 models.
This repositioning of the shock also allows for a lower seat height - 820mm - while the aluminium swingarm’s design has been curved to allow for the new shock position and to optimise the packaging of the under-engine exhaust.
2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 125.
Of course, the shock comes from WP - a Pierer Mobility Group subsidiary the same as KTM and Husqvarna - and so does the front fork. Suspension is an area of difference between the 401s and 125s: although all four bikes use a 43mm open cartridge fork, the 125s have no adjustability, while the 401s get five-click (the clicker is located at the top of the fork tube) adjustment on the compression and rebound damping; and, at the rear, the preload is tool-adjustable on both the 401s and 125s, but only the 401s get rebound adjustment.
The frame which holds all of this together is also new. It’s still a steel trellis, predictably, but it’s lighter and the tubes are now hydroformed and welded by robots rather than hand. The redesign of the frame has resulted in an increase in torsional rigidity, which KTM says improves both agility and feedback. “Despite achieving this objective,” KTM says, “rider comfort was not compromised as longitudinal rigidity was maintained at a similar level.”
Much of the geometry of the bikes has also been changed, perhaps most notably with the wheelbase which is now set at 1,368mm, as well as the aforementioned seat height. In the case of the Svartpilen models, the rider triangle has been adjusted in accordance with these changes. The Vitpilens have also received a lighter and more street-biassed handlebar. Agility is improved thanks to these ergonomic changes, Husqvarna says, without a cost to stability, because they mean the rider is able to move around the bike more freely.
2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401.
All four bikes will roll on 17-inch wheels, which are cast in the case of the Vitpilen, and spoked for the Svartpilen. Tyres are different between them, with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs for the Svartpilen, and Michelin Power 6s on the Vitpilen.
Finishing touches include cornering ABS, LED headlights, new paint and graphic designs, and a five-inch TFT display.
Pricing for the 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen models are £4,899 for both 125s and £5,599 for both 401s.
2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 125/401 specifications
Engine
Engine type | Single cylinder, 4-stroke | Single cylinder, 4-stroke |
Displacement | 125 ccm | 398.6 ccm |
Bore/stroke | 58/47.3 mm | 89/64 mm |
Power | 11kW (15bhp) @ 10,000 rpm | 33 kW (45bhp) @ 8,500 rpm |
Torque | 8.5lb ft @ 7,750 rpm | 28.8lb ft @ 7,000 rpm |
Compression ratio | 12.3:1 | 12.6:1 |
Starter/battery | Electric starter/12V 8Ah | Electric starter/12V 8Ah |
Transmission | 6 gears | 6 gears |
Fuel system | Dell`Orto EFI (throttle body 33 mm) | Dell`Orto EFI (throttle body 46 mm) |
Control | 4 V / SOHC with cam levers | 4 V / DOHC with cam levers |
Lubrication | wet sump with 2 oil pumps | wet sump with 2 oil pumps |
Engine oil | MOTOREX 15W-50 | MOTOREX 15W-50 |
Primary drive | 23:80 | 33:86 |
Final drive | 14:45 | 14:43 |
Cooling | Liquid cooling | Liquid cooling |
Clutch | Multi disc PASC slipper clutch | Multi disc PASC slipper clutch |
Engine management/ignition | Bosch EMS with RBW | Bosch EMS with RBW |
Traction control | MTC (lean angle sensitive, 2-Mode, disengageable) |
Chassis
Frame | Steel trellis frame, powder coated | Steel trellis frame, powder coated |
Subframe | Steel trellis frame, powder coated | Steel trellis frame, powder coated |
Handlebar | Aluminium | Aluminium |
Front suspension | WP APEX - USD, Ø 43 mm | WP APEX - USD, Ø 43 mm |
Adjustability | Compression, Rebound | |
Rear suspension | WP APEX - Monoshock | WP APEX - Monoshock |
Adjustability | Preload | Rebound, Preload |
Suspension travel front/rear | front 150mm / rear 150mm | front 150mm / rear 150mm |
Front brake | ByBre, opposed four piston caliper, brake disc Ø 320 mm | ByBre, opposed four piston caliper, brake disc Ø 320 mm |
Rear brake | ByBre, twin piston, floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm | ByBre, twin piston, floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm |
ABS | Bosch 9.3MP (incl. Cornering ABS and Supermoto Mode, disengageable) | Bosch 9.3MP (incl. Cornering ABS and Supermoto Mode, disengageable) |
Wheels front/rear | Cast aluminium, 3 x 17"; 4 x 17" | Cast aluminium, 3 x 17"; 4 x 17" |
Tyres front/rear | Michelin Power 6 110/70-R17; 150/60-R17 | Michelin Power 6 110/70-R17; 150/60-R17 |
Chain | X-Ring 520 | X-Ring 520 |
Silencer | Stainless steel with regulated catalytic converter | Stainless steel with regulated catalytic converter |
Steering head angle | 66° | 66° |
Triple clamp offset | 32 mm | 32 mm |
Trail | 95 mm | 95 mm |
Wheel base | 1368 +/-15,5mm | 1368 +/-15,5mm |
Ground clearance | 180 mm | 180 mm |
Seat height | 820 mm | 820 mm |
Tank capacity (approx.) | 13 litres/ 1.5 litres reserve | 13 litres/ 1.5 litres reserve |
Weight | 147,5 kg | 154,5 |
CO2 Emissions | 57 g/km | 79 g/km |
2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 125/401 specifications
Engine
Engine type | Single cylinder, 4-stroke | Single cylinder, 4-stroke |
Displacement | 125 ccm | 398.6 ccm |
Bore/stroke | 58/47.3 mm | 89/64 mm |
Power | 11kW (15 hp) @ 10,000 rpm | 33 kW (45 hp) @ 8,500 rpm |
Torque | 8.5lb ft @ 7,750 rpm | 28.8lb ft @ 7,000 rpm |
Compression ratio | 12.3:1 | 12.6:1 |
Starter/battery | Electric starter/12V 8Ah | Electric starter/12V 8Ah |
Transmission | 6 gears | 6 gears |
Fuel system | Dell`Orto EFI (throttle body 33 mm) | Dell`Orto EFI (throttle body 46 mm) |
Control | 4 V / SOHC with cam levers | 4 V / DOHC with cam levers |
Lubrication | wet sump with 2 oil pumps | wet sump with 2 oil pumps |
Engine oil | MOTOREX 15W-50 | MOTOREX 15W-50 |
Primary drive | 23:80 | 33:86 |
Final drive | 14:45 | 14:43 |
Cooling | Liquid cooling | Liquid cooling |
Clutch | Multi disc PASC slipper clutch | Multi disc PASC slipper clutch |
Engine management/ignition | Bosch EMS with RBW | Bosch EMS with RBW |
Traction control | MTC (lean angle sensitive, 2-Mode, disengageable) |
Chassis
Frame | Steel trellis frame, powder coated | Steel trellis frame, powder coated |
Subframe | Steel trellis frame, powder coated | Steel trellis frame, powder coated |
Handlebar | Aluminium | Aluminium |
Front suspension | WP APEX - USD, Ø 43 mm | WP APEX - USD, Ø 43 mm |
Adjustability | Compression, Rebound | |
Rear suspension | WP APEX - Monoshock | WP APEX - Monoshock |
Adjustability | Preload | Rebound, Preload |
Suspension travel front/rear | front 150mm / rear 150mm | front 150mm / rear 150mm |
Front brake | ByBre, opposed four-piston caliper, brake disc Ø 320 mm | ByBre, opposed four-piston caliper, brake disc Ø 320 mm |
Rear brake | ByBre, twin-piston, floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm | ByBre, twin-piston, floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm |
ABS | Bosch 9.3MP (incl. Cornering ABS and Supermoto Mode, disengageable) | Bosch 9.3MP (incl. Cornering ABS and Supermoto Mode, disengageable) |
Wheels front/rear | Spoked wheels with aluminium rims, 3 x 17"; 4 x 17" | Spoked wheels with aluminium rims, 3 x 17"; 4 x 17" |
Tyres front/rear | PIRELLI SCORPION RALLY STR 110/70-R17; 150/60-R17 | PIRELLI SCORPION RALLY STR 110/70-R17; 150/60-R17 |
Chain | X-Ring 520 | X-Ring 520 |
Silencer | Stainless steel with regulated catalytic converter | Stainless steel with regulated catalytic converter |
Steering head angle | 66° | 66° |
Triple clamp offset | 32 mm | 32 mm |
Trail | 95 mm | 95 mm |
Wheel base | 1368 +/-15,5mm | 1368 +/-15,5mm |
Ground clearance | 180 mm | 180 mm |
Seat height | 820 mm | 820 mm |
Tank capacity (approx.) | 13 litres/ 1.5 litres reserve | 13 litres/ 1.5 litres reserve |
Weight | 151 kg | 159 kg |
CO2 Emissions | 57 g/km | 79 g/km |
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