LM: Husqvarna Svartpilen 401

I'm currently in the market for another bike. I used to ride a CBR600 years and years ago, stopped riding because of kids, got a Grom, addicted again, and shopping around.

My top contenders are a Honda CB500F and the more "cafe racer" style SCL500 which is kinda the style I want to roll with. 

I went to a local powersports dealer to check both of those out and they had a bunch of Husqvarana Svartpilen and Vitpilens there. I love the retro styling of them but are they any good? I see that it's pretty much a KTM under the hood. I'm a Honda guy through and through but would very much entertain one of these. 

My limited understanding is the KTM in those is the reliable one, vs many of the other KTMs that suffer electrical problems. They are super light and very nimble. The styling doesn't do it for me, but that's personal preference.

The Honda 500s...meh. Lots of more entertaining motorcycles out there for the price if you ask me. 

ddavidv said:

My limited understanding is the KTM in those is the reliable one, vs many of the other KTMs that suffer electrical problems. They are super light and very nimble. The styling doesn't do it for me, but that's personal preference.

The Honda 500s...meh. Lots of more entertaining motorcycles out there for the price if you ask me. 

Thanks for the info. What models are you referring too? The jump to a 1000 is literally double the price for the Hondas. 

I bought a svart 401 a couple months ago. I like a lot so far. Only have 400 miles give or take because riding weather but it's zippy, light, easy to maneuver, and I like the way it looks. Adjustable fork and shock. Only downsides are small tank and the display speedo tach thingy is really hard to read in any light. It is quite well equipped for the price. 
When I bought mine they were discounted to 4649 from 5649 with .99apr. I'd planned to buy cash but might as well finance for that. 

They look like a lot of fun. I sat on one and found it a bit short for my liking but I'm used to Italian bikes where you're stretched out a bit.

It's a KTM relative so you have to be ok with being weirder than Guzzi owners and that takes a bit. 

In reply to Teh E36 M3 :

4700 is so cheap! I'd almost be tempted at that price but I already have too many vehicles and not enough space or time.

Well, it was $6k otd with CA taxes and reg. 

I really like the little things but at least out here in California everybody has problems with them if they are pre 2018', the new ones are much better but still do have electrical issues here and there that are easy enough to find and fix. The issue for me is the suspension specifically the rear shock seem to leak and die every 5K miles or so. But that is a WP suspension issue above anything else. Cheap to replace on the 390's as there are tons of them out there. 

If its transport get the Honda, you can even find a lightly used 650R around 5K now which is a lovely bike and much better on 40+ mile trips. The Honda 500's are really good as well and cheap used. 

I would also look at the KLX300 and the Honda CRF300 Rally. Seriously excellent small bikes. 

wearymicrobe said:

I would also look at the KLX300 and the Honda CRF300 Rally. Seriously excellent small bikes. 

The KLX300 is a better bike in every single way over the Honda, and cheaper too.

The CRF300 is such a lame attempt, they sell purely on Honda's reputation.

The Svart is really a street bike, the KLX300 and CRF300 are dual sports, so that really depends on what you want out of it. I've never ridden a KLX, but I was not impressed by the CRF250L or the CRF300 Rally I rode. Which surprised me, I thought I would really like the rally version. Competent enough, but boring and soggy, with unenthusiastic engines/transmissions. The Svartpilen/Vitpilen are more fun to rip around on in my opinion, even if I'm too big for them. Quality felt a little down from the Austrian KTM products I'm used to, but not enough to raise eyebrows since it is a cheaper bike. 

I'm sure you know the 390 bikes are mass market made in India bikes. That doesn't make them bad, but they aren't the Austrian ones. iirc they have China factories coming online, so we'll see how that goes. I guess just the dirtbikes are made in Austria now? And maybe the big ADVs?

https://bikeadvice.in/ktm-manufacturing-plants-world/