For plenty of industry watchers, it was a foregone conclusion; Husky had trotted the 701 out as a concept at last year's EICMA show, and now the Svartpilen 701 joins Husqvarna's series of neo-retro bikes, ready to share the spotlight with its café-flavored Vitpilen 701 sibling. But really, given both bikes' one-of-a-kind avant-garde styling, those descriptors don't mean much. So let's just look at the specs.
Of course the two share plenty of components, like the liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, 692cc motor (with a claimed 75-hp output), the chromium-molybdenum trellis frame, and even the brake arrangement looks similar, with Brembo four-piston calipers, a 320mm front disc, and ABS. The suspension also carries over, with a 43mm USD fork that’s adjustable for rebound and compression, and a fully adjustable monoshock out back.
But Husky’s take on flat-track style means the Svartpilen 701 also gains things like fork covers, a different number-board-style headlight arrangement (though still with a premium LED lamp and DRL), and a more upright seating position with wider, off-road-style handlebars. And, yeah, there are a pretty different tailsection and rear covers, things that don’t really scream “flat track” but are well in keeping with Husky’s statement of “progressive design.”
The tires are Pirelli’s MT 60 RS hoops that give a flat-track-ready look but are more than ready for the street. Other street-savvy bits include the cleanly bobbed fender with, again, a fully modern LED taillight peeking out from underneath and, most obviously, a much darker paint scheme with a stealthier vibe than the brighter Vitpilen. The Svartpilen’s overall lines stay clean, and the form minimal, in a boxy Swedish way. So is that retro? Or neo? No word on pricing or availability as yet but you can bet it’ll be here soon.