Bike World Used Review | Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 

As a swedish person I am glad that Husqvarna was aquired by KTM. It captures the swedish ideal of self-sufficiency and mantra of "some assembly required.".

I ride a Svarty 401, 3 years and 20,000 kms later and I'm still in love with it!! Don't forget it comes standard with a quick shifter too, and adjustable levers. I ride mostly city but weekend blasts to the country are possible no probs. Easy cruising at 130-140 km/h top speed 175kph. Gem of a bike!! Great review Chris as always.

The designer of this bike should get an Oscar.

I've had one since March. I love it. So much fun to ride and looks like nothing else on the road.

I’m very much on the fence looks wise with this one, even Chris looks big riding it. Definitely one for the vertically challenged lightweight’s amongst us. 👍 Hats off to Husky for trying something different.

Nice review. I have a 2023 Vitpilen 401 and love it. Gets me around town and is incredibly light and maneuverable. Fantastic urban bike.

£3500 new now! so crazy thats such a good bike for the money!

I have a 701 and it's excellent. Great fun to ride. Suspension is superb. Bike is light. Well built. Love it.

That's how I describe my wife "when You ignore the noise in the sound she's got a decent mid-range"

This was my first bike here in the US and I cannot speak more highly of it. Between this and my Grom I am left wanting nothing as my 401 will happily keep up with bigger bikes in the twisties. This bike absolutely loves being thrashed around corners.

Don't forget the factory "Quick Shifter" up and down, included. Love it.

The bike that made me jump back on a motorcycle. I saw the concept for this years ago and said to myself I’m going to have one, then kind of lost interest in biking a bit, never having the time or money to get my full licence. Fast forward to last year, and I saw the Svartpilen and bought the 125 almost instantly. Have spent a great 12 months with the bike and always intended to get the 401 as my next bike, but after riding my instructor’s my-07 I just thought 44hp is just not going to be enough. Considered the 701 but £6k is a lot for an art piece that looks too good to ride, so I’ve just put the money down on a trident 660 (which was swayed by your review, by the way). So sadly myself and the unusually named Swedish branded, Austrian owned, Indian built machines part ways. But thank you, Husqvarna for giving us this bike and and reigniting my interest in something that was buried deep inside me. Maybe we meet again in the future!

just bought svart 401 5 months ago because they don't sell the vitpilen in my country. despite i love the clip ons better than the big handlebar that my svart has, I'm still enjoying the bike. I've made 4 road trips -around 800kms- and now the bike has 6K kms on it. still fun still aggressive enough and still great looking. only thing I will do is to order some clip ons from the factory:)

I'm looking more fondly at the Svartpilen on the looks department. Good to see you got to know the cameraman even better

I think the riding position on this one is a little more committed than I'd find comfortable these days (especially with a pillion). But I am seriously tempted by it's brother, the Svartpilen.

loved my svartpilen 401 when I had it

I have one of these, and completely changed the styling on it. I love the OEM versions though. Once you add a tune, exhaust and race filter the torque increases significantly on this little thumper. I took it a few steps further with a smaller front sprocket, and recluse clutch kit.

I really fancy having a go on the 701 version. The 401 and 701 look stunning. Would be nice to see you on a benelli 900 tornado. I had the green and silver one. But any colour would be good if you could get hold of one to test.

Have had mine now for a few months. Wanted a cheap commuter and must admit feel glad I got it. I enjoy it more then my old gsxr don't get me wrong it's not as good a bike but it's more fun. Common mods people do is to fix the awful rear licence plate holder fit a fuel X to stop it running lean and alot of people put fat bars on. Its a really decent cheap bike and 44 odd bhp is plenty for city's...most the time

Your speaking of the pillion accommodations reminded me of your characterization of the accommodations and the then-new auto leveling feature of the 2017 BMW R1200GS Rallye, that worked well even if your pillion “has had a few too many cakes.” I didn’t have any pillions available, but your enthusiastic downhills and jumps on that poor bike led to my buying one 😊 I will refrain from IKEA jokes and so won’t speculate about a pillion with too many dumplings in the boot.

I love my Vit 401. I wanted to get one in 2019 but they were then made in Austria and too expensive. I finally got one in 2022. It's got adjustable suspension and a quick shifter which it didn't have in 2019 and it's prettier too. It's the apple of my eye and great to ride too. I pay $15 a month for liability insurance.

I quite like it and I’m with you on how I would probably use it. Given that I think the 125 version would probably be sufficient as well as being cheaper to insure and more economical too.

What a great place to test a city bike, made me home sick, just love Swansea

I already have a Husky, my eyes is on that great looking Spada jacket! Too bad they only offer it in green.

I love the looks of the svartpilen and vitpilen, not sure about reliability. But maybe just go for it

I prefer the Svartpilen, but I'd rather have a 701. I like your hoodie. Nick J

Would Be lovely on all of the Lovely flowing A & B roads in Devon....!!!! But having Said that my Friend is Loving Her fanatic Cabolero at the mo which seems to have Bags of low end Loveliness off the Bottom end too....!!!! :)

Big fan of this bike. Was originally planning on going with the CB300R due to its styling but I wasn't completely satisfied with its power, motorway capabilities and big bike feeling. It looks like I'll be going with the 401!

ive been seriously thinking of getting a bike and reall love the look, economy, and efficiency of this bike. here in Canada i found many with low km ranging between 5200 to 6500cad. however, with single cylinder i was worried about vibrational balance when cruising at 100 to 120km/hr. you dont find that at higher speeds?

I just hate that hugger/licence plate arrangement- would look better with it hanging under the seat tail.

Is that a knock off Akrapovič exhaust? 😅😇

Dont forget to add this to your "used" playlist

Just sold mine after owning it for 14 months, needed something more practical. I have loved every minute with the bike. The amount of attention the motorcycle gets is incredible even from people that are not into bikes. Cornering with the bike feels amazing and maintenance is fairly cheap. I really really really going to mis the incredible quick shifter and backlight on the controls.

Do they have a Honda CB500X video?

No Flat pack jokes here Chris but how long did it take you to assemble it?

Can't get a new 701 in Australia now. They've stopped bringing them in. Wasn't a good seller. How dull.

Can you please do a used test with a suzuki b King. I own one and like you to test it. Please,😉😉😉

Grate review! I loved it, fun as well. Love the gentle way of calling fat people “larger human being”😂😂 BTW. I just bought this bike and love it.

Can I ask where did you buy the jacket? I do ride Svartpilen 401 and I am super happy with the bike

Looks great but rode my neighbor's for 5 minutes and i can see why he only put 150 miles on the odo too.. all ur weight is on ur wrists. No tank to take some weight off like a sports bike. Maybe im spoiled with my harley but yea im good. Sadly I wouldnt even recommend it for a beginner.

Does it come with a small tool that you eventually lose in a sea of packing material. Does the owners manual have useless illustrated instructions. During the purchase process are you served meatball's?

Why is this one Silver? The ones i've seen are white? Also, this has spokes and not mags?

love the woman in VW UP who gives the dirtiest look to the camera 🤣

Any way to get this in the US?

"we were glad to get off the bike at the end of the day" what do you mean by that?

I own a KTM, I think the 401 is ugly (I know the irony of that).

Where's my Koenigsegg jokes?! 😂

Does it run on meatballs? Jk what an amazing bike. Found one for sale locally for $3500. Tempting

There is nothing Swedish with this bike. The Husqvarna company was bought by Cagiva in 1986 and has not a single part from Sweden afaik.

The top half looks amazing...the bottom half looks like it lost all of it's clothes...

Looks like a bike a chiropractor would recommend

Grom would've been better in da city.

If you don’t like the design of this bike you got mental problems and need help😂