I bought the Svartpilen 401 - Here's Why... 

Absolutely love my svartpilen. Been riding for 20 years and bikes of various engine capacities... but this one is hands down, the one that has made me smile the most. As an aside, I'm only 5'4" and have no problems with the seat height. 👌

I saw your reviews years back. I got the svart and im still loving it to this day. its my commuter, weekend getaway vehicle. you definitely get a lot of value from this bike if you are a beginner or just looking for an adventures svart is definitely a good motorcycle to do it.

As a designer (Engineering Architecture) I always loved motorcycles, some look complete and most look like something is missing, like this one. Have fun and be safe 😊🇦🇺

How could you go wrong?? These are hands down the best value in their segment. Adjustable suspension and spoke wheels alone put this in a league above all its competitors. Plus with the added advantage of being able to comfortably explore some open fire trails!! If I had some extra $$$ I’d have one too.Great choice !

I just bought one last week in Sydney, I love it! I had bigger bikes but this so much more fun , the big mono it makes you smile every time you ride, and it looks just stunning.

I’ve done some things to my 2021 Svartpilen that you can check out. I definitely agree to all that you said, particularly about the dash that could use an upgrade. Nice vid bro, ride safe from us, husky riders, here in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Great video Kris. I just picked up a new 2023 Svartpilen about a month ago. I love this thing! My only complaints are the mirrors (which were easy to replace) and the dashboard. I'm 64 and my old eyes struggle to see display when I'm riding. I don't care though. I have such a blast on this thing that I'm better off not taking my eyes off the road anyway. Stay safe and keep up the videos!

Very good inner urban,gravel road explore. I currently have a CB500F with a 56 litre Givi top box which I have found indispensable. It hasn’t been off the bike since I bought it. I’d be interested in seeing the cafe racer version of the 400 & 700 if you can manage it. I think increasingly people are going to look at single cylinder commuter bikes to get through heavy traffic congestion situations and rising fuel prices. Parking isn’t an issue with most motorcycles. Enfield have also come out with the newly designed engine in the Hunter 350. Low maintenance, insurance, rego, excellent fuel economy- that bike will be a big success.

Another good video Kris, well done. I echo everything you said about the 401, I have been riding it for nearly a year now. Such a good beginner bike. I am so glad I started my motorcycle journey on a 401. Will continue to enjoy the bike, it still have a lot to offer.

I have a 401 and it is the best looking bike I have ever gotten. Also, it's fun to ride as it is nimble and fast.

Dude, that jacket is so dope. Goes with the Svartpilen perfectly.

I have 6K miles on my 2020 and it’s been super fun in various environments. It thrives in the tight twisties of the mountains here in Boone, N.C. While not a true Super Moto, I routinely do 120 mile jaunts on it without any discomfort (5’7” is an ideal fit for this rig). As long as you stay off any gnarly, unpaved roads it’s an absolute hoot. Bang for buck, haven’t seen anything new that can approach it. If not for some leaky Apex forks (2x now) and minimal tire selections, I’d recommend it for anyone who wants an easy but capable machine for doing urban buzzing about, or flat out ripping thru your regional (or local) mountains, if you’re privileged enough to have access! For about $3K less than a DRZ400 SM, it’s an enticing choice.

So many choices Great bike friend Scramblers are it!

I just ordered a 2023 but I'm going to mod the tiny fuel tank and add 2 more gallons. If you cut the futuristic looking side panels and expose the tank area on the side right above the frame, you can cut a giant hole in the side of the tank and epoxy in an expansion. I'll have to play with the shape so it doesn't look too freaky but i think i can add a gallon expansion on each side. The easiest way to do it is buy an after market tank like from Acerbis and cut sections off them for the actual expansions.

Congratulations Kris! I remember when you reviewed it you really enjoyed it.

I sat on one of these and it felt like a kids toy. It is so much smaller in real life than you think from videos/reviews.

I like the bike. I use the tank rack to tie down items.

Fab Video Kris. I bought the Svartpilen back in April, based on your previous review. I’m absolutely chuffed with it. I’ve had a few bikes, but this is go-to bike, for commuting and around town. It has incredible performance for a small single and for a LAMs (A2) bike, it’s so much fun. I actually prefer riding the 401 to the Honda CB650R. People always comment on the design, something I haven’t had with previous bikes. So thanks again, and best wishes, from Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 👍🏻

So. I just bought one from 21 as my first bike as of today at a fantastic price, and only minor visual damage from the previous owners off-road fun. I’m worried now that I’ve started too strong and not much is ever going to be better value for money for me. Lol It’s been a blast for the 50 or so miles I put in so far. I can’t wait to take it down a fire trail next weekend!

very excited to see more videos on this bike!

I was actually at the shop today considering these. Thank you for the vid.

Love these bikes, not many in Perth but would def be keen to try one out

Excellent video! I have a 701 Svartpilen and it is an excellent motorcycle. There is nothing like it. To me, the 401 or 701 is good out the box including the stock exhaust. It is one of the few bikes to me that have a good looking and sounding stock exhaust. The single cylinder might contribute to that exhaust note. The only thing I changed on my bike for looks and practice reasons is I purchased bar end mirrors from Husqvarna and it helped with my ability to see besides me and the bike looks better.

I watched your ergo video of this bike last year. That, among few, made me decide to get one myself. Look into Powertronic Fuelx especially if you plan on doing aftermarket filter & decat. Enjoy the bike & keep it up with the channel!

BW makes a nice little plug and play TFT dash. I have a 2020 Vit 701 and I love it!!

Honest detailing👌❤

I know those roads! Heaps good.

Great video man! 👍🏾 great wheels!

Thank you for this video. Very interesting for me. This evening I've visited a dealer to see this model. I wasn't considering to buy it, but after the visit of this evening and your video, I thing it's a good choice. I've found some accessories at the web of Husqvarna. Perhaps you're looking for other things.

You buying a Svart is quite an endorsement. I just got a new 2022 Vitpilen. Unlike most, I specifically wanted a Vit. I love the clip on bars and rear set pegs. What a refined motorcycle it is, so much better than my 2019 CB300R for only $450 more.

When you say $7000 ausi dollars, is that plus dealer mark up, destination charge, tax and registration. I’m here in California looking to snag a deal here in the end of 23 or early 24. I think I’m seeing in US dollars, give or take $4200 plus $1000 prep and dest. Then there would be tax and registration which are a given. I guess it’s the msrp, prep cost and destination cost they play around with. The prices are a great deal, so much so that I am thinking about not buying private party. ( I had a bad experience on my last Craigslist motorcycle, had to put money into it) So these deals are attractive on new bikes. I’m going to see if I can do $4500 for bike plus $500 destination, no prep or dealer fee and then taxes and reg of course. Last question the 401 or the ktm 390 duke, both in 2023 model. Which would you prefer, I also had a 2015 triumph daytona 675r so I’m interested in your opinion thanks

I've been trying to find builds that accommodate saddle bag position storage for this bike while also allowing for a switch to having a rider on the back if needed. Not much out there.

Thanks for the interesting video! What do you make of the exhaust note? Will you be doing a comparison with your Ninja 400? :) I'm really enjoying your focus on the smaller bikes - makes a lot of sense.

Got my L's, doing lots of research on similar bikes for my first purchase. This would be a clear winner however here's a few points from my POV that are in any video you might have seen. The Speedo is really tiny and LCD so I can imagine trying to keep within the speed limit will be any easy feat while progressing through my two years of P's. There's no point having a more powerful LAMS bike if you can't learn to reign it in and not get booked! Otherwise where I ride I'll never make it to my full licence. The lack of farings and wind protection is also a concern. Wind blasts at higher speeds are very off putting for a new rider you need to be able to tuck out of it to focus on your riding. Plus riding in colder or hotter weather is more uncomfortable when you take windchill and windburn into consideration which reduces the incentive to ride in more varied conditions and increase your skills. Lastly while this bike has been around for a couple of years it doesn't have a solid reputation for servicing and reliability like Japanese bikes like Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki do. This also to applies to access to parts and qualified mechanics who will know their way around the bile.Especially in the LAMS corner of the bike world. For this reason I'm choosing a Yamaha R3, The speedo is bigger, and more visible, it's got more wind protection and has a top level status in terms of reliability, service and access to parts. Hopefully all the Asian brands will lift their game and start pitching modern models that will compete with the Husky, soon!

Excellent choice of bike, Kris. I can understand why you bought this bargain. Great 373cc engine. I like the styling. The 401 looks better than the 701 in terms of the Svartpilen styling. I like the dash. A lot more than the one on my 390 Duke. The tank rack is useful. The tyres are tubeless, too. What a bike!

Got my name down on a MY21 Vitpilen 401 that was £1,300 off of the new price, and I can't wait to take delivery. This is said from someone who just sold his Aprilia RS 660, which I will miss dearly!

I love mine. Not a long distance machine for sure. Waiting for the premium factory seat. Back order Blues

You should do regular reviews detailing long term ownership such as possible issues, how it costs to own, ride and quality etc

Man it's beautiful

that jacket looks tough bro, whos the maker?, good video and hustle

hey, im not even a new rider yet, but Im thinking a lot about getting a svartpillen as my first bike. As i live in Europe, this bike would have the maximum power that i can get for 2 years. The only thing im not sure about this bike is that his value maybe goes down faster than other most used bikes like mt-07.

Hi Kris, keen for a more in depth review as I’m tossing up between this, the cbr500 r and the interceptor 650 as a second bike (started on a tu250x). Value proposition is outrageous with these. Only things I’m worried about are the stalling/cutting out issues many owners seem to report, and also the stability on freeways in terms of getting knocked about by the wind (90% of my riding will be inner city, but occasional weekend trips on the freeway for a couple of hours are on the cards). Greatly appreciate your feedback mate. Congrats on the purchase

Hi Kris. I've got the exact same bike and absolutely love it. My only issue is the mirrors. Very hard to see in the space behind the rider. I'm curious to know if you are planning to upgrade to new mirrors? I'm looking to find other mirrors but the bar end mirrors don't appeal to me. I hope you enjoy the bike as much as I do.

Great review, and looking forward to something in depth and how it handles on longer journeys. I can considering coming off my Rebel 500 and moving to this as i am not feeling the cramped riding position. Am I mad?? Cheers

I love the name 401 !

Shame they can't make the gas tank a bit bigger

Love it, I just got one

Great little bike. 400-450cc is a perfect capacity

I really like the look of this bike, though never seen one up close. I am a bit concerned that I would look ridiculous on it. I am 6'2''. It doesn't seem to be tiny underneath you though. How tall are you? Thanks

Hi I'm hesitating with the KTM DUKE 390, do you have an opinion on it ? Thanks

I was planning to buy one of these, but now the Honda 500CL has made me rethink the acquisition... What do you think, between the 2? Honda has a bigger tank (12l), lower sit height, and 2 cilinder motor...

Hi Kris. 181cm and 86kg here. Deciding between the 401, Ninja 400 and Bmw G310 Gs. How does the ninja handle a bumpy road? I'm sure the GS will be the most comfortable small displacement bike but worried about quality/reliability of the BMW and the 401

Do you know the overall length of the bike tire to tire without license plate? Would be grateful for that info.

@MotoJournoKris - now that you're 8 months in on this, have you tested how 'deep' that scrambler/off-road capability is. Report back!

how about the known downshifting problem/issue ? the bike will stall upon downshifting 2nd to 1st usually

Hi Kris. Can you advise where I can get a brand new one (21 model is fine) for the same price you bought as used ones in Melbourne are selling at almost the same price.

I’m late to the party! Great video as always! A couple questions if ya had a second: What’s your take on it’s reliability and maintenance? A neighbor of mine had so many random issues that seem to be quality control related, which scared me away from the bike. I’m based in a large city, so I’m lucky to have someone to work on a bike, but that valve adjustment every 4,650 miles seems brutal, and somewhat expensive. Curious to hear your thoughts on both those issues.

Been looking to get something cheap and fun and this seem like the best bet. I love going on some light gravel and just exploring smaller roads so this seem like it would be perfect! How’s the engine reliability?

bro which camera did you use to shoot this video ? thanks

Hey all, for owners of the svart. how have you found the reliability? ie over the course of 1-2 yrs? ie with repair issues or oil leaks etc? i'm thinking of getting one of these, as a new/beginner rider. and ideally wanting smt reliable, economical fuel consumption and easy to ride in an upright position and easy to turn and manevour. I've looked into quite a bit of this bike on various platforms, and have generally found it to fit the bill to what i'm after.

7000 AUS OTR is around 4700 US. I just paid 7600 US OTR for a 2022 Vitpilen 401. Amazing that there were leftover Svarts in Australia. There are absolutely none available in the US. BTW I didn't get a Vit because I couldn't get a Svart. I got a Vit because I wanted a Vit. There are people changing out the top triple clamp of the Vit with one that has risers for a riser bar. It may be that they wanted a Svart but there were none to be had.

I didn't like the 17" rims. Only one company makes off road tires for it, and they are not that aggressive. 17" was primarily used on sport bikes.

How would this bike fit for somebody being 6’4”?

Do these run any better than the RC390? Some riders complain of fueling/ECU issues.

Nice and subbed.

thanks for the video, is it worth to buy this bike, if we already have KTM ADV 390? Thanks.

Hey mate, nice review. Id be interested in your thoughts after owning it for a while. For a first bike, Im deciding on a 401 or a CB400 super four. Both are similar prices second hand but the Honda's have a lot more k's on em.

Great review. I was considering it but I really need a topcase for my bag and camera equipment. Any way to install one on this bike?

I think you should have waited cause the new model will be out in a couple of months

How is the seat comfort ?

Looks good. Vibes at 55-65 mph? Gas tank size?

I have the KTM 390 Adv. I love it.

is this good for 2 up riding? i already have a t120 but i thought i needed a smaller bike to carry the occasional pillion.

Where is that trail to ride?

how is the seat on a longer ride?

Hi Kris, do you recommend this Svartpilen 401 as a first bike for beginner? I am looking for a commute bike for everyday riding from Macquarie Park to Chatswood. I'm 180cm and about 85kg. Moreover, is husqvarna as reliable as Honda regarding the quality. As a beginner I don't want to be bothered by tiny issues.

Can you advise where your Svartpilen is assembled from?

Do you think the suspension could handle a 250 pound rider?

that tank "luggage rack" is actually an automatic testicle remover!

GEM..😫💥💥💥🚀

Hello, guys. I live in Russia and price for this bike here is ridiculous - i'ts 9k dollars. Can anyone suggest some way to buy it from us or another country where it's cheaper?

I’m a beginner rider and tossing up between the Kawasaki z400 and the svartpilen. Which do you think best suits beginners?

how tall are you? I would like to buy it I'm 1.80 tall I think it's small for me

Hi when you buy it there was a quickshifter ready to go ?

does Husqvarna ship bikes overseas? having a hard time finding local dealerships with any of these in stock and I'm tryna get one, maybe even brand new

I own one and most duke 390 aftermarket parts will fit this bike as they are the same bike essentially just dressed up in a different costume

Good luck with reliability. I wouldn't touch a KTM with a 10foot pole.

I’m 5’6, 197 pounds, female. Would I be able to fit this bike? Flat foot or at least ball of feet on ground? The vit too much of a crotch rocket look/feel rider stance wise. I’m leaning towards the svart

4 the algoh

Here a seemingly ridicules question.... Has any one rode 2 up? Is it capable of this even a little bit? Asking because I might have a girlfriend someday.

lol

Nice review