Husqvarna Street Bikes Revealed at EICMA
Black and White Arrows - the 'real street' motorcycles
Husqvarna has a long and rich history. Founded in Huskvarna, Sweden, in 1989, it was originally a weapons factory. In the 1870s it began producing cast iron sewing machines and kitchen appliances and in the 1890s, bicycles. Its first motorcycle came out in 1903 and the company hasn't looked back since.
Out of its 110 plus years of manufacturing bikes, Husqvarna has spent the last 60 focusing on motocross, enduro, and supermoto. It's smashed this particular market, both in racing and in the popularity of its models. Now, with some successful bikes out in recent years, the 701 Enduro and 701 Supermoto, the company is making a return to road bikes.
This isn't new information. Husqvarna's concept model road bikes were released two years ago and have already won two awards. The International Design Excellence Award and The Automotive Brand Contest 2015. What is new is that, after two years of waiting, Husqvarna has finally revealed its creations for all to see. Yesterday at EICMA, Milan.
VITPILEN 401
Meet the Vitpilen 401 and the Svartpilen 401. Vitpilen meaning 'white arrow' in Swedish and Svartpilen meaning 'black arrow'. Both designed to draw on Husqvarna's iconic 1955 Silverpilen (silver arrow) motorcycle. Lightweight and simple, but with modern technology.
They have single cylinder 4-stroke, EFI-fed, liquid-cooled engines. They're built using the framework for the KTM 390 Duke. There's a little bit of a back story here - since 2007, Husqvarna has been owned by the BMW Group. Headed by Stephan Pierer, who is the CEO of KTM. The bikes are even designed by the same company that designed KTM motorcycles, KISKA.
Like the Duke, they produce 44 horsepower and have a six-speed transmission. Both have WP USD 43mm shocks at the front and a WP monoshock at the rear. They have a similar weight: the Svartpilen at 150kg and the Vitpilen at 148kg.
SVARTPILEN 401
Husqvarna states that these models will be a simple and progressive approach for the company. And the bikes looks as such. They will arrive in showrooms by late autumn next year, with Husqvarna also set to release a 125 and 701 version of the Vitpilen.
But if this doesn't offer enough choice to the customer, the news that this is not the entire range might. As yesterday, Husqvarna also revealed the Vitpilen 401 Aero, another addition to the street bike family. It's a faired version, complete with a locked-in windshield designed in such a way that the rider's helmet becomes part of the airflow. Creating, in Husqvarna's words, a 'fully immersive riding position'.
Comments
10/11/16 - Lol
10/11/16 - Looks like some one took a bit off at the back LOL
10/11/16 - No thanks.
10/11/16 - Something's missing from the back end!!
10/11/16 - man that is ugly
10/11/16 - Ugly thing whoever designed that should be sacked
10/11/16 - Yuck
10/11/16 - Orrible
11/11/16 - Hideous!
11/11/16 - When you say "revealed" do you mean they showed the same 'concept' bikes they've been touting round for 3 years?
11/11/16 - I'm a big Husky fan but that one pig ugly bike.
11/11/16 - They must of had a pancake and a few shhhhhmokes designing that b**ch
12/11/16 - Looks like a Norton shagged a Buel.
12/11/16 -
Fugly
02/12/16 - The designs are fundamentally unbalanced, from the truncated headlamp shell, via the over top heavy central section, through to the tail end, which looks as though something has been stolen. Are there no positively critical designers working within the Group?
03/12/16 - Do the new Huskies come with a stepladder?
03/12/16 - Svartpilen 401 - Hideous; i'd rather walk
03/12/16 - I think people would like to see a bike looking more retro than looking like they ran out of bits on
The assembly line.?
06/12/16 - Wasted opportunity to create a different bike to KTM . Can not see who this bike will apeale too .Should be more retro single modern G50 ./ Velo / Goldstar in contrast to KTM modern take. Not practical not remotely comfortable looks different but not that special . If they release this it will be a sales disaster.
Jeff Ktm 1050 owner and Velo Classic
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UK