EICMA 2016: Husqvarna unveils Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 based on KTM 390 Duke platform

KTM recently announced its brand new version of the 390 Duke at the EICMA 2016 show in Milan, which looks stunning. Husqvarna, a Swedish motorcycle manufacturer, has unveiled the production version of the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 which is based on the 390 Duke platform. For the ones who don’t know, Husqvarna is owned by KTM in which Bajaj Auto has a stake. The new bikes from Husqvarna have been sculpted from the Vitpilen 401 concept, which was unveiled at the EICMA show back in 2014. The bikes feature a round shaped LED headlamp outlined with daytime running lamps and a contemporary street fighter look. According to the company, the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 have been made to provide a pure riding experience. It features a single-cylinder 375cc engine housed in a stripped down steel-trellis frame. The engine and the frame are borrowed from the KTM 390 Duke. The engine produces 43bhp of power and 37Nm of torque paired to a six-speed transmission.  The Vitpilen 401 will come with clip-on handle bars and Metzeler M5 tyres, while Svartpilen 401 will sport off-road style handlebar and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres. Both will come with a 9.5-litre fuel tank, WP suspension, slipper clutch and Bosch 9.11MB two channels ABS system.  The new bikes are expected to hit markets from early 2017. The Husqvarna motorcycles are expected to be manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant in Pune, which is currently the global production hub for KTM Duke and RC range of motorcycles. This means that the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401’s India launch could happen very soon.