Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 2025
The 390 Duke in a sharper suit, with the quickshifter thrown in.
57.3/ 100
Scored within naked, methodology here
€6,349
list price
- power
- 45 hp
- wet weight
- 169 kg
- tank range
- 371 km
The short version
Underneath the flat-track styling the Svartpilen 401 is a 390 Duke: same 45 hp single, same electronics, same WP suspension. Husqvarna charges fifty euros more and answers with a standard quickshifter and design that does not look like anything else in the class.
Where it wins
- Quickshifter standard where KTM charges extra
- Same class-leading engine and electronics as the 390 Duke
- Distinctive design with real build quality
Where it loses
- 13 litre tank gives away range to the Duke
- Blocky scrambler tyres blunt the chassis slightly
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
16.6 / 25Handling and chassis
12.8 / 20Value
7.3 / 20Practicality
5.8 / 15Technology
9.0 / 10Reliability and ownership
5.8 / 10The full review
A 390 Duke in Swedish tailoring
Strip the flat-track styling and the Svartpilen 401 is a KTM 390 Duke, but the reviews read warmer than that suggests. Testers call it simply a blast: torquey through the midrange, strong as it revs out, and lighter-feeling than its numbers thanks to reduced rotating mass. More than one reviewer used the word bargain without being prompted.
Husqvarna charges 50 EUR more than the Duke and includes the quickshifter KTM sells separately, which makes this the rare rebadge that arrives better equipped than the original.
The details Husqvarna got right
Reviewers consistently single out the build quality as reading premium in a class where paint is usually the first casualty, and the design resembles nothing else on sale, which in a segment of copied homework is worth money. The standard quickshifter improves town riding more than any single spec line suggests.
The 820 mm seat suits most riders, and the flat, wide bars draw praise for control. The blocky semi-scrambler tyres blunt the chassis a shade; a set of proper road rubber at the first replacement fixes the only dynamic complaint the press or I can produce.
What you give up for the look
The smaller tank concedes range to the Duke, and the pillion arrangements on both are adequate and no more. That is the complete list of sacrifices, which for a style-led variant is remarkably short.
At 6,349 EUR with the shifter included, the Svartpilen is arguably the better value of the two despite the smaller tank. Pick whichever design you want to see in the garage; the engineering underneath does not care.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Single cylinder, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 398.7 cc |
| Power | 45 hp at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.27 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 169 kg |
| Front suspension | WP APEX 43 mm open cartridge, 150 mm |
| Front adjustability | Compression and rebound |
| Rear suspension | WP APEX monoshock, 150 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload and rebound |
| Front brake | 320 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Cornering ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 820 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1368 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 13 L |
| Claimed consumption | 3.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 371 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €6,349 |
| Service interval | 10,000 km |
| Valve check | 20,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Standard |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the Svartpilen 401
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs KTM 390 Duke
45 hp vs 45 hp / 169 kg vs 165 kg
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs Triumph Speed 400
45 hp vs 40 hp / 169 kg vs 170 kg
Aprilia Tuono 457 vs Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
47.6 hp vs 45 hp / 175 kg vs 169 kg
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs Yamaha MT-03
45 hp vs 42 hp / 169 kg vs 167 kg
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs Triumph Trident 660
45 hp vs 81 hp / 169 kg vs 190 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 A2 licence legal?
- Yes. The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 makes 45 hp (33.1 kW), inside the 35 kW A2 ceiling, so it is sold A2 compliant with no restriction kit required.
- How fast is the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 5.6 seconds, from 45 hp moving 169 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401?
- About 371 km on paper: a 13 litre tank against a claimed 3.5 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401?
- The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 seat sits at 820 mm, which is about average for the class, manageable for most inseams with a little practice. At 169 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 cost?
- €6,349 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 7.3 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your Svartpilen 401
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.