The Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc. (ACPI) tickled the taste buds of motorcycle riders in the country anew after officially offering the Husqvarna to the market early 2021. The aforementioned brand is owned by KTM, another marque under the Ayala-led company.

Since the Husqvarna was acquired by the Austrian motorcycle brand, many notable similarities can be found with their offerings. However, the Swedish motorcycle company managed to keep its own identity.

But does the brand have what it takes to capture a good share of the Philippine motorcycle market? Here’s our take at one of Husqvarna’s products presented locally, the Svartpilen 401.

Dimensions

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 seems to be one of the smallest naked bikes in the market — measuring only 2,050mm long, 810mm wide and 1,310mm tall with a seat height of 835mm. Since it is quite low, average to tall riders do not need to tiptoe when they have to stop at traffic.

The 120mm ground clearance allows the motorcycle to go over relatively-tall speed bumps, which makes it a good commuter bike on regular days.

Riders are assured of a relaxed riding position when using the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, since it is lightweight (dry weight is 151 kilograms) and offers an upright seating stance.

Aesthetics

While many of its competitors in the naked category went for the aggressive styling, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 — whose name means "black arrow" — undercuts them with its minimalist design.

The ride’s overall neo-classic look is complemented by its dark body color, 17-inch rugged tires, lightweight trellis frame and an unusual bag rack just above the tank.

Two more notable uncommon features of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 are the shape of its 9.5-liter tank and the positioning of the keyhole for the underseat compartment. Instead of being under the pillion seat, it is located near the engine.

The monoshock suspension at the back gave a bigger clearance between the pillion seat and the rear tire.

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 also sports large embossed 401 characters on both sides of the tanks, small logos on the front mudguard, inside the headlight housing, on top of the tank filler cap, at the center portion of the handlebar, at the exhaust pipe and at the engine.

Engine

The Husqvarna is powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled engine paired to a six-speed transmission (the same engine fitted in the KTM Duke 390) that delivers a maximum churn of 44 horses and 37Nm of torque. The same engine is also capable of covering 27 kilometers in one liter of gasoline.

Despite being expressway-legal, the throttle response is relatively manageable, which makes it very kind to beginner riders.

Features

Aside from the tamed power, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 also has the following features that makes it more controllable:

• Auto-blip function that reduces shift shocks when downshifting
• Quickshifter that reduces the use of clutch lever for a more fun-to-ride experience

Providing the stopping power are the 320mm front and 230mm rear ByBre brake calipers with anti-brake lock system to ensure safety in various conditions.  

The round digital cluster gauge not only adds character to the ride, but also dishes out clear readings for the time as well as vehicle temperature, fuel, time, and odometer reading.

The seats for both rider and pillion of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 are made up of plush and comfortable materials and the grab bar is very evident. However, many might find the space for the passenger small, which is tolerable since the whole motorcycle is tiny.

Conclusion

Those who want a very unique ride that can be utilized in the streets and in expressways may find the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 their perfect choice.

The P325,000 price point might be a little steep but can be easily overlooked since it is beginner-friendly.

Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV

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