Scrambler paradox

Based on the new 390 Duke, the Svartpilen 401 takes the Swedish minimal cafe racer form, slaps dirt tyres on it and somehow still works, and well. We swing a leg over and try to figure out how

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The Svartpilen 401 is a hard motorcycle to judge. In my mind, it is a selection of great ideas that don't necessarily complement each other, put into a blender and refined into a smoothie that is delicious even though it shouldn't be. Let's break down the concept. It looks like a future retro cafe racer, but with raised-up scrambler-style bars and knobby offroad tyres, under the skin, it's got the new manic LC4c motor and frame from the 390 Duke. And that means for once this reviewer has the privilege of telling you about how a motorcycle tugs on his heartstrings rather than how it measures up to its 'purpose'.

We'll start with the design, and despite me making it sound like Frankenstein's monster, the Swedes have a way with minimal design and the Svartpilen 401 is no exception-clean lines, and minimal bodywork, like the tank panel that extends to the sub-frame. The head lights and taillights are LED and haven't changed distinctly since the last time we saw this motorcycle. But more significant changes come as you shift your focus to the rear of the motorcycle.

If you've seen the first generation of Huskies that made it to India you'd have seen the extreme approach to minimalism at the rear. There was no mudguard, and just like a custom build the Huskies met street legal requirements by mounting the rear number plate and the lights on the rear tail tidy. It looked clean, but I suspect the brand got an earful from customers who tried riding in the monsoons and ended up going to work looking like a Jackson Pollock display.

1.The TFT screen gets a custom UX with accents that match the Husqvarna styling.