Sometimes a manufacturer presents new bikes in a way that really doesn’t do them any favours. From the way Husqvarna has been talking about its new Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 you would think customers without plaid shirts, oiled beards and skinny jeans need not apply. But if you thought that, you would be missing out on two great little bikes.
At their official launch, the assembled press quickly learned of the alternative philosophy behind the new Austrian-built Husqvarnas. Husky’s PR man told us that the 401s are “unique motorcycles, which shouldn’t be looked at using the normal parameters. These are imaginative machines for the fashion conscious set, and not a bike built for sheer performance. They represent Husqvarna’s vision for the future, and are the first in its new Street Range”. He went on to stress the 401s’ simple, progressive, and clean design, labelling them as “urban progressive roadsters, built to endure the demands of urban exploration”.
His marketing-speak and references to the needs of a new and expanding bike market began to trigger a bit of cynicism in me. Being a bit old school I was worried the announcements might well be a case if getting the excuses in early for stylish, but ultimately poorly performing motorcycles. Still, as it’s my job to listen to such corporate information, I waited patiently for the chance to ride them.
I got the key to a Svartpilen first, though when the time came to get underway, the combination of rain and riding though fairly congested Bristol traffic quickly tempered my enthusiasm. Luckily the gods soon turned off the precipitation tap, and as the Husky was making such easy work of negotiating the traffic-laden routes my frowning stopped. Progress through the city is made even easier on two wheels thanks to being permitted to use bus lanes. But even when you can’t use them to bypass the queues of metal, the Svartpilen does a damned good job of getting you to your destination effectively. A number of key aspects assist this.
Bu hikaye Motorcycle Sport & Leisure dergisinin August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Motorcycle Sport & Leisure dergisinin August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Mossy's Knowledge
Spec sheet terminology - chassis
Test fleet: Suzuki GSX-S1000GX
Out with the old and in with the new, as Stu picks up a GSX-S1000GX
Test fleet: Suzuki V-Strom 800RE
I've only had it a few days, but I've liked it since mile one. Hopefully my affection for the Suzuki will continue well into the future
Test fleet: Yamaha Ténéré World Raid
A lack of a daily commute doesn't mean that mileage is kept to a minimum
The Longest Day Teapot
While it would've been truly wonderful to have spent time preparing myself and the bike for that one long day of riding in June, there's rather more preliminary work than hoped...
Premier peninsula perambulations
Riding locally is all well and good, but Helen wanted some adventure and to get some miles under her wheels
Around Gran Canaria in three days
What better way to expand your riding CV than with some winter riding in the sunshine of the Canary Islands, and some dramatic mountainous roads
Pass-ing the time of day
Three of Europe's most well-known mountain passes, all covered in day of mind-bending scenery and nerve-wrenching hairpins one
Troubleshooting common 12V battery problems
Diagnosing and tracing faults with a motorcycle's electrical charging system can be a daunting prospect, but with a basic understanding of the bike's charging system you can usually get to the nub of what's wrong. We asked the battery-saving experts at OptiMate to outline the main components of the charging system, and the symptoms of the most common problems encountered with them
Worth Waiting For?
Moto Guzzi is Italy's oldest bike manufacturer in continuous production since its birth in 1921, though Covid forced the postponement by a year of its 100th birthday celebrations held at its Mandello del Lario factory on the shores of Lake Como