2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Review | Motorcycle Te...

2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Overview

Check by Rennie Scaysbrook

This bike marks a major milestone for Husqvarna. The Vitpilen 801—together with its scrambler-inspired sibling, the Svartpilen 801—represents the model’s first-ever correct twin-cylinder road bikes geared up with 17-inch wheels. This launch not solely expands Husqvarna’s lineup but additionally cements its presence within the performance-oriented road bike phase.

Sure, there’s the Norden 901, however that’s a real ADV machine with a 21-inch entrance and 18-inch rear wheel—constructed for tackling rugged terrain. The Vitpilen 801, however, is a completely totally different beast: a light-weight, spirited bare bike designed for pure road efficiency.

I lately had the possibility to place the Vitpilen 801 by its paces on the American launch, held within the brutally windy circumstances which have turned Southern California right into a fire-scorched battleground in latest weeks. Regardless of the weather, the bike had lots to show—and it didn’t disappoint.

I solely rode the Vitpilen throughout the take a look at, not the Svartpilen. Regardless of their variations—such because the Svartpilen’s increased handlebars, single headlight, and blocky Pirelli tyres—each bikes are primarily the identical machine.

They share the 799 cc parallel-twin engine sourced from KTM, which Husqvarna claims produces 78 kW/105 hp at 8,000 rpm and 86 Nm/64 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. These are spectacular numbers for such a compact twin.

Again when Chris Fillmore and I had been team-mates in 2018 at Pikes Peak, Chris’s KTM 790 Duke – with the forebear of the identical motor that sits between the Vitpilen’s body rails – had precisely 78 kW on the tyre with an aftermarket race exhaust, consumption work and a special gas map, and the sat of the butt consensus on the Vitpilen launch was the rear wheel horsepower could be round 95-98 hp.

That’s greater than sufficient for a motorbike weighing a claimed 180 kg, however that’s measured with out a 14 litres tank of gas. Add mentioned gas and also you’re in all probability taking a look at round 190 kg able to trip. Once more, nothing to sneeze at.

Our testbikes got here fitted with the Dynamic Pack, which is an adjunct additional out of your Husqvarna supplier priced at $665.54.

Sadly, this additionally doesn’t embrace the $582.22 Straightforward Shift (quic- shifter) for the six-speed gearbox, which, belief me, you’re going to need because it provides one of many slickest gear-shifts I’ve used for fairly a while.

The Dynamic mode provides you entry to the 10-stage traction management (ranges one to 9 plus off), five-stage wheelie management, Motor Slip Regulation, a fourth totally different throttle map in Dynamic (the complete beans throttle), plus the more and more sedate Sport, Highway and Rain throttle modes the bike comes with as normal. Do you have to not go for the Dynamic mode, traction management and wheelie management are simply an on/off affair.

A few extras we didn’t have fitted embrace the $465.41 non-obligatory cruise management, and the $333.14 swap to make it work. Sure, you learn that proper, in the event you purchase the cruise management (which is already constructed into your Husky’s electronics, all of the supplier does is flip it on), you then should purchase a brand new swap block so you possibly can truly use it.

That’s a bit lame, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless, you do get turn-by-turn navigation on the five-inch TFT sprint totally free through the Husqvarna app, in order that’s a pleasant little add-on from the Austrians.

My specific take a look at bike had the $1,833.26 accent Akrapovic slip-on muffler, the $298.65 (every) billet brake and clutch levers that felt oh-so-nice, and the $40.10 billet brake fluid reservoirs fitted. The exhaust made zero distinction so far as I might inform—it even sounded the identical as a inventory exhaust as a result of you possibly can’t take the baffle out of it, but it surely regarded nice all the identical…

Seems sensible, the Vitpilen is a spunky little bike. After driving the 400s late final yr (you possibly can learn that take a look at right here: Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 test), I wasn’t that enamoured with the aesthetic. I felt it missed the mark, considerably, however the identical can’t be mentioned for the 801.

It’s a totally handsome bike, particularly with the funky hole LED headlight and LED indicators that at the moment are authorized in America, even when they’re a little bit fatter than what the Euros get.

The efficiency matches the appears to be like, I’m blissful to say, particularly within the engine division. It’d been a very long time since I’d ridden a KTM 790 Duke, so I’d forgotten simply how spritely the parallel-twin motor actually was.

Like the whole lot nowadays, engine efficiency isn’t straight engine efficiency. It’s a mixture of digital intervention and motor mechanics, and as soon as I’d sampled all of the throttle, traction and wheelie management settings, I settled on the Sport throttle map, stage two traction, wheelie management turned off, and the ABS switched to Supermoto mode that enables the rear brake to lock up however retains ABS on on the entrance finish. Entrance ABS can by no means be switched off.

As soon as these settings had been settled, the Husky and I actually obtained on fairly nicely. The 799 cc motor has two distinct personalities, that of under 5000 rpm and that of above 5000 rpm. Under 5K provides a cruisy manner, and in the event you by no means ventured north of this mark, I’m certain you’d be simply high quality. Low pace manners are excellent, and you may dumb it down even additional by deciding on Highway or Rain mode in the event you fancy.

Nonetheless, give the Vitpilen a kick within the mid-section, let it roar previous 5000 rpm, and it’s a special bike fully. The Vitpilen turns into a proper little brat, providing jumpy, nearly nervous efficiency that sees you ripping towards the redline manner faster than you may anticipate.

Given there’s 86 Nm of torque on provide, that won’t seem to be quite a bit, but it surely’s unfold fairly broad throughout the rev vary. Nonetheless, it’s far more enjoyable preserving the revs within the reds and having a sparring session with the Vitpilen fairly than a holding palms on the seaside.

As you’d anticipate, Husqvarna has outfitted the Vitpilen with sister firm WP’s flashy forks and shock, though they don’t seem to be absolutely adjustable at both finish.

What’s cool, nonetheless, is WP has drastically simplified the vary of adjustment with 5 clicks of compression and rebound damping on the fork, and eight clicks of rebound damping on the shock, however with adjustable pre-load. These clicks are down from upwards of 25 for each compression and rebound, which means every click on provides a far better diploma of adjustment than earlier than.

Even when the Vitpilen’s suspension is in its base settings, the trip is snug and compliant, though upping the tempo will seemingly have you ever upping the pre-load on the shock and the compression damping on the fork to maintain the whole lot on the straight and slender.

Aiding that is the surprisingly good Michelin Highway 6 rubber, permitting you entry to the snappy traits of the chassis. The mix of the suspension and French rubber permits the Vitpilen to activate a dime in a really comparable fashion to that of the king of agile middleweights within the 790 Duke.

We had great wind and chilly climate on our take a look at trip in Southern California, and the Michelins particularly labored nicely in these cooler temps, even when final high-speed and heavy load cornering efficiency is a little bit missing.

The Vitpilen’s trip is let down barely by the brakes, in that whereas ample for many conditions, the ByBre four-piston calipers and master-cylinder require a very good handful to haul you up whereas having a pink scorching go at pace.

Rear brake efficiency is ok sufficient, but it surely’s by no means an enormous speaking level. You’ve obtained lean angle-sensitive ABS right here as nicely, so the braking bundle will get you out of just about all the difficulty – nearly – you get your self into.

The $15,990 ride-away Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 involves the sport in in all probability the busiest time ever for the middleweight class, with Vitpilen 801 pricing for Australia nonetheless to be confirmed. Not solely does it compete in opposition to its housemate within the $13,495 KTM 790 Duke; it’s additionally in opposition to the upper spec $20,890 Triumph Road Triple 765 RS; the $13,450 Honda Hornet; plus the $17,749 Yamaha MT-09 – a motorbike that comes with the whole lot the Husky does and extra, however doesn’t make you pay additional for cruise management and a quick-shifter.

I suppose it comes all the way down to what flavour you want your nakedbiking. The Vitpilen is a press release bike, little doubt. It’s a trendy, uber-cool steed that appears and sounds totally different from its opponents, and in the event you don’t thoughts cashing out for a number of extras, all the facility to you.

So far as the trip itself goes, it’s a very good one certainly, and may show to be one of many shock packages of 2025. The Vitpilen 801 is anticipated to reach in Australia mid-2025 with the earliest we might anticipate to see them in sellers being round July.

For extra info head to the Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia website.

2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Specs

• Specs
  Engine kind	Two-cylinder, 4 stroke, DOHC parallel twin
  Displacement	799 cc
  Bore x Stroke	88 x 65.7 mm
  Energy	77 kW (105 hp) @ 9250 rpm
  Torque	87 Nm @ 8000 rpm
  Compression ratio	12.5:1
  Starter/battery	Electrical starter/12V 10Ah
  Transmission	Six gears
  Gasoline system	DKK Dellorto (Throttle physique 46mm)
  Management	4 valves per cylinder / DOHC
  Lubrication	Strain lubrication with 2 oil pumps
  Engine oil	Motorex, Energy Synth SAE 10W-50
  Main drive	39:75
  Remaining drive	16:41
  Cooling	Liquid cooled with water/oil warmth exchanger
  Clutch	Cable operated PASC Slipper clutch
  Engine administration/ignition	Bosch EMS with RBW
  Traction management	MTC (lean angle delicate, 3-Mode, disengageable, Dynamic mode choose.)
  Gasoline consumption	4.5 L/100km
  Body	Chromium-Molybdenum-Metal body utilizing the engine as confused factor, powder coated
  Subframe	Forged aluminium, powder coated
  Handlebar	Aluminium, tapered, Ø 28/22 mm
  Entrance suspension	WP APEX-USD Ø 43 mm adjustable compression and rebound
  Rear suspension	WP APEX-Monoshock, adjustable rebound and preload
  Suspension journey entrance/rear	140 mm / 150 mm
  Entrance brake	Twin four-piston calipers, radially mounted, brake disc Ø 300 mm
  Rear brake	Single-piston floating caliper, brake disc Ø 240 mm
  ABS	Bosch 9.3 MP (incl. Cornering-ABS and Supermoto mode, disengageable)
  Wheels entrance/rear	Forged Aluminium wheels 3.50 x 17”; 5.50 x 17”
  Tyres entrance/rear	Michelin Highway 6 R 17; R 17
  Chain	X-Ring 520
  Silencer	Stainless-steel major and secondary silencer
  Steering head angle	65.5°
  Triple clamp offset	32 mm
  Path	97.9 mm
  Wheelbase	1,475 mm ± 15 mm
  Floor clearance	170 mm
  Seat top	820 mm
  Tank capability (approx.)	14 litres / 2.0 litres reserve
  Weight (with out gas, approx)	180 kg
  ABS Modes	Road (cornering delicate) / Supermoto
  Journey Modes	Road, Rain, Sport, Dynamic (Dynamic Pack accent)
  Engine Administration Techniques	MTC, MSR*, Straightforward Shift*
  Cruise Management	Non-obligatory accent
  Connectivity	Flip-by-Flip+ Navigation, Name-In, Name-Out, Music Choice
  Technical Equipment	Heated grips, alarm system, lithium ion battery

2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Pictures