After hiding within the shadows for a couple of years, bare bikes are making a comeback. Of the practically 100 new or up to date avenue bikes introduced for 2025 to this point, practically two out of 5 are sportbikes or sport requirements with little to no bodywork. One in every of them is the 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801.
The Vitpilen 801 (“white arrow”) is the fraternal twin of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 (“black arrow”) and the massive brother of the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401, all of which we examined final yr. These 4 bikes comprise Husqvarna’s streetbike lineup, and whereas all of them have design parts in frequent, every mannequin will attraction to completely different consumers.
The Vitpilens are the roadsters within the household, and the Svartpilens are the road scramblers (or scrambler-ish within the case of the 801). The bigger ’Pilens used to have “701” as a part of their names as a result of they have been powered by the 693cc Single from the KTM 690 Duke. To earn the “801” label, they bulked as much as the 799cc parallel-Twin from the 790 Duke, which makes a claimed 105 hp at 9,250 rpm and 64.2 lb-ft of torque at 8,000 rpm.
So what units the 801s aside? The variations aren’t evening and day. It comes right down to styling (headlights, trim items, colours), handlebars (the Vitpilen’s is straighter), and tires (Michelin Highway 6 sport-touring rubber on the Vitpilen, blocky Pirelli MT 60 RS buns on the Svartpilen).
The Vitpilen 801’s base value is $10,499, and customary gear contains adjustable suspension entrance and rear; a slip/help clutch; a steering damper; a full electronics bundle with journey modes, cornering ABS, and cornering traction management; a 5-inch TFT show with a USB-C port; and a Bluetooth connectivity unit with turn-by-turn navigation and controls for calls and music. You additionally get distinctive European styling with a novel bi-LED headlight and a premium stage of match and end.
We examined the Svartpilen 801 within the mountains of southern France, however for the Vitpilen 801 press journey we stayed on American soil and rode alongside the coast and within the hills and mountains of San Diego County, together with Mount Palomar, a well-liked weekend vacation spot for the sportbike crowd. It’s all the time good to journey a brand new motorbike on acquainted turf with no jetlag.
The Husky’s 799cc LC8c parallel-Twin is a compact, light-weight engine that weighs 114 lb (27% of the Vitpilen’s 418-lb moist weight). A 75-degree crankpin angle and a 435-degree firing give the engine a V-Twin character. It feels tough and rowdy, however twin counterbalancers maintain vibes in examine. A throttle-by-wire system controls a pair of 46mm Dell’Orto throttle our bodies, and the gas/air combination is compressed at a ratio of 12.5:1.
The Vitpilen has a feisty bark to go together with its 105-hp chew, however the bike is absolutely noise and emissions compliant. An exhaust pre-chamber, which is tucked below the bike to assist centralize mass, is usually hidden behind a black-anodized shroud. Spent gasses exit by a excessive pipe on the proper facet that runs parallel to the cast-aluminum subframe.
Beginning off, I chosen the Avenue journey mode, which presents direct however not overly aggressive throttle response, is linked to the Avenue ABS mode (activated for each wheels, lean-sensitive), and all however eliminates rear wheel slip through cornering traction management. That is the perfect journey mode for commuting and using round city. (Though I didn’t check it on this dry, windy day, Rain mode dulls throttle response, reduces peak energy, and maximizes TC intervention to extend the margin of security in slippery circumstances.)
After we turned off the Coast Freeway and headed inland on curvy roads, I toggled over to Sport mode, which quickens throttle response, switches to Supermoto ABS mode (deactivated at rear wheel, not lean-sensitive), and reduces TC intervention.
Our check bikes have been geared up with the optionally available Dynamic Pack ($419.99), a Dynamic mode with an adjustable throttle map, an on-the-fly rear-wheel slip adjuster (10 ranges), anti-wheelie management (5 ranges), and Motor Slip Regulation. They have been additionally geared up with optionally available Straightforward Shift ($349.99), Husqvarna’s title for an up/down quickshifter. The extra flexibility, management, and customization you get with these choices make the cash effectively spent. Including cruise management will set you again $526.98 ($288.99 to activate the software program plus $237.99 so as to add the change to the controls).
All of the rider aids and settings are simply managed through the left switchgear and a TFT show with vivid, colourful graphics that present how completely different modes and ranges will have an effect on the bike’s conduct.
Ripping round on the Svartpilen 801 final yr, I needed to put a specific amount of religion in its semi-knobby Pirelli MT 60 RS tires. They by no means did something incorrect or surprising, however they didn’t instill a great deal of confidence both. The Michelin Highway 6 sport-touring tires on the Vitpilen 801, however, felt as reassuring as a bearhug. The tires’ grip and suggestions have been by no means unsure, even when dry desert winds blew sand and dirt on a few of the roads.
The Vitpilen 801 performs precisely as a roadster ought to. It has a peppy engine, fast steering, and a responsive chassis. Gentle strain on the bar is all it takes to lean right into a nook, and as soon as on the facet of the tires, the bike behaves with poise, grace, and self-discipline. As with most press rides, we maintained a spirited tempo, and the Vitpilen was a prepared, unflappable confederate.
Gear Up
The WP Apex suspension, which presents 5.5/5.9 inches of entrance/rear journey, is high quality {hardware} that permits riders to simply dial of their preferences. The 43mm inverted open-cartridge fork splits damping capabilities in separate legs, with compression within the left leg and rebound in the proper. Each have handy fork-top clickers with 5 positions. The rear shock is adjustable for rebound (5 positions) and spring preload utilizing instruments within the underseat package. Appropriate for a roadster, the suspension’s damping is taut and responsive however not overly stiff.
Though they carry a Husqvarna brand, the Vitpilen’s brake calipers are made by J.Juan, a Brembo subsidiary based mostly in Spain. Two 4-piston radial entrance calipers pinch 300mm discs, a 2-piston rear caliper pinches a 240mm disc, and hydraulic fluid is pumped by steel-braided strains. The brakes carried out effectively sufficient, however I needed extra preliminary chew and extra suggestions, and at occasions I needed to squeeze the entrance lever more durable than anticipated.
Like another middleweight bare bikes, the Vitpilen 801 occupies a candy spot by way of dimension, energy, and efficiency. It’s not too small nor too massive. It’s not too gentle nor too heavy. And it’s not too tame nor too wild. For a solo rider who needs to have enjoyable on his or her favourite backroad, you actually can’t ask for far more.
However the Vitpilen 801 can be constructed on the identical platform because the KTM 790 Duke, and their specs are practically similar. The KTM’s base value is $9,499, and the Husqvarna’s is $10,499. The query riders have to ask themselves is whether or not the Husqvarna’s distinctive styling is price a grand.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Specs
- Base Value: $10,499
- Value as Examined: $11,269 (Dynamic Pack, Straightforward Shift)
- Web site: Husqvarna-Bikes.com
- Guarantee: 2 yrs., unltd. miles (extendable to 4 yrs.)
- Engine Kind: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
- Displacement: 799cc
- Bore x Stroke: 88.0 x 65.7mm
- Horsepower: 105 hp @ 9,250 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Torque: 64.2 lb-ft @ 8,000 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/help moist clutch
- Closing Drive: Chain
- Wheelbase: 54.6 in.
- Rake/Path: 24.5 levels/3.9 in.
- Seat Top: 32.3 in.
- Moist Weight: 418 lb
- Gas Capability: 3.7 gal.
