Updated Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 spotted in testing
New Husqvarna Vitpilen 125 spotted in testing
These spy shots give the first view of Husqvarna’s replacement for the Svartpilen 125, with some photos also showing a bike dressed in 17in cast rims and road tyres – suggesting a Vitpilen model may be joining the line-up, too.
Based on parent company KTM’s upcoming 125 Duke, the new machines feature updated engines, new frames, styling tweaks, and TFT instruments.
Power comes from a liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. The current Svartpilen is a scrambler with chunky dual purpose tyres and upright bars. Like the 401 already in production, a Vitpilen would be more of a roadster/café racer, with a shared, stylised one-piece tank/seat unit.
At their heart is a new 125cc, liquid-cooled, four-valve single, which is differentiated from that of the current bike by its new engine covers.
As an A1-class, 14.8bhp 125 unit, its performance is unlikely to be affected. The changes are instead necessary to meet noise and emissions regs. The test bike has a larger exhaust than before, probably for the same reason.
Although it is pre-production, its high level of detailing, including finished-looking indicators, lights, chainguard and more, suggests it’s virtually ready to go.
Along with the new engine, there’s a new tubular steel trellis frame and now braced, cast aluminium swingarm. The overall proportions look to be slightly larger, too.
Front and rear suspension remains by sister firm WP and again comprises an inverted fork and monoshock rear. The brakes are largely unchanged, being front and rear discs with a radially-mounted Bybre (Brembo’s budget brand) four-piston caliper.
The signature one-piece tank/seat unit is an evolution of the old with bigger ‘shoulders’ on the tank and an extended seat with larger side sections and a new faired-in rear light cluster.
There’s also a new rectangular TFT dash in place of the old bike’s circular LCD design and the number plate bracket has moved from the rear of the swingarm to under the pillion seat.
As before, the Svartpilen has wire wheels, raised, braced bars, a bash plate and small screen, while the Vitpilen (should it be joining us) has five-spoke cast alloys with street tyres and lower bars.
Husqvarna Svartpilen and Vitpilen 125 in detail
Clock work: The old, round LCD digital display has been replaced with a new, KTM-derived, rectangular colour TFT design which is likely to have smartphone connectivity.
Powerplay: Revised covers indicate a new liquid-cooled single as shared with the upcoming KTM Duke 125. Performance is unlikely to be changed but emissions and noise are set to improve.
Swinging out: A cast aluminium swingarm now features an upper brace, partly to make room for the larger exhaust collector box underneath, also necessary for improved emissions and noise.
Frame game: The frame is an evolution of the old tubular steel trellis and has new rear subframe. It’s slightly larger and roomier.
Which Husky? Two versions look set to arrive. The Svartpilen scrambler and Vitpilen café racer, the former with wires, knobblies, high bars and a bash plate. The latter gets street-focused wheels tyres and lower bars.