Husqvarna Vitpilen / Svartpilen 401 / KTM Duke 390

[themarsh]

Anyone got any real life experience of the above bikes.
I had more or less decided to get a newish Duke 390 but then came across the Husqvarnas & I think I prefer the looks. All got the same engine, I know but a brand new 401 for £3999 is very tempting.
I don’t think my wrists will cope with the bars on the Vitpilen so it’s probably between the Svartpilen & the Duke.
I’ve got a full licence, but I want a smaller lighter bike purely for manoeuvring in & out of my shed.
As an aside, is a bloke of my advancing years ( soon to be 65 ) going to look a knob on one of these bikes !

[citizensm1th]

do you wear an open face helmet?

[themarsh]

Interesting question, but no I don’t anymore.
Still got one in the loft though !

[trickywoo]

Lumberjack shirt? Or oil your beard?

[stu67]

You know just go for it. I’d say any of these is perfect for scooting around on. The Husky deals seem quite good at the moment and should have probably been what they were retailing for from the beginning. I’ve been thinking of a smaller bike for similar reasons and for commuting, tried a BMW 310R and it was a bit boring, but the husky and KTM have a bit more oomph.

[Janluke]

I've a Svartpilen 401 and 701 but no beard or man bun

The 401 is a real fun wee bike, a slightly more upright position than the duke. Quite nippy and free reving for a single, brakes and suspension suitable for the performance. I added a tail tidy to remove the low slung plate carrier.

The only bit I don't like is the dash which looks a bit cheap compared to the duke

[themarsh]

trickywoo said:

Lumberjack shirt? Or oil your beard?

The Duke is the better match for my chainsaw !

[BugLebowski]

I spent a few hours on a Svartpilen 401. It was fun, felt like a BMX with an engine. It made a SV650 (hardly a heavy bike) feel like a goldwing. I'd definitely have one as a second bike, especially as they were going for £4k new at one point.

[jason61c]

i've a vitpilen 701 for sale if your'e interested.

Mega bike, awesome fun.

[themarsh]

I have found a Husqvarna dealer about 45 minutes up the road, so will try & get a test ride next week.
I think the riding position on the Svartpilen will suit me better, so will concentrate on that. Might as well try the Vitpilen out while I'm there though.

[Daniel T]

Yes, have a vitpilen love it, bars are low at front so take getting use to, but its such a small and fun bike, i use it to commute daily into London and filtering is awesome due to the low bars/mirrors.

can i do long days on it- yes- would i do more than 2 hours with no break, no.
but i do love it, its unique and not seen another one yet.

anything else you want to know just ask?

[warch]

The old model 390 had a reputation for dissolving in the winter.

Ignore all the hipster jibes about the other two, if owning or riding a particular bike makes you happy then who cares what other people think?

[wuckfitracing]

I have had a Duke 390 2017 model since new. Apart from random dash issues and the engine really not liking being below 4K rpm it is quite a chuckable thing. The Rapid bike module cures the low rev issues though.

[themarsh]

Thanks for all your replies & comments.
I think I need to try the Duke out as well, just got to find a post 2017 one reasonably nearby.
I'm not going to find time this week or next to try anything out now.
There's no great rush. I sold my bike earlier in the year not really intending to get another, but I miss riding too much.