Husqvana Vitpilen 701

[markw996]

I'm looking to buy another bike, this one will be mainly used for short weekend blasts and local bike meets with my brother.
I've already got long distance and trackday options covered with my other bikes.

The Husqvana Vitpilen seems to fit the bill pretty well. I have a BMW G650 too, and I really like the torque and sound of a single cylinder. The Vitpilen has just over 50% more power than my G650 so it should be more than enough for my needs. It also has up and down shift assist (quickshifter) which I've come to really like on my K1300S, which has it just on the up shifts.

I've looked around at other heritage / café racer type options, Thruxton, CCM Spitfire, R9T, Ducati Scrambler etc but I'm really drawn to the style and technology of the Husky despite originally wanting something a bit more retro looking.

Its been a while since I bought a brand new bike... 20 years in fact, so I was wondering if buying a relatively rare bike from a small manufacturer (for street bikes anyway) is a bad idea, I know they're owned by KTM, and they have two dealers not too far from me so spares & servicing should be okay. That new bike feeling doesn't do anything for me so should I wait until next year and try to pick one up used? Is this the sort of bike that will plummet in value or hold its own in peoples opinion?

I have a test ride on Saturday so I guess I'll see how that goes and take it from there.

[Tango13]

I tried a 701 supermoto a couple of weeks back and the engine was unlike any single I've ever ridden, most singles rev like a cement mixer but this was more like a food blender

I was very impressed with the whole bike, build quality, engine, brakes & handling, the whole package. So much so I'm planning on buying one in the next few weeks.

I take it you've visited Dave at DWR in Aylesbury? If you haven't just be careful around Archie the dog, if you stroke him you have to buy a bike, them's the rules I'm afraid....

[dern]

9 grand for a single cylinder naked bike? fk's sake. Do you get free beard oil and artisan bks for life with it?

[Krikkit]

Tango13 said:

I tried a 701 supermoto a couple of weeks back and the engine was unlike any single I've ever ridden, most singles rev like a cement mixer but this was more like a food blender

I was very impressed with the whole bike, build quality, engine, brakes & handling, the whole package. So much so I'm planning on buying one in the next few weeks.

Hasn't it been revised with a balancer shaft? I remember they made a big song and dance of the last Duke 690, I assume it's the same engine.

Love the looks of this - a bit hipster if you took it down Camden locks or something, but otherwise it's a good modern interpretation to my eye. I'd much rather have something fresh than the endless recycle of things like the Thruxton.

£9k is a bit steep though.

[Birky_41]

I liked the style so got a short term pcp quote

Think it was 500 down 170 a month 3k p.a

Liked the idea as a second bike but decided I have enough bikes already

[gareth_r]

dern said:

9 grand for a single cylinder naked bike? fk's sake. Do you get free beard oil and artisan bks for life with it?

You could always buy the 690 Duke, lose 2 bhp, and save £900, or buy the 790 Duke, save £400 and gain 30 bhp.

(and people wouldn't think you'd bought a new chainsaw )

[dern]

When did bikes get so expensive? I've really not been paying attention for a few years but it's nuts.

[Cardinal Hips]

gareth_r said:

You could always buy the 690 Duke, lose 2 bhp, and save £900, or buy the 790 Duke, save £400 and gain 30 bhp.

(and people wouldn't think you'd bought a new chainsaw )

Cannot believe the 790 is £400 cheaper, my brother had one for a few days and had nothing but good things to say about it. On paper it's vastly superior. Shame it looks like a councilista trainer in it's "look at me orange". The bonus about the bike being so foul looking is, that when you're on it, you don't have to look at it, everybody else does.

Husky looks better imo, I can't get on with headlights that aren't round as I'm a dirty flannel shirt wearing hipster. I'd ride the husky wearing salmon chinos and some brown deck shoes, the requisite 2" of ankle on show between the two.

Do you reckon the huskys will get included in the yearly pre-reg purge sale as the ktms were last year? Some great prices then.

[Krikkit]

I know what you mean about the 690/790, very martmite looks (l like them, but I can see why anyone would find them a bit challenging).

Cardinal Hips said:

Do you reckon the huskys will get included in the yearly pre-reg purge sale as the ktms were last year? Some great prices then.

I suppose it depends on whether they can ramp up production to meet orders - if there's a waiting list they probably won't feel the need to slash and burn discount the demo bikes.

[markw996]

Krikkit said:

I suppose it depends on whether they can ramp up production to meet orders - if there's a waiting list they probably won't feel the need to slash and burn discount the demo bikes.

I know I haven't even ridden one yet, but part of thinks that I should leave my number with a few dealers and ask them to give me a call when either the prices come down a bit or they're ready to sell the demonstrator....

[crusty]

I rode one at the MCN festival this weekend.

Great engine, but I found the suspension way too hard for anything other than a very smooth road

[Biker 1]

Sounds like silly ££££.
I've had KTM690s in various guises - excellent for a single, but guzzle VERY expensive Motorex oil & need valve clearance checks every 6000 miles, so servicing not the cheapest.
Vitpilen - looks a bit 'lifestyle' to me. You could pick up a 690 Duke for way less, but I guess that's not the point....
I would be extremely worried about having it half-inched.

[Tiggsy]

I ride a 701 enduro. Engine is awsome.

[Rick1.8t]

I was looking for a 'retro' (or whatever you want to call it) naked bike as a first 'proper' bike myself and my favourite in the looks department is the 701, I would probably have gone for one if it wasnt the price.

In the end I went for the much less 'pretty' XSR900 and got one for just over £7K brand new - I just couldnt justify the extra £2k on the 701, especially as I can see all of the new demo bikes getting sold off for a nice discount 6 months from now, plus I wanted something as flexible as possible mixing up short commutes, days out and a few runs with guys on sports bikes and the XSR just seemed to be better at most of them.

Personally I think its one of the best looking bikes of its type available right now though, if I had the money for a multi bike garage it would probably be in it on looks alone.

[crashley]

If you liked that, you'll surely love this...



I'd love to justify having the standard Spitfire in the garage as well!

[markw996]

crashley said:

If you liked that, you'll surely love this...



I'd love to justify having the standard Spitfire in the garage as well!

I had a good chat to the sales guy on the CCM stand at the MCN festival on Sunday, there were only a few left unsold of the limited 250 production run (cafe racer).

It does look good, but even though it's going to be a Sunday plaything, I just want a bit more than the 55 bhp the CCM has to offer.

[Rick1.8t]

I prefer the Scrambler model to the bobber, dont think that looks quite 'right'.

You can get a triumph bobber for similar money too, though I suppose they are quite different bikes in reality.

[markw996]

Well, I'm no motoring journalist but here are my thoughts after the test ride.

My riding style is to keep the bike in higher gears and use the torque. I only really rev a bike hard during overtakes or when really going for it. My R1 and K1300S put up with this very well with no labouring or knocking at all (providing you don't take the piss). My G650 is great too as it pulls well from almost tickover in higher gears, and I can easily negotiate a 30mph roundabout in top without changing down. The Husqvana really does not like this riding style (my fault not the bike's I know) and it labours so badly that I would lose all my fillings in no time at all. I had to drop it down into gears that felt way too low and revs that felt way too high just to stop it shaking so violently. The engine is lovely when you get it over about 4k rpm but in traffic and 30 limits I didn't enjoy it.

The quickshifter didn't feel as good as I expected, no pops on upshifts and I know this will sound unfair but I don't think the downshifts would have felt any grabbier if I'd just stamped on the gear selector on my G650 without using the clutch. The suspension is bloody hard as a previous poster mentioned. I hit a few small potholes In a 30 zone and by god did I feel it.

The riding position felt too uncomfortable on my wrists, my R1 does too so maybe I'm just getting too old for this type of bike. Both my BMWs feel very comfortable but I realise they are completely different bikes with different riding positions. It's been about 3 weeks since I had an extended 3 day test ride on a BMW R Nine T Pure (due to problems updating my ECU software during servicing) and I don't remember the riding position feeling too bad.

The Husqvana is a beautiful looking bike, but it's sadly not for me. I could never really get on with the 600 class of sports bike for road use, having to keep the revs high and keep changing gears, and I think that's what the Vitpilen 701 would also need to get the best out of it.

I think I'll go back to looking at the R Nine T scrambler, even if a 1200cc engine just seems too excessive on this style of bike.

[bimsb6]

markw996 said:

Well, I'm no motoring journalist but here are my thoughts after the test ride.

My riding style is to keep the bike in higher gears and use the torque. I only really rev a bike hard during overtakes or when really going for it. My R1 and K1300S put up with this very well with no labouring or knocking at all (providing you don't take the piss). My G650 is great too as it pulls well from almost tickover in higher gears, and I can easily negotiate a 30mph roundabout in top without changing down. The Husqvana really does not like this riding style (my fault not the bike's I know) and it labours so badly that I would lose all my fillings in no time at all. I had to drop it down into gears that felt way too low and revs that felt way too high just to stop it shaking so violently. The engine is lovely when you get it over about 4k rpm but in traffic and 30 limits I didn't enjoy it.

The quickshifter didn't feel as good as I expected, no pops on upshifts and I know this will sound unfair but I don't think the downshifts would have felt any grabbier if I'd just stamped on the gear selector on my G650 without using the clutch. The suspension is bloody hard as a previous poster mentioned. I hit a few small potholes In a 30 zone and by god did I feel it.

The riding position felt too uncomfortable on my wrists, my R1 does too so maybe I'm just getting too old for this type of bike. Both my BMWs feel very comfortable but I realise they are completely different bikes with different riding positions. It's been about 3 weeks since I had an extended 3 day test ride on a BMW R Nine T Pure (due to problems updating my ECU software during servicing) and I don't remember the riding position feeling too bad.

The Husqvana is a beautiful looking bike, but it's sadly not for me. I could never really get on with the 600 class of sports bike for road use, having to keep the revs high and keep changing gears, and I think that's what the Vitpilen 701 would also need to get the best out of it.

I think I'll go back to looking at the R Nine T scrambler, even if a 1200cc engine just seems too excessive on this style of bike.

You really needed to recalibrate your riding style for the ktm engine ,they have very little flywheel effect hence the chugging you experienced remember these are race derived engines not tourers , you really need to work the gearbox to get the best from them .

[markw996]

bimsb6 said:

You really needed to recalibrate your riding style for the ktm engine ,they have very little flywheel effect hence the chugging you experienced remember these are race derived engines not tourers , you really need to work the gearbox to get the best from them .

I'd be much happier to find a bike that suits my riding as opposed to kicking a 30 year habit which I enjoy.

I wrongly thought single cylinder bikes would feel similar, I've only had the G650 a few months and the last time I rode a single was my DT50 in 1989.

I agree, the KTM engine may be a great little engine but sadly we're not compatible