Husqvana Vitpilen 701
Discussion
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.
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.
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....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).I'd love to justify having the standard Spitfire in the garage as well!
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.
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.
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 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
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