Motorcycles

Husqvarna takes to the streets with Vitpilen 701 concept

Husqvarna takes to the streets with Vitpilen 701 concept
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is a concept roadster based on KTM's 690 single-cylinder engine
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is a concept roadster based on KTM's 690 single-cylinder engine
View 13 Images
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is a concept roadster based on KTM's 690 single-cylinder engine
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The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is a concept roadster based on KTM's 690 single-cylinder engine
Clean, modern lines, with a hint of retro styling for the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
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Clean, modern lines, with a hint of retro styling for the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
The design concept of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 plays with the contrast of a bright front against a dark rear
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The design concept of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 plays with the contrast of a bright front against a dark rear
We can only hope that Husqvarna will one day produce this design and not substitute it with something that looks just like every other motorcycle out there
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We can only hope that Husqvarna will one day produce this design and not substitute it with something that looks just like every other motorcycle out there
Looking at it from the right angle, the yellow split looks like someone drew over the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 photo
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Looking at it from the right angle, the yellow split looks like someone drew over the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 photo
The open sided airbox of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 houses a conical element
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The open sided airbox of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 houses a conical element
The Husqvarna Vitpilen's 690 cc single outputs plenty of power as employed by KTM in its own motorcycles
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The Husqvarna Vitpilen's 690 cc single outputs plenty of power as employed by KTM in its own motorcycles
LED hedlight with a twist for the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
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LED hedlight with a twist for the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
Rear LED light on the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
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Rear LED light on the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
The aluminum exhaust of the Vitpilen 701 can is, according to Husqvarna, "designed to ensure maximum performance and unreal sound"
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The aluminum exhaust of the Vitpilen 701 can is, according to Husqvarna, "designed to ensure maximum performance and unreal sound"
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is impressive from all angles
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The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is impressive from all angles
The Svartpilen 401 scrambler was unveiled last year as a concept at EICMA and is headed for production in 2017
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The Svartpilen 401 scrambler was unveiled last year as a concept at EICMA and is headed for production in 2017
The Vitpilen 401 escorted the Svartpilen at last year's EICMA
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The Vitpilen 401 escorted the Svartpilen at last year's EICMA
View gallery - 13 images

Despite a venerable off-road tradition, Husqvarna is now turning its focus to road-going motorcycles. The Vitpilen 701 concept bike was unveiled at EICMA as a sign of things to come, with the company having already announced that two smaller Vitpilen versions are headed for production.

It all started exactly one year ago at the same venue, EICMA, when Husqvarna introduced two concept models, the Vitpilen 401 and the Svartpilen 401. Their Swedish names translate to White Arrow and Black Arrow respectively, as a tribute to the Silverpilen (Silver Arrow) off-roader of the mid-fifties.

In early 2015 KTM's CEO, Stefan Pierer, declared that both the 401 concept models and a 125 cc version are scheduled to go into production in 2017. These will be built on the running gear of the equivalent KTM Duke models, 390 and 125. Bajaj's Rune factory in India will produce the frame and engine before shipping them to Austria where final assembly will take place.

According to Pierer, Husqvarna is going to invest heavily in a "New Classic" image and in the following years we should expect to see a wide range of road-going Huskies – like the Vitpilen – based on the Duke model family, reaching all the way up to the 1290 cc at the top.

So although the Vitpilen 701 may have just been unveiled as a concept model, judging from what KTM's boss has revealed, a future production model is more or less a safe bet – perhaps as soon as 2018.

We can only hope that Husqvarna will one day produce this design and not substitute it with something that looks just like every other motorcycle out there
We can only hope that Husqvarna will one day produce this design and not substitute it with something that looks just like every other motorcycle out there

The Vitpilen 701, just like the Husqvarna Supermoto and Enduro 701, is based on the KTM 690 cc liquid-cooled single that produces 67 hp (50 kW). Adorned with the typical gear, such as a suspension package from KTM's subsidiary WP and radial Brembo brakes, the Husky concept turns heads with its design.

One of its most prominent features is the yellow line that its designer, Maxime Thouvenin, calls "the split" and describes as the visual connection between the front and the rear of the motorcycle.

Its styling is out of the ordinary, with aluminum plates at the sides of the squared-off fuel tank and a carbon composite monocoque that integrates the tail section with the rear subframe. On the right-hand side of the motorcycle, the open airbox houses a conical filter element, as a demonstration of how simple doesn't necessarily mean boring.

We can only hope that, when the time comes for Husqvarna to produce this bike, the final design will not veer far from this unique design.

Source: Husqvarna

View gallery - 13 images
3 comments
3 comments
Milton
These bikes are so sexy! I'll take one of each please.
MartinG.Choquette
That 701....SHUT UP & TAKE MY MONEY!!!
Make it to the market!!!
Martin Hone
3 photos out of 13 you can actually see what the bike looks like. What idiot thought that was a great idea?