Replacing the Svartpilen 701, the 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 has a larger, twin-cylinder engine, new electronics, fresh styling, and more. (Photos by Marco Campelli & Sebas Romero)

Known for decades as a dirtbike brand, Husqvarna expanded its lineup to include streetbikes following its acquisition by KTM in 2013. Its most visually striking models are the Svartpilen (?Black Arrow? in Swedish) and Vitpilen (?White Arrow?), which were available in 401 and 701 versions and used single-cylinder engines adapted from the KTM 390 Duke (373cc) and 690 Duke (693cc). Vitpilens had modern cafe racer styling, while the Svartpilens leaned into the street tracker look.

Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 | Bigger is Better

For 2024, the lineup has been pared down to three models: Svartpilen 401, Svartpilen 801, and Vitpilen 401. The evolution of the Svartpilen 701 to 801 comes with a new engine platform ? the 799cc LC8c parallel-Twin that?s also found in the KTM 790 Duke and 790 Adventure.
Look familiar" The Svartpilen 801’s 799cc parallel-Twin is also found in the KTM 790 Duke and 790 Adventure.

Though it doesn?t have as strong of a scrambler aesthetic as the Svartpilen 401, which has spoked wheels shod with knobby tires, the 801 nonetheless looks ready for a bare-knuckled brawl. It has a dark color palette: blacked-out engine, chassis, and wheels and a matte-black tank cover, which has sharp edges and flat sides ? a common design element on all ?Pilens. There ...