Husqvarna teased us two weeks ago with a camouflaged prototype of the long-awaited Svartpilen 801. The production version of the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 has just broken cover?and it’s pretty much the same bike, sans stickers. Surprised"
The 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 replaces the single-cylinder Svartpilen 701 as the big brother to the smaller 125 and 401 variants. No longer a thumper, it now boasts a 799 cc parallel-twin engine, good for 105 hp, with a respectable dry weight of 181 kilos [399 pounds]. The frame is a chromium-molybdenum affair that uses the engine as a stressed member.

Given Husqvarna’s practice of repurposing bikes from their parent company, KTM, we’re going to go out on a limb and say that the Svartpilen 801 uses the same platform as the KTM 790 Duke. Their engine specs read the same, their chassis look identical, and they share the same open lattice aluminum swingarm. It’s disappointing that Husqvarna didn’t pick the brilliantly bonkers KTM 890 Duke R instead, but also understandable. The 790 platform demands less of a premium, and the type of rider that wants the KTM 890 Duke R’s outright performance is likely to buy a KTM 890 Duke R. Besides, the 790’s numbers are nothing to be scoffed at.

The engine’s 105 hp peak output hits at 9,250 rpm, with 87 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm. Nikasil-coated cylinders and forged aluminum pistons do duty inside, with dual balancer shafts working to reduce vibra...