One of the more intriguing things to come out of the 2014 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan were Husqvarna’s two “401” concepts, the Vitpilen and Svartpilen. The café-styled bikes are based off the KTM 390 Duke platform, though you wouldn’t know it from looking at them.
Husqvarna said at EICMA that if there was sufficient interest, the Vitpilen and Svartpilen could go into production. With an overwhelming critical response from the press and fans, it should come no surprise then that our friends at Bike.se are reporting that Husqvarna intends to make the small-displacement machines a part of its 2017 model lineup.
The Swedish magazine confirmed this news with Reinhold Zens, one Husqvarna’s two Managing Directors. Zens explained that the Vitpilen and Svartpilen have been green-lit for production, and thus show part of Husqvarna’s on-road roadmap.
“I can tell you that they will come as 2017 models. They may not look the same, a concept is after all a designers dream while a finished model must follow rules and regulation, but they will definitely have the same style,” said Zens.
Before KTM’s Stefan Pierer bought Husqvarna, the Swedish brand teased enthusiasts with a number of road models and road concepts. But with the Austrian company’s current models being rebadged as Husqvarnas, there has been a great deal of talk about Husky’s future, and how the brand will differentiate itself from KTM.
The Husqvarna 401 line might be the first step in that new direction, though we can expect more concepts and models from the brand in the coming years.
Photos of the Husqvarna Vitpilen:
Photos of the Husqvarna Svartpilen:
Source: Bike.se
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