Huaqvarna: Two new products set to launch next year

The Austrian motorcycle company Husqvarna has been looking to enter India very soon. The alliance with Bajaj has made sure this happens now.

Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj announced that the Indian brand will be bringing the Husqvarna brand to India next year.

There will be two new products that will be coming to the India market. This can put together as a part of the company’s aggressive go-forward strategy, which includes a 50 percent growth in the domestic motorcycle market in H2 FY2019.

The Husqvarna Vitpilen has been spied testing in camo with what apper to be orange KTM wheels and the 390 engine with KTM badging. The cafe racer has a grab handle on the pillion seat, something we did not see on the launch of this bike or in any other photos.

Husqvarna Launch

While it’s too early to predict, the bikes should be launched in the first half of next year. We will update you more with the launch coming closer.

Husqvarna Price

The price of these bikes will be competitive. Bajaj will also make sure that the bikes do not eat into the KTM market as well. It will a thin line to tread as the bikes have very similar specifications loaded.

Also Read: KTM Adventure coming soon

401 Bikes

KTM had acquired the Sweden-based Husqvarna Motorcycles in 2013, it showed off a couple of concepts called the Vitpilen and Svartpilen. Both these bikes are based on the 390 Duke. Husqvarna are known primarily for their fantastic motocross, enduro and supermoto bikes. These concepts were Husqvarna’s first real attempt at modern day road motorcycles.

At the Milan motorcycle show (EICMA) this year, the production versions were first shown and the real thing seems very close to the concepts.

Husqvarna Vitpilen

The Vitpilen is the cafe racer version of the 401. It shares mechanical components with the KTM 390 Duke. It is powered by the same 43.5hp 373cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Trellis frame too is the same as the one from the KTM Duke. The front gets a 43mm WP upside down fork and the rear, a WP monoshock – the same as the KTM. And even the Bybre brakes are carried over with the front getting a 320mm disc with 4-piston radial caliper while the rear makes due with a 230mm disc and a single piston caliper. Bosch’s 9.11MB dual channel ABS is standard as well.

Also Read: BMW G310R Vs KTM Adventure

Husqvarna Svartpilen

While the Husqvarna Vitpilen is the cafe racer, the Svartpilen is the scrambler. At first glances there are not many differences in the design. But as you look closely it’s a completely different setup and this bike rides a little higher too. It too shares mechanical components with the KTM 390 Duke.

It is powered by the same 43.5hp 373cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor, which is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Trellis frame too is the same. The front forks and the rear monoshock are the same as the KTM. Even the Bybre brakes are the same as the Vitpilen. The Bosch dual channel ABS is standard as well.