5 Things I Love/Hate about the Svartpilen 401
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- čas přidán 1. 03. 2023
- Taking a look at my top five hates on the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 after a years ownership, alongside my five favourite features on the great value beginner machine.
There's not a heap to complain about, but there's a few niggling issues that I certainly wouldn't mind seeing changed, including one that may be self inflicted.
Stuff I love about the Svartpilen 401 in comparison is pretty clear cut, great features that really stand out!
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Interesting review. I find the overall look of this motorcycle fascinating. The leaking oil would drive me nuts. It’s 2023 so I’m my opinion a leaking motorcycle should be a thing of the past.
Yea it's frustrating, but also doesn't seem all that common. I haven't seen my specific issue mentioned elsewhere yet. Next oil change I'll see if a new bolt and washer fixes the issue. It's not leaking enough for me to drain it just for that.
@@MotoJournoKris I've been using teflon tape on all sump plugs (mowers, cars, bikes etc) for years now. It works really well. You have to be careful to only put it on the thread part that doesn't protrude into the sump. The other thing is that it only needs to be done up about 1/2 turn past finger tight. The first few times I used the teflon tape I kept breaking the fiber washers - teflon is very slippery so it torques up quickly without the normal feedback.
I been lucky enough to not have any leaks (touch wood). I've kept my bike standard being my first bike but my biggest gripe is finding Neutral. Almost impossible when at stop. Only doable from 2nd. I believe this is another common issue.
Yea it's not the easiest, although on my sisters 390 ADV it's almost impossible unless the bike is off. So by comparison the 401 is easier.
Hey Kris, that rack is easy to remove. You just need to replace the bolts with shorter ones. Alternately. The Fly Racing mini or small tank bag fits on the rack with the magnets lining up perfectly.
Agree, it looks way better with a tail tidy.. so happy I did mine and totally agree that the dash sucks.
I would add a #6 and say I hate the fuel guage - totally useless.. never trust it.
Lastly, I had an oil drip on mine, mentioned it to my dealer and after a thorough check, they sorted it and it's never happened again.
Oh nice, that's good to hear. I'll revisit the oil leak with the dealer next visit.
I'll check out those bag options too! I know I can remove it but, preferred something to replace the rack.
I've been using the trip meter over the fuel gauge, the small tank does catch me out at times!
Chris! I got a Svarty couple years ago after your first review of it! Love my bike, I have 17,000 kms on her without an issue. Thanks for your help!! The tank rack for me is amazing, I just put on a bungee mesh and stash tons of stuff in it...
Wicked, I might have to give that a try too!
6900 miles on my '20 Svart:
The Dash/Speedo adjustment is a huge PITA. Takes immense strength in fingers to depress the damn buttons......and then you've got like 5 seconds to set. Ridiculous.
Some easy mods: Coffman exhaust, small Sedici tank bag which is flat (just big enough for wallet, glasses, etc), Primus liter fuel bottle mounted @ rear grab bar via claw/strap mounts, Puig windscreen, small Givi tail pack & bar end mirrors. Routinely do 150 mile treks no problem.
P.S. The stalling issue has seemingly stopped now that I've moved to higher elevation (3,000 ft). Likely fuel/air/mapping issue?
@@guzziguy2011 Just had to reset my clock....those buttons man, got it on the third try after two 5 minute breaks to rest fingers lmaooooo
Hey, I know it's been a year since you uploaded but in my svartpilen 401, the tank bag holder it's pretty easy to remove, I just went to a hardware store and bought smaller screws with the same thread. Looks 10 times cleaner and it's pretty easy to do, the screws costs less than 1 euro where I live, so it's a win win
Nice, that's a good idea!
Well I’m still debating getting that Svartpilen. Okay that said the Vitpilen has been such a good fun bike and doing mods has been a hi light father and son pastime. Removing the license plate holder and relocating the license under the tail and rerouting the plate light was actually quite easy. Almost like Husqvarna knew people were going to do it, lol. And yes that bracket is heavy. Especially to be cantilevered off the end of the swing arm compounding the affects of the added unsprung weight. Thank you for the videos, they’ve been great👏
It's a cool bike really, I've got no regrets. I definitely need to just do that mod, they look great with the tail tidy.
I absolutely love my 2022 Svartpilen 401 and can't wait until summer to ride it again. The only thing i hate about the bike is the fuel capacity. It's just an annoying kind of issue, not a deal breaker but annoying nonetheless. If it had like 15 liters instead of the 9,5l that would have been perfect. Great video btw!
Yep, I got into the habit of filling up early on this bike!
Same here. Fuel light turns on at around 180-200km if you ride it fast.
Once got it to 250km but range anxiety kicked in real hard😅
@@Watson2108 Haha it gets stressful fast when you push the range like that.
You should review the 2024 model. It’s a much better and superior bike.
i like the number plate blur effect.
I strongly recommend the LeoVince LV 10 exhaust. It’s cheap, well made, not too loud but quite deep and it adds the typical 1 cylinder sound. Got mine a few days ago and it made me fall in love with my bike again
I'd heard that, how much did it set you back, I'd been told they are quite inexpensive and was tempted to get one.
@@MotoJournoKris I paid like 250€, other exhausts are often two or three times the price. And I can say the build quality is flawless, tbh I wonder why it‘s so inexpensive compared to other‘s.
I've heard they really push the value angle, plus to be brutally honest, I reckon a lot of exhausts are hideously overpriced for what they are! I noticed even some cheaper options doubled in price over the last few years, to match the bigger brands, which was pretty sad. @@jou1226
@@MotoJournoKris That’s why I love Leovince but I agree with you, they also got more expensive
is there much of a weight difference?
Yep! I also discovered that leak this week whenever I was doing chain maintenance. Bummed me out a bit too
Frustrating but at least quite a slow leak for me, how about yours?
@Moto Journo Kris definitely seems to be a slow leak. Oil level was not low to a concerning level but it definitely has lost a smidge over the 2000 miles since first service. I haven't seen any fluids on the pavement where I park it. And only noticed it after seeing the small bead of oil when I was on my back checking the underside of the bike.
I got a 2022 Svart and love it, yes bolts are cheep started to replace them with stainless steel once. Fuel tank yes to small. Stalling has been an issue with mine specially on a cold engine sorted it out with a fuel X mapping. changed the exhaust system made it lighter and louder ( which I don't like) and took off everything which was heavy. Put a end tidy on it as well. I love riding on roads and do not plan to ride it off road. I did not like the Pirelly Scorpion after 6000 miles they got replace with Michelin Road 6 and this feels much better. No Oil leak on mine. Don't like the seat, makes the inside of my legs hurt after more then an hour riding. I will be getting the ergo seat and see how that goes. Yes Husky parts are expensive and I try to avoid buying them. The front mud guard is to short so extended it down wards, so now the tyres do not throw stones up in to my radiator any more. I don't want to put a radiator guard on, I want the best cooling I can get. Put a KN air filter in as well. Oh yes, the quick shifter did not work for me, I had a go with it and found I was much better off without it. Mirrors should a be a little wider so I don't see my arm and get to see the traffic instead. Li-ion battery halve the wight of the original, great stuff. passenger foot pegs off too.
Nice stuff, I should really get a KN filter and also probably a front and rear fender extender. I'm putting on a tail tidy so will lose the extra protection at the rear from that swingarm mounted fender. Interested to hear what you think of the different seat. I find the stock comfortable, but it's not the easiest bike to move around on for me.
Nice video, could you let me know which is the part number for the oem skid plate?
I'd have to add small capacity fuel tank as a downside to the 401 - you need to plan your route carefully for those longer rides!
That's a good point, you don't want to get caught out and stranded!
Not enough cons to stop me grabbing it vs the pros.
Look forward to getting mine this coming July
The cons are fairly small honestly, compared to what you're getting.
@@MotoJournoKris my thoughts on it exactly
Awesome review buddy i am debating this or another Duke
The 390 Duke does look awesome too!
Hey Kris! What's it like on the freeway in terms of getting pushed around by wind etc? Considering one but will need to do occasional freeway miles up to 2ish hrs.
I'm pretty used to riding nakedbikes so I don't find it an issue. The wind is a bit of an annoyance, but not too bad. Passing trucks and similar I'm a little more careful of where I am placed in the lane, as the buffeting is noticeable - but that's common on all the small bikes and a lack of fairings actually helps reduce this a little. It's certainly not the best bike for longer highway stints, but the 401 is still plenty capable!
Hey Kris
Excellent video you made, love to see it. I just a beginner rider also wanted to know that is your bike made in India? And is it a reliable bike? Due to I plan to have a long road trip around Australia someday in the future. ❤
Yep, same as all the 401s and 390s, not that I think that's a bad thing, as India are producing a lot of the smaller capacity machines. I haven't had any significant issues, only the very minor oil leak and while I haven't done anything as cool as a trip around Australia, I've done numerous 400 km day trips without an issue. Probably the one thing I'd mention is the smaller fuel tank and ensuing range for that, so it's worth carrying some extra fuel to make sure you get to your next petrol stop.
@@MotoJournoKris cheers Kris, that helps me a lot🫡
I've had no oil leaks, neutral issue was sorted after one service. The dealbreaker for me is the ground clearance. It bottoms out easily on Indian speedbreakers.
It's a shame they didn't keep the exhaust run along the engine for all that extra clearance honestly!
😂 it doesn't leak, it's marking it's territory. It's a modern hipster bike for beginners and built to mod out. Can't wait to buy one! Almost got a grom
Definitely better than a Grom, but can't argue with any of your other points!!
The screws not fitting your gear does not necessarily mean that they are cheap but rather that they just come from Sweden and the sizes could vary
Maybe, not ideal either way!
@Mazinblaster Zetto I think they are just all a KTM spin-off using their 373 cc single, after they bought them out. The earliest models were assembled in Europe, but the bikes are really manufactured in India by Bajaj, and I think there may be some production in Asia too now.
@@MotoJournoKristhey have assembly here in the Philippines
@@markadriantac-an5318 Yep, it looks like they've really increased production facilities.
I like the rack. But it does need a bag. I like the plate holder. Cheap bolts are a problem on a lot of bikes. Leaks oil! My 390 doesn't. And it doesn't use any at all between 5,000 km services. I prefer the dash to my 390's. Who polishes their dash? Just use water. Nice wheels, for sure. Tubed or tubeless? I like the bodywork. One of the best-looking bikes around. Impressive having adjustable forks. I like my backlit switches on the 390, too.
Good video, Kris.
The wheels are tubed unfortunately. Cheaper to fix a puncture though because you don´t need a new tire, just a new tube
@@Watson2108 You rarely need a new tyre following a tubeless puncture. I never have and, because I lived in London, I had several. Tubeless punctures are cheaper to fix. Less labour as takes next to no time, and easy to do yourself with a basic kit.
Dash just gets the wipedown with the same rag as the rest of the bike, I just need to remember not to, as it gets coated with the spray on polish when you do that. Tubed wheels/tyres, so not super fancy, not that I'm complaining. The oil is a funny one, I need to check the sump drain bolt thread when I do an oil change.
@@MotoJournoKris That oil leak will be that. Not an engine seal. I just splash some water on my 390's TFT and wipe it clean. They are easily scratched.
What about the "Turn signals"... does the dash tell you when you got those on? or is it just guess if you got them off?
Nah, there's a light on the dash that'll blink at you.
Hey MJK. Does it have an aluminium washer underneath the sump plug bolt? I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t. Perhaps a small amount of temp rvt silicone? That would definitely annoy me. the size of bolts are metric however like BMWs they are galvanised & are prone to being removed after disassembly & assembly. Good luck. Think it’s time for a CFMOTO 800NK single sided swingarm version 😉🚀
I should probably order the bolt/washer and do an oil change and see if that helps. That 800NK looks wicked!
@@MotoJournoKris you’re only seeing the double sided swingarm. The ultra version is the one to get⭐️
Same problem with the fasteners on the 390 duke. I've stripped a few and i only have 800 miles on it.
Yea it's a bit frustrating, even being very careful it's been an issue, and if you're not careful I can see it becoming a disaster!
Love your vids Kris! Question for you sir: Svart 401 vs Cb650r lams? Im currently on the svart, first bike, but wondering if its a worthwhile 'upgrade' to the cb even though its restricted here in Aus. I mainly ride around town and hinterland twisties here in SE QLD. Id also like to try a track day in future.
Do you notice a significant difference in performance/build quality etc between the 2?
Would love your opinion mate :)
Thanks for the awesome content!
I definitely think there's a decent difference in build quality, although whether that really matters to you probably depends on whether you've noticed where costs have been cut on the 401. I wouldn't have said it was a big strength of the 401, I think it's been built to look good at arms length, and to a price, not that there's anything wrong with that. The Honda is a big winner there to my eye.
The CB650R should have a lot more torque, but being a four, it'll also have a very different engine character to the 401 single, which can be a bit frantic in comparison to both the twins and fours. The Honda also gets traction control which is nice to have, but is also heavy and you give up the suspension adjustability, which may be nice at the track. I'd probably say in my experience the four cylinder 650s have come out worst for the LAMS restrictions, where the twins tend to be less noticeably restricted, but it's also been a few years since I rode the Honda 650, so they may have improved that. I definitely prefer the howl of a four-cylinder over the single-cylinder though.
I'd say it probably comes down to how you're feeling about the 401, if you can get a test ride on the Honda I'd recommend that and just see if you feel like there's big advantages on offer, and whether you like the engine character and bike overall.
Thanks for the detailed reply dude! You're right, at the end of the day I've just gotta ride the bike, see how I feel and decide for myself. Being a new rider with no experience on the range of different bikes/engine types... it's hard to not have a little fomo 😂
Thanks again man!
@@leighroyJP Yea that itch to upgrade definitely starts biting, especially as most people spend the full three+ years on their first bike. If you can hold out for the unrestricted bike, I think you'll appreciate the upgrade more then, and generally if you do upgrade to a 650 during LAMS, you'll probably still want an unrestricted bike on fulls anyway.
Totally! I'll stay strong until my fulls! Cheers man!
Thanks for sharing this information. I have a 701 Svartpilen and like these bikes and if could not have gotten the 701 I was also looking at this bike. The 401 to has an amazing look. I am curious about the oil leak, as it would drive me crazy. Is this an issue under warranty and that the dealer could do something about? That would be hard one for me to accept and you are right on a modern bike there should be no oil leaks. How many miles do you have on this bike and have you had it serviced yet by a dealer? Thanks
Yep first service done, and just under 1500 km now, so very low mileage really. They are going to take another look as they'd hoped changing the crush washer would solve it at the service. I hadn't really brought it back up with them, as I haven't been back for anything since then, so probably next service.
That said I haven't worried about pulling the bolt out and replacing the washer myself and having a look, just because I was too cheap to buy the new oil and don't really want to drop it out and put old stuff back in.
@@MotoJournoKris Thanks! I like to know what happens with this so I hope you do another video. Overall you like the bike and plan to keep it right? For the record I have the 701 and the switch gear on the bars don't light up. Yours look better and 701's are more expensive. Your bike is very nice and there is nothing like it on the market. Its one of those bikes if they stop making people will be disappointed and try and find them. Thanks
@@p-dub7422 I'll probably sell it towards the end of the year to try something else, not because I have any real complaints, but more so I get a new bike to make more (different) in-depth content on. That's the plan anyway!
@@MotoJournoKris What bike would you try next? And it would be great if you shared your process and rationale for making your decision? And thanks for responding!
@@p-dub7422 I haven't even thought about it yet to be honest, but I'll definitely do a video along those lines when it comes to it!
Oil leak and no Neutral find in 2023😢 what a disappointment. Great review
Annoying! My sister's 390 ADV is the same with neutral, almost impossible to find. Best trick is to get into into neutral before you come to a stop, or when the bike is totally off (for some strange reason).
hi! nice video. What mirrors ?
Those are Tarmac Raptor mirrors.
if it's leaking from the drain plug can't you just tighten it or get a copper crush washer or- IDK maybe a drain plug gasket?
Hopefully new washer sorts it, it was already super tight, so I didn't want to risk cracking the sump by tightening it.
The biggest reason i got the Duke instead was that dash. It really just looks too small and outdated.
That said, the front forks and seat on the Svart/Vit are much better.
Yea that dash... it really could do with cleaning up. Even if it's not a TFT, it just needs to be cleaner. No big bubble of plastic.
How does it handle on dirt/fire roads?
It's not bad for easy fire trails honestly, or a bit of dirt, but it's no dual sport either.
Is the seat uncomfortable? Im pretty big so im really concern
I find it really good, much better than a lot of the other bikes in the category, however it can vary between riders, and I've seen people with vastly different experiences on the same bike.
Did you tune the bike after installing the cat delete?
Nah, haven't worried. Went for the cat delete because it was cheap.
I wanted to buy it, but just encountered one in the wild and it is soo mall
Yep, they are quite a compact machine. The 2024 versions are a little better there, they look and feel like a bigger bike, compared to the outgoing version at least!
Can you ride this comfortably on a highway with a 65 mph (105 kph) speed limit ?
Easily. Wind protection is limited like all nakedbikes, but the bike will cruise comfortably well past that.
@@MotoJournoKris Thanks
i dont see a crush washer on your sump drain...?
I'll double check, I thought there was, but I've been meaning to order a replacement bolt and washer and to do an oil change.
Where assembled ?? 🇵🇭 ??
All of these are in India now, I think the very first batch were assembled in Austria but were much more expensive.
Does the name "Svartpilen" have an English translation?
I think Vitpilen and Svartpilen mean something like white arrow and black arrow from memory.
I feel like this motorcycle falls in the category of modern scrambler
That's a great way of looking at it really.
"made of cheese" is the descriptive term your after. Suzuki suffer badly from this also.
Yea, I know I do occasionally damage things, but sometimes it's definitely not me!
How reliable is it?
No reliability issues at all so far. Just that very slow oil drip.
@@MotoJournoKris thanks, I am thinking about getting one myself, kinda worried since I know it won't be as reliable as the Japanese bikes but damn does it look good
I think it also depends how long you're planning to keep the bike. If I was thinking 5+ years (or a forever bike), then reliability is a lot bigger, than a bike for 1-3 years. Also shorter term, while I think these bikes tend to lose a bit more value, you also save quite a bit, so it evens out. @@Adonis-qb5ze
Are you replacing the oil drain screws every time? Those threads are crap and it’s better to just replace the whole bolt each time.
Dealer did at the service, and the washer. I'll do the same if I do an oil change. I should just buy a bunch to have them on hand!
That thing is just begging for a bolt on rear subframe for mud guard/plate holder / bags.
Yea under the bodywork in the tail is just full of all the wiring, fuses, etc, be very cool to clean it up and minimise it right down.
Spoked wheels are great... until you get a flat. 401 has tubed tires.
Yea I love the simple puncture repair kids for tubeless tyres I have to say.
You sort of lost me when you complained about the weight of aluminum.
Ah well, nothing that actually paying attention to the context of the point wouldn't fix.
@@MotoJournoKris There's that spicy aussie wit. Did you actually weigh the swing arm ? This is a super light bike and I'm pretty sure that piece is not heavy. Unless you meant heavy in the visual sense.
@@Win7ermu7e I'll try and get a tail tidy sorted and weigh that plate holder/extension for comparison when I do the fitment. It's fairly heavy duty though, which makes sense since it's run off the swingarm, so there'd be a lot of stress on it being so far from the pivot point. It's more in comparison to a tail mounted system, which are generally plastic (when stock), very flimsy and quite light. When I fitted quite a sexy aluminium tail tidy to my Daytona I was actually surprised by the weight and that was much more compact than what the 401 runs. Obviously they are much much lighter than steel would be, but it's still weight.
@@Win7ermu7e The piece of aluminum is far from the pivot so it’d likely add quite a bit of load on the suspension when it tries to absorb bumps. It’s a small gripe, but then again people love to spend thousands on *slightly* lighter wheels for basically the same reason. Moving the license plate mount up would just be better in all ways.
What do you expect from my Indian engine?
Sorry, not sure what you mean.
@@MotoJournoKris ktm is a Indian brand. Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto makes them.
@@IWannaBeFamous647 KTM isn't an Indian brand, although Bajaj do hold an enormous stake in the company. They do make the 390s/401s however. Even if Bajaj did take them over, I'm pretty sure they'd still call them European/Austrian.
@@MotoJournoKris they are using the engine off a ktm
@@IWannaBeFamous647 Yes, Husqvarna are basically rebadged KTMs with some loadout/style tweaks.
Spoke wheels are cheaper than cast. Nothing special about them. You didn't mention the pathetically small fuel tank thankfully cured on the 2024 bike
The range is definitely an annoyance, but I haven't done any huge trips where it's been an issue honestly. I can see it being a bigger problem depending where you live or ride. Spoked is more a styling standout than anything to me.
Those swingarm mounted rear fenders are absolutely gross and cheap looking. I assume it's a cost savings.
Yea they've become so common, it's a head-scratcher as I reckon they look pretty awful!
Can you put a chick on the back ? I'm not seeing the extra foot pegs 🤔
They are fairly well hidden, running off the exhaust hanger/silver foot control plate on that side of the bike, visible around 1:50. The pillion seat is small but you definitely can.
picky. Its never good enough.
I'm happy overall, but everyone has different tolerances for what they'll accept (or pay for) on a motorcycle.