Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
A fleet of KTM and Husqvarna prototypes
were recently caught testing on public roads in Europe including the Husqvarna
Vitpilen 401. The cafe racer which was showcased as a concept in 2014.
The Vitplien 401 is based on the Duke 390
and uses the same steel trellis frame, complete with the alloy swing arm and WP
inverted telescopic front forks. The ergonomics is typical of a cafe racer with
a low-mounted flat handlebar and rear set footpegs.
The Vitpilen’s bodywork remains true to the
concept with a circular LED integrated headlamps (prototype wears a decoy),
fully digital dashboard, a slender fuel tank, and a minimalist tailpiece. The
Vitpilen series will spawn more derivatives with varying engine displacements.
Each one will share its engine with the respective KTM Duke counterparts.
Considering that the compact KTM Duke
series is being manufactured in India for global consumption, the closely
related Husqvarna models are also expected to call India as their home. The
Vitpilen family of motorcycles will help KTM enhance the economies of scale as
well as cover wider audience base with its compact motorcycle platform.
The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 is expected
to make its world premiere either at INTERMOT 2016 in Cologne this October or at
EICMA 2016 in Milan this November.
