The KTM 790 Adventure-based Husqvarna 801 Scrambler
has been spied for the first time in Europe, courtesy of Motorcycle News. Husqvarna has gone for a retro
look for the 801, and the design of the prototype makes us believe that it is a
scrambler. Furthermore, a modern-retro twin-cylinder Husky will help the
company to take on rivals like the Ducati Scrambler and the Triumph Street
Scrambler.
The Husqvarna 801
Scrambler uses the 790 Adventure's frame and the 799 cc, parallel-twin engine.
The initial prototype has minimal bodywork, and we expect the production
version of the Husqvarna 801 Scrambler to feature a neat design on the lines of
the Husqvarna Svartpilen range.
The test mule borrows the large round LED headlight
and the taillight from the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701. The frame has been lifted
from the KTM 790 Adventure; however, the rear sub-frame is flat and different
as compared to the ADV. Other shared bits include the suspension, wheel sizes,
swingarm and the brakes. According to the spy images, the Husqvarna 801
Scrambler seems to feature a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear setup with
dual-purpose knobby tyres for mild off-roading.
The flat seats and pre-production fuel tank are
temporary fitments, which will be replaced by the final version nearer to the
launch. The Husqvarna 801 Scrambler features KTM branding on the brakes and the
engine casings, which too will be changed when it moves to series production.
The 799 cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine
produces 105 PS and 86 Nm of torque in the KTM 790 Duke and 95 PS and 88 Nm of
torque in the KTM 790 Adventure. It is paired with a 6-speed gearbox with a
standard PASC slipper clutch. In the Husqvarna offering too, the shared engine
will have a different tuning.
The Husqvarna 801 Scrambler could debut at the EICMA
2019 in November next year, followed by a market launch by early 2020. The
motorcycle is highly unlikely to come to India. However, we will get the
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 & Svartpilen 401 twins, likely by October next year.
