2020 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Vitipilen 401 to be showcased in India this week

KTM India will be making a big splash this week, as it will showcase several new motorcycles of strategic importance to the Indian market. We knew that the Austrian bike maker will showcase the soon to be launched KTM 390 Adventure this week, along with a slew of other products including the KTM 790 Adventure (also expected to be launched in the country sometime next year), the KTM 1290 Super Duke R and its Dakar machine, the KTM 450 Rally. But the orange splash isn't all that one can expect from KTM this week.

KTM-owned, Swedish brand Husqvarna will also be making its India debut this week, as KTM India will showcase the upcoming Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and Husqvarna Vitipilen 401 along with the aforementioned models. Test mules of both bikes have been spotted on the outskirts of Pune several times over the past months and in fact there is a lot of excitement across the country regarding impending launch of both Husqvarna motorcycles. The Svartpilen 401 and Vitipilen 401 both use underpinnings from KTM's 390 platform though they differ slightly in intent and positioning.

The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is a small-capacity scrambler and will be showcased in India this week

While the Vitipilen 401 is a small-capacity café racer in essence and uses low-set clip-on handlebars while the trellis frame sits exposed under a flat fuel tank, suspended by the same upside-down forks as the KTM 390 Duke. The bike uses wire-spoked wheels though, for a retro look and like the 390 Duke, is a tightly-packaged motorcycle. The Svartpilen 401 on the other hand is a Scrambler-like motorcycle and is shod with dual sport tyres and gets a taller handlebar to complement the stance and positioning as a light, fun to ride motorcycle capable of light off-roading duties as well. The Svartpilen 401 and Vitipilen 401 are both powered by the same 373.2cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine as the KTMs and offers the same 44PS and 37Nm, also using the same six-speed gearbox.

The Husqvarna is a retro-looking cafe-racer like motorcycle based on the KTM 390 Duke and will make its first ever appearance in India this week, though it has been on sale in Europe for a while now

We expect the two bikes to be launched with the BS VI compliant version of the engine, considering the deadline for BS VI norms is now looming large. Effectively the Svartpilen and Vitipilen will be the first BS VI compliant products from the Bajaj Auto/KTM stables to be launched in the country. The Svartpilen 401 and Vitipilen 401 are both being manufactured at KTM India's production facility at Chakan near Pune already and being exported to markets abroad. It will also be interesting to see how both bikes will be priced, as they will be positioned above the KTMs and could command a premium of about Rs 20,000 to 30,000 over the KTM 390 Duke's current ex-showroom price of Rs 2.47 lakh.