Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 & Svartpilen 250: Your Questions Answered

Any new brand entering the market is always going to have a lot of questions surrounding it, and it’s no different with Husqvarna. The Swedish manufacturer has finally entered India with its recently launched 250cc twins, and you folks seem to have quite a lot of questions about the Svartpilen and Vitpilen. We’re here to answer them for you!

Is the 835mm seat height too high?

There’s no getting around the fact that 835mm is tall. Furthermore, the seat also runs a little flat and wide, meaning that anyone under 5’5” will struggle to plant their feet securely. To know for sure, head across to your nearest KTM showroom and jump on the bike to see if you’re comfortable.

Is the fuel tank big enough for touring?

The sculpted fuel tank may look gorgeous, but it only holds 9.5 litres. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Now, we haven’t tested either of the Huskies for fuel efficiency, but they use the exact same motor in the exact same state of tune as the KTM 250 Duke, which gave us 35.66kmpl on the highway. They also weigh slightly less than their Austrian cousin, so you should be able to manage 300km between fuel stops. More than adequate for touring duties.

Is the Svartpilen a proper off-roader?

Sure, it’s marketed as a scrambler, but can it really scramble? While it does come with dual-purpose tyres, the suspension travel and ground clearance are both rather low, meaning that hardcore trails are certainly off the cards. Courtesy of its riding position and the tyres, the Svartpilen should be able to manage soft-roading and some milder trails, but don’t expect to go cross-country rallying on this bike.

How much do the bikes cost? What about the spare parts?

If you fancy either of the Huskies, your nearest KTM dealer will sell one to you for Rs 1.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Considering that most of the fundamental components are shared with the KTM 250 Duke, and the fact that the Swedes have been priced significantly lower than the Austrian, we think that spare part costs should be on par with KTM if not slightly lower.