1/19Tap to zoomHusqvarna Svartpilen 401
Husqvarna · Motorcycle
Svartpilen 401
₹ 2,89,830ex-showroom · last updated 2026
- Engine
- 399cc
- Power
- 42.9bhp
- Mileage
- 29kmpl
- Weight
- 171.2kg
Research by
IAF Editorial
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 — Overview
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is what you get when a KTM 390 Duke puts on scrambler boots and stops caring about looking fashionable - and somehow looks better for it. Launched in January 2024 at Rs 2.98 lakh ex-showroom (Delhi), it shares the same 398.63 cc liquid-cooled DOHC engine that makes the 390 Duke so addictive, tuned here for 45.3 bhp and 39 Nm of torque. The result is a bike with genuine street performance wrapped in unhurried, neo-retro styling that ageing sportsbikes can only envy.
What separates the Svartpilen 401 from most bikes at this price is the electronics package - cornering ABS, traction control, ride-by-wire, a bidirectional quickshifter+, and a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth - all standard, no higher trim required. The WP Apex USD forks and adjustable rear monoshock are the kind of suspension hardware that rivals put on bikes costing Rs 5-6 lakh.
The honest caveats: spoke wheels mean tube-type tyres, which is a genuine problem when you pick up a flat in peak-hour traffic. The seat sits at 820 mm - this is not the bike for riders under 5'7" who want both feet flat on the ground. And the quickshifter, though impressive above 60 kmph, gets clunky at city speeds.
One colour, one variant, no compromises on the things that actually matter. This is Husqvarna being deliberately minimal.
What We Like
- Distinctive neo-retro scrambler styling that turns heads without trying to
- Powerful 400cc engine with 45.3 bhp - same DNA as KTM 390 Duke, tuned for real-world tractability
- WP Apex adjustable suspension handles Mumbai potholes and highway straights equally well
- Full electronics suite as standard - cornering ABS, traction control, quickshifter+, TFT display
What Could Be Better
- Spoke wheels with tube-type tyres - a flat in city traffic means calling for help, not a roadside fix
- 820 mm seat height will have riders under 5'7" on tippy-toes at traffic signals
- Quickshifter is clunky at low city speeds - best appreciated above 60 kmph on open roads
Editor's Verdict
Should You Buy the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401?
The Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is one of the most complete 400cc motorcycles available in India right now - it looks genuinely original, goes hard, and ships with electronics that cost significantly more on rival bikes. The tube-type tyre situation is a real everyday inconvenience rather than a marketing footnote, and the 820 mm seat restricts the rider pool. If you are 5'8" and above and ride primarily on tarmac, this is a seriously compelling choice over the KTM 390 Duke - and worth the premium over the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450.