Husqvarna Vitpalen 701

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

I like it. It seems a bit different from other nakeds in the same price range and has a bit of an underdog feel to it. Also, most of my riding is in town or quick B road blasts out of town and it seems perfect for that kind of riding.

Does anyone else like it?

https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/gb/vitpilen/vitpilen-701/?category=The%20Specs

I ask because im the kind of guy who bought Betamax when everyone else went VHS.

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I'd rather have a 790 Duke.
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Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

I like it, it's a bit different.

Not sure about the riding position though, the relationship between the seat, bars and pegs looks wrong and the rider in the blurb looks distinctly uncomfortable.

I'd want a proper test ride before forking out.
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Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

I like the look of it, but I like, big, single cylinder road bikes.
It bares a resemblance to both a Yam RZ1 and the SRX600.
If I had nine grand to spend on a plaything, (which I don't), I'd be tempted.
However, no kick start, I am disappoint! Crying or Very sad

Cool looking bike IMO!
With a nice exhaust you could really annoy a few people with that! Mr. Green

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Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Suntan Sid · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :

Kentol750 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :

It is a ktm.
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Sister Sledge · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2018 Karma :

Reliability? Service intervals?
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ThatDippyTwat · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :

I want to like it, I love big singles. But it's desperatly seeking to be a "cafe racer" and is aimed at the Hipster lot. There's better out there for £9K. From Husky themselves, 701SM. It's probably as equally as uncomfortable, but I bet it's far, far better to spank round B roads. Looks different enough to the KTM it really is to stand out.

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

The Vitpalen 701 is a KTM 690 with a different riding position and it's been dressed up to look like more of a hipster cafe racer.

Oh yeah, it's the best part of a grand more expensive than the 690. Laughing

Get a test ride on a Vitpalen and on a 690 then take it from there.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Think I'd rather have a Triumph Thruxton personally if I wanted a factory cafe racer. Its just too fussy and not classic enough in its lines or style. Then as said there's the funny looking riding position.

There's possibly better single cylinder factory cafe racers out there, but they are all old bikes not brand new machine's.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

I don't think ive ever actually seen a hipster type on a motorcycle except in magazines. I suspect they're entirely a fabricated demographic so I dont really believe manufacturers actually aim anything at so called "hipsters". I think the Husqvarna genuinely looks styled to be modern but definitely not Japanese and so then gets tagged ad being retro. I fail to see whats retro or cafe about it. Sure its a ktm engine but there's nothinf historically unusual about using engines from other manufacturers. There is more to a bike than the engine.

ThatDippyTwat · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :

Kentol750 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :

Its a ktm. My husky 701 enduro was a 690 in husky colours. Ktm own husqvarna and like to lose the orange badge (for all catholic bikers). The parts had ktm stamped on them.. husqvarna is a brand not a manufacturer. Svartpilen and vitpilen are stylish for a certain type of buyer. 401 is 390duke.
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Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Kentol750 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :

The deal on the 701 was infinitely better than anything ktm were offering. And the part ex was much better as well. When all the sums were done, I was about £800 better off. That included paying £100 more for insurance because it was the first on the register in the UK.
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stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

It's weird though, that Husqvarna is seen as the premium brand or more exclusive badge than KTM, and for most equivalent bikes the Husqvarna version is pricier. You'd think that KTM would have liked it the other way round, but then again everyone has heard of KTM and some young guys will have probably never seen or heard of Husqvarna before.

They both are cheaper than some other firms supermoto bikes, and I've seen some cracking SM bikes in the 125-450cc class for £7k.

The niggle for me is that I keep thinking would I have wanted an Aprilia SVX550 even more? That's one thing that's stopping me buying anything else, the fact that I can't pick up a new SVX anymore.