Svartpilen 125 (MY2024)

The Svartpilen 125 is a small bike that doesn't look like one. A liquid-cooled 125 cc single with 15 hp and 8 lb-ft sits in a steel trellis frame, dressed in stripped-down scrambler bodywork on block-pattern tires. What lifts this generation above the usual entry-level fare is the equipment: ride modes, a quickshifter that works up and down the six-speed box, smartphone connectivity with navigation and a USB charging port are all standard. That's a lot of kit for a 125. Husqvarna sells design with substance behind it, and here the substance is real. Rare in this class!

On the road it's all about ease. The handling is about as accessible as it gets, light in town and surprisingly settled when you hold it wide open, and running costs stay low over the years. It's for you if you want a first bike with style, or a city runabout that makes a back-road detour fun. The honest caveat: 15 hp is 15 hp, so passing takes planning. The fork has no adjustment at all, and only the shock takes preload. Occasional stalling at low rpm is a known annoyance, and the 2024 bikes were recalled for a fuel tank cap seal that could leak. Check it's been done.