2024 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
Purist Style, Featherlight Grip
The Svartpilen 401 is a 399 cc liquid-cooled single making 45 hp and 29 lb-ft. It sits in a steel trellis frame and wears proper scrambler clothes: spoked 17-inch wheels, knobbly Pirellis, a high front fender and a flat bar. It passes my three-glance rule without effort. What makes this generation special is the hardware under that styling. Adjustable WP Apex suspension at both ends, cornering ABS with a Supermoto mode, switchable traction control, two ride modes, an up-and-down quickshifter and a TFT dash with smartphone connectivity all come standard. You rarely get that much in the small-capacity class.
On the road it's light at 351 lb (159 kg) wet, easy to place, and more settled at speed than a 400 usually is. The engine prefers revs to lugging, which suits a day of twisty back roads far better than a long slog. It's cheap to run and has a deep aftermarket, so it stays affordable and easy to personalize as the years go by. The honest caveat: this is a road scrambler. With 5.9 in (150 mm) of travel at each end, it just meets my scrambler minimum, but it isn't a trail tool. Also make sure both recalls on this generation have been done.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 45 hp (33 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 29 lb-ft (39 Nm) |
| Displacement | 399 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 150/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 351 lb (159 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (12.9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
I've built this picture over the years from paddock conversations, club-night chatter and the messages owners send me once they've put real miles on their own bikes. For the Svartpilen 401 the pattern is clear. Riders love it revving hard on a winding road, and nearly all of their complaints come from the bottom of the rev range.
Riders consistently call it flickable. They describe corners that ask almost nothing of them and a chassis that gives them the confidence to push on once the road starts to wind. The single gets the same praise past 6,000 rpm, where owners say the sound alone keeps them there. Plenty also like that it doesn't look like the other scramblers parked around it.
The recurring gripe sits right below that mark. Under 6,000 rpm, owners describe the throttle as snatchy and reluctant, most of all in town, where they end up working the clutch and holding extra revs to smooth it out. A smaller group mentions mechanical clatter and a buzz through the bars that builds with revs. They tend to put it down to single-cylinder character, while admitting it won't suit every rider.
Engine stalling when approaching idle
The engine may randomly die when rolling to a stop or pulling the clutch at low speed. Caused by a software fault in the ECU that misinterprets throttle position signals. A recall (NHTSA 25V598 / HTB2508) has been issued to update the engine control software and, in earlier 2022‑2023 models, to replace the e‑throttle assembly.
Fuel tank cap seal recall (MY2024)
Husqvarna issued a recall for the fuel tank cap seal on all 2024 Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 models. Failure of the seal could lead to fuel leakage. Dealers are instructed to replace the gasket.
Where this Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Svartpilen 401 is actually built for.
For a Saturday loop through the Hill Country with a BBQ stop, it's light, fun and sharp-looking. Just plan your fuel stops, because the 3.4 gal tank sets the rhythm of the day.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
It looks right parked at Alice's and pairs with your phone. It's easy in the city during the week and a light, honest ridge-road bike on weekends. It isn't electric, but it's cheap to run.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If you want classic looks and small-town routes at an easy pace, it fits the style brief. For long multi-day trips, the small tank and light 400 build mean shorter days in the saddle.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2018–2023
Cool Shape, Genuine Fun
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2024
Big-Bike Manners, Small Package
~$700 pricier used than this bike at 2 yr
Competitor · 2024
Low Cost, High Ground
About the same used price as this bike at 2 yr
Same Platform · 2024
Electronics Punch, Featherweight Frame
~$400 pricier used than this bike at 2 yr