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2025 · Scrambler · Buyer's Guide
Twin-Cylinder Style With Backbone
The Svartpilen 801 is Husqvarna's black arrow with a 799 cc parallel twin, and that engine sets the tone: 105 hp at 9,250 rpm and 64 lb-ft in a compact steel trellis frame. WP APEX suspension is adjustable, a steering damper is standard, and the IMU-based rider aids cover cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control and ride modes. Cruise control and a quickshifter that works in both directions come from the factory too. Then there's the look: angular tank, minimalist seat, high-mount exhaust. That's a genuine mid-weight performer in scrambler clothing, and the build quality holds up on the second and third glance. Substance and style mesh here.
On the road it's agile, and it stays planted when the pace goes up: stability at speed and lean clearance are its strongest cards. Be clear about the scrambler label, though. With 5.5 in (140 mm) of travel up front, 5.9 in (150 mm) at the rear and 17-inch wheels at both ends, it's a street bike with attitude, not a dirt tool. Maintenance is easy to live with, but the 3.2 gal (12 L) tank keeps your stages short, and higher-mileage examples can develop a stumble when you first open the throttle. Buy it for back roads. Not for gravel!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) @ 9,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 799 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 6.7 in (170 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.9 in (150 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.2 gal (12 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
I've spent years listening to riders: paddock conversations, club nights, owner chats, and the emails and messages you send me directly. For the Svartpilen 801, the pattern is clear. Praise centers on the engine and the handling, while the complaints are few and come from individual owners.
Riders consistently come back to the engine: the twin pulls strongly from low revs and revs out with real character, in a light package. Handling gets nearly as much airtime. Owners call it flickable and responsive, with a taut chassis that invites a spirited pace, and they say the electronics give it a premium feel. A few add that throttle response is clean and predictable, and that the brakes are strong and progressive with good feedback at the lever. The engine leads the talk.
Some owners say the Pirelli MT 60 RS tires handle light gravel, but on pavement they give less grip and feedback than sport-touring rubber, and the bike feels less settled in corners. The other complaint is cost: the Dynamic Pack is an extra purchase to unlock software features like custom ride modes, though the hardware's already on the bike. That's the list.
Throttle hesitation / lean stumble at high mileage
Some owners report a stumble or hesitation when initially opening the throttle on higher-mileage examples, likely due to fouled throttle bodies or sensor drift.
Where this Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Svartpilen 801 is actually built for.
Sporty weekend loops are its home turf: 105 hp, lots of lean clearance, calm at speed. For longer road-trip days, plan your stops. The 3.2 gal (12 L) tank turns them into a gas-station hop.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
This one's yours. City commute in the week, ridge roads on Sunday, and the design stands out wherever you park. TFT and phone connectivity are standard. Navigation is an option, and there's no USB port.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Cruise control helps on the long stretches, but be honest: this is angular, modern design with a rough-edged twin, not heritage calm. Small-town hops work. The 3.2 gal (12 L) tank keeps them short anyway.
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 · 2024
Sport Chassis, Scrambler Costume
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 801. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2021–2024
Built to Beg for More
Competitor · 2021–2024
Triple Soul, Featherweight Manners
Competitor · 2015–2021
Fun Chassis, Honest Soul
Same Platform · 2025
Built Clean, Corners Hard
~$100 pricier used than this bike at 1 yr