By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Scrambler vs Naked Bike
Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 (MY2024) vs KTM 790 Duke (MY2018)
Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 vs KTM 790 Duke: where they split, and which one to buy.
At turn-in, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 doesn't hurry, and its semi-knobby tires settle into the lean and stay there. The KTM 790 Duke's front tips in the moment you're on the bar and snaps onto a tight line. Its soft setup gets restless once the pace climbs.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the Svartpilen 801 if…
Keeping running costs low
Gets the nod: Svartpilen 801
If every service bill hurts, the Svartpilen 801 is your bike. It's the easier one on your wallet.
The Svartpilen 801 has the edge if…
Traveling with luggage
Inches ahead: Svartpilen 801
The Svartpilen 801 feels a little more at home with bags on. The reason: a better reliability record. It's a fine margin, so test both loaded if you can.
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: Svartpilen 801
The Svartpilen 801 edges it for the daily grind. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: Svartpilen 801
The Svartpilen 801 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Credit better suspension.
What makes each one tick
Svartpilen 801
Around town, the Svartpilen's twin grumbles whenever it's lugged along at low throttle. It wants revs, not patience. The brake lever doesn't grab at first and firms up progressively as you squeeze, and there's still braking left to work with when you trail it deep toward the apex. A gentle squeeze is all this brake wants.
790 Duke
Off a slow hairpin, the 790 Duke's twin shoves hard through the middle revs, and the exhaust's got a bark that sounds like a V-twin. A bump at hard cornering speed finds the WP fork's limit, since it's sprung on the soft side. The chassis squirms a little. The trellis frame flicks it from bend to bend.
Nils rode the 790 Duke in Hungary in 2019 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- Manually Adjustable Front Suspension: standard on the Svartpilen 801, not offered on the 790 Duke.
- Cruise Control: option on the Svartpilen 801, not offered on the 790 Duke.
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Svartpilen 801, option on the 790 Duke.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
For a brand-new rider, both are the wrong place to start. Learn the basics on a smaller bike first.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Svartpilen 801
Strengths
- Retro looks, sportbike pace
- Composed in fast transitions
- Brakes you can trust deep
- Electronics stay invisible
- Loaded heavy, still quick
Trade-offs
- Firm seat, unfiltered impacts
- Fussy at low city revs
- Mirrors pull your eyes down
- No room for luggage
- Pirelli MT60 RS dual-purpose tyres compromise wet grip
790 Duke
What owners say
Strengths
- Punchy, characterful parallel-twin engine
- Razor-sharp handling and agility
Trade-offs
- Non-adjustable suspension limits fine-tuning
Known problems to check before you buy
Svartpilen 801
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
790 Duke
- Premature camshaft wear The LC8c engine can suffer from soft cam lobes, leading to excessive wear and potential engine damage. Typically noticed at 12,000–19,000 mi (20,000–30,000 km) during valve checks.
- Coolant hose leaks The round radiator hoses do not seal well against the oval thermostat housing, causing coolant leaks. Common on 2018-2020 models.
- Immobilizer malfunction In cold weather or with a weak battery, the immobilizer may trigger a warning on the dash and prevent starting.
- Thermostat housing leak The factory plastic thermostat housing lacks a dedicated gasket and is prone to thermal warping, causing coolant to weep from the mating surface.
- Valve cover gasket leak The valve cover gasket can leak oil from the half-moon seals due to insufficient factory sealant. The leak often appears after moderate mileage and may eventually affect early production bikes.
What they share
- Displacement
- 799 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 105 hp (77 kW)
- Torque
- 64 lb-ft (87 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 8,000 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Svartpilen 801 | 790 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Svartpilen 801 | 790 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power at | 9,250 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Svartpilen 801 | 790 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km | 53 mpg (US) / 4.4 L/100 km |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Svartpilen 801 | 790 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
