By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Scrambler vs Naked Bike
Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 (MY2024) vs KTM 890 Duke (MY2021)
Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 vs KTM 890 Duke: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
Tip the Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 into a bend and its semi-knobby tires settle onto a steady line, but the front isn't in a hurry to drop. The KTM 890 Duke's front flicks over the instant you ask.
So which one do you buy?
The Svartpilen 801 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Slight edge: Svartpilen 801
The Svartpilen 801 should leave you a bit fresher after a long day. What tips it: a better reliability record. Should, not will: the margin is small.
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Svartpilen 801
Your daily ride leans slightly toward the Svartpilen 801. Fit and price can easily outweigh that.
Keeping running costs low
Nose ahead: Svartpilen 801
On upkeep, the Svartpilen 801 asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
What makes each one tick
Svartpilen 801
The Svartpilen's rubber shrugs off gravel, and it's still at home on asphalt. Looking at the tires, you'd expect them to struggle on scorching summer tarmac. The factory semi-knobby tires and available suspension travel take unpaved surfaces in stride. Small throttle openings in San Francisco traffic leave the twin grumbling. It doesn't want to lug. The brake lever still bites deep into the apex.
890 Duke
A nudge at the bar swings the 890 Duke from one lean to the next while its trellis frame keeps the chassis composed. Leaned over and hard on the brake lever, the bike sheds speed while the safety net doesn't butt in. There's clean pull off low revs, and the twin doesn't go flat on the way up. Its top end rushes hard.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 890 Duke makes more peak power: 115 hp (85 kW) vs 105 hp (77 kW).
- The 890 Duke makes more peak torque: 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) vs 64 lb-ft (87 Nm).
- The 890 Duke has the larger engine: 889 cc vs 799 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
Both of these ask too much of a rookie. Spend your first year on something lighter.
Count twisty roads as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
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
890 Duke
What owners say
Strengths
- Punchy, characterful parallel twin
- Lightweight, agile handling
Trade-offs
- Reliability concerns and oil/fluid leaks
Known problems to check before you buy
Svartpilen 801
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
890 Duke
- Warped front brake discs Some owners have experienced warped front discs, possibly due to uneven mounting surfaces on the front rim.
- Premature camshaft wear Excessive wear on cam lobes has been reported on LC8c engines, leading to noise, power loss, or failure. KTM addressed this with wider cam followers from 2021 onward and a goodwill repair program for affected bikes.
- Coolant leak from thermostat housing Coolant can seep or leak from the plastic thermostat housing joint. Retightening or replacing the clamp often fixes the issue.
- Counter shaft seal oil leak The countershaft seal can leak oil, especially on early production units. Typically fixed under warranty with an updated seal.
- Valve cover gasket oil leak Several owners report oil weeping from the valve cover gasket area. Usually resolved by replacing the gasket.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.3 in (820 mm)
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak torque at
- 8,000 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 300 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Svartpilen 801 | 890 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 799 cc | 889 cc |
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) | 115 hp (85 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,250 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) | 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) |
| Svartpilen 801 | 890 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km | 50 mpg (US) / 4.74 L/100 km |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Svartpilen 801 | 890 Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension Adjustable | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
