2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 first look: The neo-retro roadster returns

It was a timely upgrade for Husky’s futuristic scrambler. There was just one problem. Its partner in crime — the Vitpilen — was missing in action. That all changed yesterday when Husqvarna unveiled the 2025 Vitpilen 801. 

(Nearly) identical twins

Like the 701s they replace, the new 801s share componentry the way sisters share clothes. The Vit retains the Svart’s steel tubular chassis, even linking it to the same 43 mm WP APEX front end and WP APEX rear shock unit. Within that frame resides Husqvarna’s 799 cc p-twin, which still produces the 105 horsepower (at 9,250 rpm) and 64.2 foot-pounds of torque (at 8,000 rpm) that it made in the Svartpilen. 

The Vit also cribs its sibling’s shoes, with the five-spoke 17-inch wheels and J.Juan braking system favoring its sporty sensibilities. Only the Michelin Road 6 tires distinguish the neo-retro roadster from its scramblin’ relative. Given the chassis similarities, it’s no surprise that key dimensions like seat height (32.3 inches) and wheelbase (58.1 inches) remain the same, too. 

The family resemblance doesn’t stop there, either. The Vitpilen 801 also touts IMU-based safety aids such as cornering ABS and lean-dependent traction control. That’s in addition to its four ride modes (Street, Sport, Rain, and Dynamic), Supermoto ABS, bi-directional quickshifter, and five-inch TFT display. All of which come standard on the Svarty, as well. 

What’s the difference?

At this point, you might be wondering just how different the 801s are. Save for the tires the two roll on, they’re mechanically indistinguishable. The Vit’s true differentiator is its styling. 

A side-by-side comparison reveals that the Vitpilen wears a sleeker front fender, a larger belly pan, sculpted radiator shrouds, and trimmed heel guards (can’t forget those, can we?). The headlamp’s central projector light and ring fixture are also distinct features, especially compared to the Svartpilen’s flat LED headlight and fly screen. Although the Vit now favors handlebars (over its predecessor’s clip-ons), the rise in those bars is noticeably lower than Svart’s. 

Other than those minor aesthetic differences, the two twins are practically identical. Considering the similarities, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vitpilen 801 also copies the Svartpilen’s $10,899 price tag. Unfortunately, Husqvarna hasn’t revealed the model’s MSRP yet, but it does anticipate the first Vitpilens arriving at dealerships in November 2024.

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