Husqvarna has cut a further $400 from the price of its futuristic Svartpilen and Vitpilen 401 learner bikes, which now retail from $6195 (plus on-road costs, or $7095 rideaway) – down a whopping $4300 from their $10,495 launch price in 2018.
The sexy Swedish pair are now just $200 more expensive than their mechanically-identical KTM 390 Duke sibling ($5995), which is powered by a 32kW/37Nm 373cc single-cylinder engine.
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The price reduction coincides with a minor update for the 401s comprising fresh colours and graphics as well as an extended subframe for improved pillion comfort (learner riders are prohibited from carrying a pillion passenger in all Australian states and territories).
It also coincides with the transfer of production from Sweden to India for 250 and 401 models (Bajaj Auto has a 49% stake in the KTM Group, which includes KTM, Husqvarna and Gas Gas).
Meanwhile, pricing of the larger Vitpilen 701 (powered by a 55kW/72Nm 693cc single-cylinder engine from the KTM 690 Duke) is up $500, while the upright Svartpilen 701 is an unchanged $9295 (plus on-road costs).
Husqvarna was one of the just two motorcycle marques to buck the sales downturn across all markets including Australia in the first half of 2020.
Global sales were up five per cent for the historic Swedish brand, which recorded 15,177 units – up from 14,449. The top-ranking brand by sales growth was Kawasaki (up 9.4%).
In Australia, Husqvarna sales were up 67 per cent in the first half of the year – the highest growth recorded of all brands affiliated with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries – for a market share of 3.37 per cent.
Competition enduro and motocross models account for the majority of Husqvarna sales locally, but its fledgling road bikes now account for 16 per cent of total 1782 sales in the first half of the year. This was stimulated late last year by an average price reduction of more than $5600 for the Svartpilen and Vitpilen or as much as $8200 in the case of the Vitpilen 701 (from $16,995 to $8795).