Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 vs Triumph Scrambler 400 X: Image Comparo

Husqvarna Motorcycles with the launch of the all new Svartpilen 401 has given us another scrambler offering in the 400cc segment, this begs the question. How does the new Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 compare to its main rival, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X. We will be taking a deep dive into what makes the two motorcycles different and compare their design, engine, hardwares and other details through this image comparo.

Design

When it comes to design, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 features a neo-retro design that combines a round headlight and LED DRLs in a minimalist package that we associate with the Swedish manufacturer. The bike overall doesn’t give much of a scrambler vibe except for the spoke wheels wrapped in dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres. 

The Triumph Scrambler 400 X on the other hand looks quite the bit like a real scrambler. It comes with a similar neo-retro design as seen on the Triumph Speed 400 but the headlight grill, knuckle guards, raised suspension and larger front wheel makes it look like it means business.

Engine

The Svartpilen 401 is powered by the same 399cc liquid-cooled engine found on the KTM 390 Duke, and it makes 46PS at 9000rpm and 39Nm at 7000rpm. The engine is quite rev happy and the power really starts kicking in after 5000rpm. This performance is good for a street bike but it might not have the ideal bottom-end grunt needed for off-road riding. 

Scrambler 400 X comes with the same engine as seen on the Speed 400, a 398.15cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that outputs 40PS at 8000rpm and 37.5Nm at 6500rpm. The torque in this engine is more spread out from 2500rpm all the way up to 9000rpm. So the Scrambler 400 X is more versatile and better suited to handling both on-road and off-road riding. 

Hardware 

Hardware wise, the Svartpilen 401 comes with the same setup as the KTM 390 Duke. It gets an adjustable (compression and rebound) 43mm WP open cartridge fork and a preload and rebound adjustable WP Apex monoshock. The adjustability makes it possible to set the bike’s suspension on a softer setting and more suited to off-road riding.

The 17-inch spoke wheels at the front and rear wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres in theory should give it good grip both on and off-road. Braking duties are handled by 320mm front and 240mm rear disc, with Bosch dual channel ABS. The ground clearance is 177mm which is decent. 

The Scrambler 400 X comes with a 43m inverted Big Piston Fork at front and a preload adjustable gas-charged monoshock in the rear. Both offer 150mm wheel travel and the ground clearance comes to 195mm, which is greater than the Svartpilen and makes the Scrambler 400 X more suited to take on off-road challenges. 

It rolls on a 19-inch alloy wheel at front and a 17-inch alloy wheel in the rear, wrapped around in Metzeler Karoo Street tyres. Braking setup consists of a 300mm front and 230mm disc at the rear with Bybre calipers. 

Features 

When it comes to features the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 gets a 5-inch bonded glass TFT display with optional smartphone connectivity. It comes with Ride-by-wire, Quickshifter+ and traction control. It also gets a SuperMoto ABS mode, which turns off ABS at the rear - something that would be useful when riding around in the dirt.

The Scrambler 400 X comes with a semi-digital instrument cluster, with an analogue dial that displays speed and a digital display that gives information such as fuel levels, rpm and other readouts. In terms of features, the bike comes with Ride-by-wire throttle with switchable traction control and also switchable ABS. 

Conclusion 

When comparing the two bikes, it is clear that the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is more of a scrambler style motorcycle in terms of looks, but isn’t suited for serious off-roading. The Triumph Scrambler 400 X on the other hand has both the looks and the handling characteristics and features to be a potent off-road motorcycle. 

Lastly, coming to the price. The Svartpilen 401 comes at a price of Rs 2,92,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) while the Scrambler 400 X costs Rs 2,62,996 (ex-showroom). The difference is quite big but in the end, which motorcycle is better depends on what you are looking for. If you want a road-bike that can handle the occasional gravel roads then the Svartpilen 401 would be perfect. If you’re looking for something that can hit slightly more serious trails while also giving good performance on the road then the Scrambler 400 X is the bike for you.