The First Of The New-gen Huskies Has Been Spied Testing

We came across spy images of the 2022 KTM range a couple of months ago, which gave us a good idea of what the next-generation of ‘Ready To ‘Race’ bikes would look like. Fast forward to the current day, and it seems like Husqvarna has started testing its next-gen models, starting with the 2022 Svartpilen 401.

The bike looks completely different from the current Svartpilen 401. It looks more purposeful in our opinion, however, it’s too early for anything concrete since this is an early prototype. From the design point of view, the Svartpilen looked more rugged than before. The tank shrouds, for instance, are more pronounced with deep knee recesses. However, the tank itself is likely to be the same size as before. Besides the tank, you’ll also notice the tall windscreen which looks a little out of place. We reckon this could be offered as an accessory. Also new is the full LED headlight, turn indicators and tail light design.

The hardware seems to have been picked off its KTM sibling. Bolted to the back of the frame is a new cast-alloy swingarm, which looks visually lighter than before. The chassis is the same as the 2022 390 Duke, but the sub-frame is all new. Even the engine hangers have been redesigned. Speaking of which, the engine is likely to remain unchanged, so expect to see the same power figures as before. That said,  expect more refinement and perhaps power modes since the bike already comes ride-by-wire.

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Interestingly, the suspension setup, just like on other smaller international-spec KTMs, is an adjustable unit. The front comes with compression and rebound damping while the rear features preload adjustability. That said, don’t expect the same suspension to be offered in the India-spec model, thanks to cost restrictions.

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What is a bit odd, is the pillion seat or cowl and so is the oversized rear fender which looks like an eye sore. It’s tough to say from the spy images, but the console looks like it's been redesigned as well, likely a full-colour TFT unit with smartphone connectivity. 

There are components that have been retained from the current-gen model. The braking system appears to be the same as before, and so do the dual-purpose tyres.

The updates are extensive so the cost for the 2022 Svartpilen 401 is likely to go up. By how much? That’s a little too early to speculate

Image courtesy