Husqvarna Svartpilen vs Vitpilen: Performance Numbers Explained

After waiting with bated breath for far too long, we recently managed to get our hands on the exciting new Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 250. We’ve put them through a comprehensive road test and you can read all about what they’re like to ride, right here. But in our time with the 250 twins, we also put them through some rigorous performance tests and today we’re going to take a look at the results.

Specs:

Acceleration

Since both bikes have identical engines mated to identical drivetrains, it’s unsurprising that they have very close acceleration figures. What is surprising, though, is that the marginally heavier Svartpilen is actually the quicker of the two bikes from a standing start, getting to 100kmph around a quarter of a second quicker than the lighter Vitpilen. When it comes to in-gear acceleration, though, the Vitpilen’s advantage pays off and it’s the quicker bike of this pair.

Braking

Though both bikes once again share the same braking hardware, when it comes to dropping anchor, the lighter Vitpilen wields its weight advantage to come to a halt quicker than the Svartpilen. When stopping from 100kmph, the Vitpilen’s advantage is nearly 2 metres.

Fuel Efficiency

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to put both bikes through our comprehensive fuel economy tests. But we did manage to check the Svartpilen’s mileage both in the city and out on the highway. Sadly, the figures make for bleak reading because the Husky doesn’t manage to stretch each litre of fuel very far. Couple this with its miniscule 9.5-litre fuel tank and you’re looking at a bike that’s best kept within the urban confines of a city.