First Look: 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 released
We saw the Husqvarna Svartpilen (black arrow) 801 over the summer, and now we’re seeing its sibling – the Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 (white arrow).
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
Husqvarna’s trendy roadsters are pretty black and white (!) in terms of their essential form: the Scandinavian brand takes the basic engine and chassis from a bright orange KTM – in this case the Duke 790 – and gives it a Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen style makeover.
It adds fresh new bodywork in the distinctive Husqvarna style, premium upgrades to parts like fuel cap, top yokes, headlight brackets and exhaust, and usually upgrades the running gear and engine output too.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
The result is like a sort of ‘Tesco Finest’ KTM, with a slightly higher price, posher presentation and some performance gains – but with similar fundamental function to the more mainstream model.
The Vitpilen is more of a naked roadster/café racer than the scrambler-styled Svartpilen, with lower bars, tarmac-biased Michelin Road 6 tyres instead of dirt-styled Pirelli MT60 rubber, and a sharper-styled front Bi-LED projector lens headlight.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
The two bikes are quite similar in other ways though, with the same cast wheels, silencer design and fuel tank surround.
The fundamentals should be familiar by now: the KTM Duke’s 799cc parallel twin 8v DOHC water-cooled engine that makes 105bhp with 87Nm of torque, in a steel tube trellis frame.
The running gear consists of a cast aluminium monoshock swingarm, and WP Apex suspension front and rear, with rebound and compression damping adjustable 43mm forks and preload/rebound adjustable rear shock.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
Brakes are by the J.Juan company, with dual four-piston radial brake calipers biting on 300mm discs up front, and Bosch 9.3MP ABS setup. Weight without fuel is 180kg – decent but not earth-shattering.
It’s packed with electronic treats: three standard rider modes, plus cornering ABS and traction control, with optional switchable supermoto mode and 10-way rear wheel slide control if you spec the optional fourth Dynamic riding mode.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
The quickshifter is optional too, but the Bluetooth smartphone navigation/media connectivity unit is standard on the 5” TFT LCD dash.
The style is the main thing though – and if you like the looks of the slick modern bodywork and angular chassis parts – the headlight and silencer angles are particularly sweet we reckon – then this could be just the thing for you.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801
The two colour options are also pretty tasty: a subtle silver or bright acid yellow, both of which round the look off nicely. No word on price, but it’ll be in the shops just after Christmas. www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-gb.html.
2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 Technical highlights
New Bi-LED projector lens headlight with a separate light ring provides a unique and progressive identity
Chromium-molybdenum steel frame with engine as a stressed member
799 cc parallel-twin engine with 105 hp peak power and 87 Nm of torque
Adjustable WP APEX suspension provides exceptional comfort and performance on flowing roads and through narrow urban environments
Four selectable ride modes (Street, Rain, Sport, Dynamic optional)
Cornering-sensitive Traction Control (allows for 10 levels of adjustable rear wheel slip in optional Dynamic mode)
Cutting-edge cornering ABS with switchable Supermoto mode (in the optional Dynamic ride mode)
Ride-by-wire throttle with adjustable throttle response
Optional Easy Shift function
Standard Connectivity Unit provides TbT+ navigation, telephone call-in/out, and music selection functionality from the rider’s smartphone
Hazard Warning system with integrated handlebar switch
Extensive range of Technical Accessories available including heated grips, alarm and lithium battery
