Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 review: the small café racer that divides opinion

A café racer that doesn’t set out to please everyone

Since its launch, the Vitpilen 401 has sparked the same debate in every café full of riders: either it wins you over at first sight or it seems like a forced style exercise. And that is exactly the territory Husqvarna is playing in with it. It isn’t a bike designed for consensus, but for anyone looking for a small café racer with minimalist Scandinavian aesthetics who doesn’t mind paying the ergonomic toll that comes with it.

In this review of the Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 we’re going to separate the design from the real content: what you get for your money, what it shares with the KTM 390 Duke, where it falls short, and who it makes sense to buy it for in Spain today.

Design and Vitpilen philosophy

“Vitpilen” means “white arrow” in Swedish, and the 401 takes that concept to the extreme: narrow tank, low clip-on handlebars, short tail, round LED headlight, and a horizontal line that runs through the whole bike. It is pure style exercise, very far from Japanese or Italian baroque.

The finish has improved over the first generation from 2018. The tubular steel frame is exposed, the swingarm is aluminium, and the plastics feel better to the touch. It is still a minimalist bike, but it no longer looks low-cost like its predecessor.

LC4c engine: the heart shared with KTM

There’s no secret here: the Vitpilen 401 uses the same single-cylinder LC4c as the KTM 390 Duke and the Svartpilen 401. It is a well-known unit, revised in the latest generation with a heavier crankshaft to smooth out its character.

Engine specifications:

• Displacement: 398.7 cc
• Power: 45 HP (33 kW) at 8,500 rpm
• Maximum torque: 39 Nm at 7,000 rpm
• Cooling: liquid
• A2 licence approval: yes, it is A2-legal straight out of the box without any restriction

The real thrust arrives between 4,500 and 8,000 rpm, with a lively but not explosive response. It vibrates, as any large single does, mainly above 7,500 rpm through the clip-ons. It isn’t bothersome in town, but on the motorway at 130 km/h you feel it in your wrists.

Ergonomics: this is where the debate lies

This is the point where the Vitpilen 401 genuinely divides opinion. The riding position is clearly sporty: low clip-on handlebars, slightly rearset footpegs and a narrow tank that forces you to lean on your wrists.

• Seat height: 820 mm
• Kerb weight: 158 kg (without fuel, Husqvarna figure; with a full tank it’s around 170 kg)
• Fuel tank: 13 litres
• Wheelbase: 1,357 mm

In town, the first 20 minutes are fun. After half an hour, if there are traffic jams, your wrist starts to suffer. On twisty roads, however, the position makes sense: you load the front end naturally and the bike turns in with surgical precision.

If you want a 400 with the same engine but a more upright position, the Svartpilen 401 or the 390 Duke itself are more logical alternatives for everyday use.

Chassis and suspension

Tubular steel chassis with an aluminium swingarm. WP Apex suspension at both ends:

• 43 mm inverted fork, adjustable for compression and rebound (as standard).
• WP Apex monoshock adjustable for preload.
• ByBre brakes: 320 mm front disc with four-piston radial caliper; 240 mm rear.
• Michelin Power 6 tyres as standard, sized 110/70-17 and 150/60-17.

The package works surprisingly well for the price. The adjustable fork is a rarity in the 400 segment, and the front brake feel is firm without being aggressive.

Electronics and equipment

Husqvarna has raised the electronic level in the current generation, although without reaching what its bigger siblings offer.

• 5-inch colour TFT dash (as standard).
• Cornering ABS with IMU (as standard), switchable at the rear wheel via Supermoto mode.
• Traction control MTC, lean-angle sensitive (as standard).
• Quick-shifter bidirectional (optional, around €300).
• Connectivity via the Ride Husqvarna app: turn-by-turn navigation, calls and music (standard once paired).
• Riding modes: Street and Rain as standard; Track optional.
• Cruise control: not available.
• Headlights: full LED.

The absence of cruise control is missed on long journeys, although it isn’t a bike designed for that either. The TFT is readable even with the sun in your face, a point in its favour.

Fuel consumption and real range

Husqvarna homologates WLTP consumption at 3.4 l/100 km. In real use, riding a mix of town and spirited B-road riding, you’ll be between 3.8 and 4.3 l/100 km. With a 13-litre tank, that gives a practical range of 280–310 km before the reserve light comes on.

Price in Spain and warranty

Official RRP in Spain as of August 2026: €6,899 in standard specification, on-the-road. That price has risen by about €400 compared with the previous model, and it has to be acknowledged: the Vitpilen 401 is no longer the bargain it was in 2019.

4-year warranty (2 standard + 2 extended for free if you keep up with servicing at the official network), one of the best in the segment.

Direct rivals

• KTM 390 Duke (2026): same engine, upright naked riding position, about €300 cheaper. More practical, less iconic.
• Svartpilen 401: sister scrambler with high handlebars and mixed-terrain tyres. Same price, much more comfortable ergonomics.
• Kawasaki Z400: twin-cylinder, smoother, less radical, without cornering ABS or IMU.

If the A2 segment with a tight budget interests you, it’s also worth having a look at our roundup of the best A2 motorcycles for less than €6,000, which includes several more rational alternatives.

Strengths and weaknesses

Pros:

• Distinctive styling, with no direct rivals in terms of style.
• High-end electronics for the segment (IMU, cornering ABS).
• Chassis and brakes above what you’d expect.
• 4-year warranty.

Cons:

• Punishing ergonomics on long or urban journeys.
• Single-cylinder vibrations above 7,500 rpm.
• No cruise control or quick-shifter as standard.
• Price rising compared with earlier generations.

Verdict: who it makes sense for

The Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 suits the A2 rider (or the category A licence holder who wants a second light bike) looking for character and design over practicality. If you do short trips, enjoy weekend twisty roads, and value that your bike doesn’t look like any other in the car park, it’s a coherent purchase.

It isn’t a good fit for those who ride many kilometres every day, those who regularly travel two-up, or those who prioritise comfort. For that profile, the Svartpilen 401 or the 390 Duke offer the same mechanics with half the ergonomic compromise. The Vitpilen isn’t a rational motorcycle, and that is precisely why it makes sense: it knows what it is and doesn’t apologise for it.

Technical data and RRP taken from the official Husqvarna Motorcycles Spain website (August 2026). Dynamic impressions based on our own testing on B-roads and in urban environments.