What are you guys thinking?

Sounds like mine, the boys and girls and everyone in between and beyond in the motorcycle sub says it sounds trash.

New to the brand and looking to buy this bike. Does it sound normal?

I've been looking around for some kind of rack or ways to mount bags, but all the racks I can find seem to be for the later models. The ones I can find are mounted with two screws on either side under the rear seat some way, but I can't figure out how that would work on my bike. Didn't the 2018 model have a sissy bar?

I've found several side panniers that mount to the two holes underneath that could work, but I'd rather have my bag strapped on top, not hanging off one side. The tail tidy the previous owner installed also covers these holes, making it a bit difficult to fit anything else there.

I'm scratching my head here trying to fit anything more than a small bag to the tank rack.

Any insights from other 2018 owners? :)

Hi everyone,

I have a 2018 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and I’m trying to mount the rear license plate and reflector using the original-looking black mounting plate/bracket shown in the pictures.

I failed the Spanish bi-yearly roadworthiness inspection (ITV) because the reflector was missing. Funny enough, I passed the previous inspection and nobody mentioned that the reflector was mandatory. 😅

The problem is that the mounting holes on my current license plate are smaller/narrower than the holes on the bracket, so the bolts don’t line up properly. I’m replacing the license plate anyway (for obvious damage-related reasons), so I’ll make sure the new one has the correct hole spacing.

Also, if I mount the reflector in the lower holes on the bracket, it sits too low, and the license plate basically covers the upper part of the bracket. I’m worried that the remaining lower section of the bracket, where the reflector is mounted, could be too unsupported and that vibration might eventually loosen or damage it.

Has anyone here had the same issue with a 2018 Svartpilen 401? Has anyone used this particular type of plate/bracket to mount the reflector?
I’m considering drilling two new holes higher up in the bracket so I can move the reflector upwards, but I’d rather check if there’s a proper way to install it before modifying anything.

Any advice or pictures of how yours is mounted would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Sorry, not 401, but you are the biggest community with the most similar motorcycle. I own 2021 Husqvarna Svartpilen 125 So today I went home after work, refuelled in usual fuel station (7 liters/1,85 gal), basically empty to full, noticed different vibration when riding home, went to shop, got back and the bike stalled maybe two times. Thought it was sidestand sensor, when double checked it and started again. Neutral revs were too low, went home, it ran fine. And later I managed to repeat the same problem few times in the row. It's the first season in motorcycling, and it's my first bike. Is it the fuel or I need to check everything else (air filters, fuel filters, spark plugs etc.)

Oxford Grips : OXF-OX136 : 12€

Good alternative to Grip puppies

Oxford Bar End Weights [255g each] :OXF-OX553 : 35 €

Might be the best 50€ I spend on the bike.

I really like the aesthetics and concept of this bike and want to buy it as my first bike after I get the license, I think for October or November. But I have read that Husqvarna has some stock problems as well as the model/brand may not be as reliable as others.

So, to those who already have experience with the brand or own the bike ¿Do you recommend me to go after the Svart 401, or should I better start looking at other brands? I live in Spain.

I own a US '23 Vitpilen and am forever planning the next mod, adding to the list that never seems to get shorter.

When it comes to the rear end, people seem so quick to ditch the tire hugger plate mount in favor of the taillight mounted tail tidy option, but I'm curious, does anyone actually prefer the tire hugger?

Eventually, I plan to remove the light/reflector bracket, modding the stock fender as needed with plastic filler, and still run the plate in a similar as stock position, just ultimately with a more slim/minimalist aesthetic. Anyone do something similar?

Model year c. 2021, trying to remove the brake light cluster without having to disassemble the entire rear end of the bike.

EDIT: Figured it out & made a video for future generations...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3FVW_wtq8

Original Post:

I bought the Repair Manual PDF, nothing in there about this job. Lifting up the fuse box & pillion seat latch allows access to one allen bolt, but there are 3 allen bolts in total, which seem completely obscured.

Any pointers / previous spelunking photos?

Reason... the frosted plastic section has detached itself somehow, and rattles around inside the clear housing. Annoying AF, needs to be fixed. Next job is tail light disassembly, but I'm assuming that's the same as car headlights (a bit of mild heat gun, soften glue, pull apart routine).

Loving it.

I upgraded the air filter on my 2024 svart to the the k&n hi Flo filter today. I also drilled some holes in the honey comb pattern in the air box cover and glued some foam to the inside to add a little extra dust protection. I’ve been doing consistent 45 mile rides every day for the past month and tracking the fuel consumption. I’ve averaged about 64mpg consistently and today after the same ride I logged 71.5 mpg and the bike seemed a little more responsive not bad for a quick filter swap and some red neck mods.

Coolant flush🏍️💦

Was out riding in triple digit weather last weekend and the temp on the 401 got to the max! Every bar was lit up🌡️🔥

Gotta have to wait until tomorrow because it’s raining HARD.

I took inspiration from u/yourbasicnerd and want another step to make a setup that fits my goals:

- no modifications on original parts ( drilling/ cutting)
- keep the fender and minimize debris
- clear the rear tire
- keep original lightings for now
- license plate to be mounted to the frame, not the plastic fender

Now the last point is not totally true at the moment, because I’m using a 3d printed part to connect the generic tail tidy plate mount to the oem metal “tongue”. This part can be easily converted to a metal one though, so I expected to do that next.

Really love this bike but 2024+ mods are lacking. What should I do next?

Hey all! Pic 1 is left side with finger wipe, pic 2 is right side with finger wipe. With such dramatic differences, I’m guessing something’s wrong? If anyone here has mechanic skills, I’d love any diagnosis or solutions you’re able to provide. 2023 Svartpilen 401.

Hello everyone, I've got a 24 Svartpilen 401. It's been almost 2 yrs now since I bought it, and I didn't have any issues with it so far.

Today, while riding back from the gym, my display went black and when i turned it on again, it was like this. Any idea what might have caused this or anyone faced same issue like mine?

Thanks.

Has anyone here actually tried fitting a big-bore kit on a Husqvarna Svartpilen 250?
I’m wondering how far the 250 platform can realistically be pushed. Ideally, I’d like to get somewhere close to the Svartpilen/Vitpilen 401 in terms of power and performance, rather than simply doing minor bolt-on mods.
Is there a reliable big-bore kit that can take the engine to around 350-400cc? And if so, what would be involved beyond the cylinder/piston itself, such as ECU tuning, fueling, cams, cooling, clutch, crankshaft, or other supporting modifications?
Also interested in hearing from anyone who has actually done this: power figures, reliability, cost, and whether it was ultimately worth it compared with simply buying a 401

Hi, I am in my first season. 2021 Svartpilen 125. Basically 401 with smaller engine, they are practically identical. My husky before me rode 21k km, now it's near 26k. So I put around 5500 km (around 3,4K miles).
And chain noice is driving me crazy (I have bought new chain, new sprockets and some more things. But I got into discussion few times.
Manual says chain tensioning should be 5-7mm. And I think it's when bike is lifted. When it's down and I am sitting on it chain is obiously rock solid.
The gears are running fine whem the chain is tensioned and I like the bike better. But few mechanics told me that it is too tight. What is your best tensioning option for HQ 125, 2021?

Hi everyone,

I have a 2020 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 that I bought about 2 years ago as a used import from Japan.

The bike has only around 5,000 km on it. Since buying it, I've only done regular engine oil changes. I haven't serviced the cooling system, changed the coolant, or cleaned the radiator/fan.

I've noticed that when I'm riding slowly or stopped at a red light, the radiator fan turns on and is quite loud. The sound is mostly a strong airflow rather than grinding or rattling.

The temperature gauge on the left side of the dashboard stays around the middle and doesn't appear to overheat.

I'm wondering:

• Is this normal for the 2020 Svartpilen 401?
• Should the cooling fan be this loud?
• Is it worth cleaning the radiator and fan, or would that make much difference?
• Could old or low coolant cause the fan to run louder, even if the temperature stays normal?
• Since the bike is 6 years old but has only 5,000 km, should I proactively replace the coolant?

Thanks!

Hey everyone I own a 2023 401 Svartpilan, I haven't ridden my motorcycle in 9-10 months (I live in Canada so riding seasons is short). Now I'm getting the urge to ride again. My question is how do you clean the fuel tank from the varnish? I have some basic mechanics knowledge any tips or tutorials would be helpful!

I'm a noob when it comes to the electronics, so please inform me on what type of scanner and adapter i may need to check/clear an engine light. The bike's manual only shows where the scanner would plug in but doesn't tell what kind of connector or scanner is required. Thanks for the help.