These Photos Show The Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen In Production Form

Husqvarna made a huge splash when they released the Svarpilen and Vitpilen concepts two years ago. As a brand, Husqvarna has been passed around to several parent companies, each time taking on the new owner’s persona. But this was a new direction. This showed that Husqvarna could be something different. Better yet, something new.

The original Svartpilen (Black Arrow) and Vitpilen (White Arrow) concepts were based around the frame and motor of the KTM 390 Duke, and the Vitpilen concept went on to win iF Design and Clio awards for its futuristic take on an urban cafe racer.

Then, at last year's EICMA convention Husqvarna had new versions of both bikes. This time they looked production ready and were accompanied by the fairing-equipped Aero concept and a model using the motor from the KTM 690 Duke called the 701 Vitpilen.

Now we finally get a good glimpse of the bigger machine in all of its glory.

It will be powered by the same 690cc single as the KTM 690 Duke and Husqvarna 701 Enduro and Supermoto (which made 70 hp and 51 lb.-ft. of torque on our dyno), and get a steel trellis frame.

Unlike the model we saw at EICMA last year, this bike looks nearly finished down to the Husqvarna badging on the exhaust and radiator (why waste the time to brand it if you might scrap it?). Most of the duct tape and gum is gone, with only the number plate looking really unfinished (although we doubt they'll leave the frame gloss black and tank matte black).

The more time I spend on the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, the more excited I am for this bike. SoCal Supermoto's Brian Murray said it best when he noted that the engine and gearing, as it is in the Supermoto, gives the bike characteristics of both a single- and twin-cylinder motorcycle. So much so that I'm looking into putting a rally fairing on my 701 Supermoto project bike.

I think the 701 Vitpilen will be the bike to beat for the small-to-midsize cafe racer segment out of the gate given the Ducati's overly aggressive rake and somewhat abrupt fueling and the Street Cup's mediocre handling. It should feel lighter, faster, and more nimble. The real question will be how much will it cost and whether people want a more current- or futuristic-looking cafe racer.

We expect to see the Husqvarna 701 Vitpilen unveiled as a production model at EICMA this year, which takes place November 9-12 in Milan, Italy.