In my opinion the whole line of Vitpilens and Svartpilens 401-701 are works of art and will only be truly appreciated for their aesthetics in years to come. Granted the KTM dukes you either like the way they look or not.. and most don’t, lol. That said when out on my 890R and it’s sitting next to my son’s Vitpilen 401, nobody is looking at the bad@$$ 890R. I’ll be picking up the Svartpilen 401 too.
I agree. The aesthetic of these bikes will age really well. I know I’m keeping mine forever, and once it gets too high in mileage to where it doesn’t make sense to fix, I’ll probably buy another. These bikes are just COOL. I too am not a fan of the 390 duke aesthetic but do like the 890R. I’ve heard those 890R’s are an absolute animal. Has your son done anything to his Vit at this point?
I LOVE my 22 Vit 401. My first Bike and even with friends telling me to get something larger.. i stuck with it and love it. Awesome little machine you can hoon around, while also being on something that is Not Cookie Cutter in the looks dept
Congrats! I agree 100% on the displacement. I think it’s an appropriate engine for this type of bike, however, at the same time I would not want any less power. It’s a perfect power plant for the philosophy of this bike. Glad you are enjoying your Vit, keep putting miles on it.
@@ridewithKY agreed, any less hp.. It would be a slog. But they hit a really nice balance with weight and displacement. And the looks alone make up for some shortcomings. It is a bike that has to be maintained, and looked over more often because it still is an Affordable machine. And corners were cut. But then again that could be a benefit. It teaches you to pay more attention, and learn how to work on and maintain. I dont know. Im just a fanboy of the bike. I would Never steer someone away from it as an option
Sounds like you were a perfect candidate for these bikes. All the shortcomings are part of the ownership experience. Dealing with the shortcomings is rewarded with a unique ownership experience.
@@ridewithKY it’s such a great topic cause’ these bikes are sharp and attract new riders. Smart move from Husky. My neighbor had 2022 Svartpilen, but had a ton of issues: starting, shifting, electronics, and engine failure issues (top end problems?)- probably a lemon. But I’m happy your bike is holding up relatively well. Year over year, I hope Husky makes improvements, because it’s such a work of art of a bike- and that’s coming from a guy who is in LOVE with his Guzzi. I gotta snag a 701 because damn, they’re not making that single cylinder anymore :(
I agree totally. The better the aesthetic, the more likely it is new riders will stick with it. Who wants to keep riding when you have a butt ugly bike. Haha. I hope improvements keep being made as well, I don’t think many of the issues other than the head gasket are absolute show stoppers. It’s just a matter of dealing with little quirks here and there. Quirks I can deal with as long as I’m not stuck somewhere. Would love to ride a Guzzi some day. 👍🏽
Hahaha. To be honest, you probably will look goofy on one of these. I’m 5’5” and it fits me pretty well. Depending on your build this bike might be a little uncomfortable for you as these Vitpilen’s are pretty small. Have you sat on one yet?
Here in Canada this is an easy choice I was in the market for a small supermoto so I looked at the DRZ 400 which is $8600 before taxes and not fuel injected, The KLX 300sm which is $7500-8k before taxes and a gutless no torque 22hp joke, The Vitpilen is under $6100 all in and has double the hp.
Good explanation. I too was surprised when I found out how much DRZ’s are. I originally thought they were $5000 bikes, had to have a friend educate me on how much they really cost. Thanks for sharing man.
Thanks for the great videos on this bike! I see that you have spoked wheels on this bike. Are you running tubeless tires on this? I know that the Svartpilen running Pirelli Scorpion STR requires tubes. Not sure what tires are on this Vitpillen.
Thanks for the feedback and for watching. I’m still running tubed tires since that’s what it came with. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to stay tubed. I’ve got just shy of 3000 miles and still have plenty of life left on the back tire.
The pilens are real amazing bikes. The looks and performance checks out, kicks like a dirt bike but, KTM reliability kinda disappointed me. Seen failures in the forum at odos as low as 2000km 5000km. Make sure you got a dealer/supplier with starter relays and fuel pumps ready
I agree. KTM reliability and quality is on the lower end. They aren’t terrible, but I think you need to come into ownership with the expectation that the experience won’t be absolutely problem free. It’s just reality.
@@ridewithKY true. I owned the Svart and sold it with a heavy heart. Stared at it until I couldnt see the van that picked it up like some romance drama. I value reliability over anything else but the svart stills stay in my memories rent free. Would definitely buy another one as a second bike.
Hi Mr ridewithKY or anybody who have this bike, planning to get the 2023 vitpilen as my 1st bike in a couple of weeks. Any advice to do before leaving the dealership? Heard I need to have them unlock something? And after 3000miles I need to bring it back? Abd how to properly break it in? Thank you in advance…
Good choice for a first bike, you’ll enjoy it. The dealer should do a detailed walk around with you to explain the features of the bike. I know these bikes have some kind of security feature on them where if the dealer doesn’t unlock it, the bike will shut down on you pretty quickly (can’t remember the exact mileage). I think the idea is if somebody goes on a test ride and doesn’t come back, the bike will shut down after a given number of miles. If the dealer doesn’t disable this then the bike will essentially think it’s stolen and shut down at the predetermined mileage. I’ve heard some of these Vit’s don’t have the quick shifter enabled from the get go, that wasn’t the case with mine though. Mine was enabled from day 1. First service is supposed to be at 620 miles. I just changed the oil myself and didn’t bring it to the dealer because it’s a hassle for me. However, it’s probably a good idea for you TO bring it to the dealer for that first service. They’ll change the oil, check the chain, and scan it for any faults. They will also make sure all the software is up to date. As far as break in period goes, nothing special there. Don’t go nuts with the RPM and you’ll be fine. You’ll notice the shift light is set really low during the break in period. It won’t keep you from revving it but the shift light will start blinking way early. Any other questions let me know. There’s not much to these bikes, pretty simple machines overall.
No problem at all! Happy to share any information I have regarding these bikes. I definitely don’t know everything but I will share what I do happen to know.
I'm trying decide between a ninja 400, xz-4r, r3, or rc390 or this. I cannot decide bro. I'm a mature and smart driver. I'm not into being nuts. Still can't choose.
I had a 2022 401 and recently just got rid of it for a deal on a different bike that I just couldnt pass up. The 401 feels a lot faster than it is, looks absolutely amazing and pulls a ton of attention. Its extremely fun in every regard, zipping around in traffic or tearing up curvy roads but the only place I avoided was a fast highway. Its not a highway road trip bike due to the way its geared, how light it is and no windscreen or fairing. I wouldnt do more than a 20-30 minute stint on the highway. I will 100% miss that bike and cant promise I wont have another one down the road.
Well I think you know what my choice would be. However, an RC390 is a pretty neat bike as well. I just don’t like how the ninja 400, R3, etc look like they are trying to emulate a real super sport. That’s just my opinion, obviously many others would disagree with me. I’m coming from bigger bikes so keep that in mind, but there is no way I would want a bike slower than a KTM 390/Husq 401. The ninja 400, r3, etc have similar PEAK power numbers but don’t make as much power down low and are much heavier. When you have this little power, weight makes a big difference. You are talking 360-370+ lbs for your other options. Husq 401 is only 330 and you can easily drop another 15-20 lbs by removing the skid plate, exhaust guard, passenger grab handle, rear fender, etc. I know it’s so difficult to choose, but in my opinion it’s a no brainer. The only time I would even consider an R3 or Ninja 400 is if I was apprehensive about the reliability of the Husq/KTM’s. If I wanted ZERO issues with my bike then that is the only time I would consider the other options you listed.
This is a good point about its Highway manners. I geared mine a little taller to help with this, but you are absolutely right. It’s definitely not a cruiser for long stints. I’ve taken mine about 75 miles one way and it was decent, but yeah… I can see how many people would find a trip like that unbearable. Thanks for sharing.
@@ridewithKY I'm glad you mentioned power to weight ratio, because when you look at the specs on paper its kind of underwhelming. The 401 power to weight ratio is equivalent to something like a Mustang GT with a 460hp V8. I removed the rear fender plate holder, went with smaller mirrors, ditched the skid plate, grab handle, switched to a lithium battery and I bet I was under the 300lb mark.
You were probably pretty close with that lithium battery. It’s stupid easy to take weight off of these. I’ll probably go to a lithium battery at some point as well.
I’m 5’5”. So it’s definitely tall for me but it’s not terrible. These Vit’s have some strange ergo’s… really tall seat height (about 33”) but the clip ons are very close to the seat. So if you are tall the seat height will be good but the clip on position will be uncomfortable due to them being so close. If you are short, like me, the clip ons will be comfortable but the seat height will be too tall. Cheers.
@@ridewithKY yeah. im looking at a vit and a svart locally and love the look of the vit but feel you on that - maybe ill just get the svart and put some nice street tires on it when these wear out. thanks for the response man
@@ridewithKY yeah. a duke 390 near me actually popped up today so im gonna go with that. i went and sat on the svart and vit this morning - vit was super uncomfortable, and i did like the svart but the one i was gonna buy is 3.5 hours away which is hella annoying
Duke 390 definitely has better ergo’s. Looks a little bizarre as most KTM’s do, but definitely more comfortable than a VIT. Good luck with your search bro.
In my opinion the whole line of Vitpilens and Svartpilens 401-701 are works of art and will only be truly appreciated for their aesthetics in years to come. Granted the KTM dukes you either like the way they look or not.. and most don’t, lol. That said when out on my 890R and it’s sitting next to my son’s Vitpilen 401, nobody is looking at the bad@$$ 890R. I’ll be picking up the Svartpilen 401 too.
I agree. The aesthetic of these bikes will age really well. I know I’m keeping mine forever, and once it gets too high in mileage to where it doesn’t make sense to fix, I’ll probably buy another. These bikes are just COOL.
I too am not a fan of the 390 duke aesthetic but do like the 890R. I’ve heard those 890R’s are an absolute animal. Has your son done anything to his Vit at this point?
@@ridewithKY yes we did a tail-tidy, LED turn signals, bar-end mirrors and removed the DB killer from the stock can almost as soon as we got it, lol.
Very nice. Taking that big rear fender thing off makes a big difference to the aesthetic. Thanks again for sharing.
Agree 100%
I LOVE my 22 Vit 401.
My first Bike and even with friends telling me to get something larger.. i stuck with it and love it. Awesome little machine you can hoon around, while also being on something that is Not Cookie Cutter in the looks dept
Congrats! I agree 100% on the displacement. I think it’s an appropriate engine for this type of bike, however, at the same time I would not want any less power. It’s a perfect power plant for the philosophy of this bike. Glad you are enjoying your Vit, keep putting miles on it.
@@ridewithKY agreed, any less hp..
It would be a slog. But they hit a really nice balance with weight and displacement. And the looks alone make up for some shortcomings. It is a bike that has to be maintained, and looked over more often because it still is an Affordable machine. And corners were cut. But then again that could be a benefit. It teaches you to pay more attention, and learn how to work on and maintain. I dont know. Im just a fanboy of the bike. I would Never steer someone away from it as an option
Sounds like you were a perfect candidate for these bikes. All the shortcomings are part of the ownership experience. Dealing with the shortcomings is rewarded with a unique ownership experience.
Another excellent video. Thanks for sharing your perspective, I can tell you really think your videos through. Solid work! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you again so much for watching and for the feedback! I’m doing my best and learning a lot.
And hoping to help others by sharing my experiences with these Vitpilen’s.
@@ridewithKY it’s such a great topic cause’ these bikes are sharp and attract new riders. Smart move from Husky. My neighbor had 2022 Svartpilen, but had a ton of issues: starting, shifting, electronics, and engine failure issues (top end problems?)- probably a lemon. But I’m happy your bike is holding up relatively well. Year over year, I hope Husky makes improvements, because it’s such a work of art of a bike- and that’s coming from a guy who is in LOVE with his Guzzi. I gotta snag a 701 because damn, they’re not making that single cylinder anymore :(
I agree totally. The better the aesthetic, the more likely it is new riders will stick with it. Who wants to keep riding when you have a butt ugly bike. Haha. I hope improvements keep being made as well, I don’t think many of the issues other than the head gasket are absolute show stoppers. It’s just a matter of dealing with little quirks here and there. Quirks I can deal with as long as I’m not stuck somewhere. Would love to ride a Guzzi some day. 👍🏽
How tall are you? I'm 6'0" and I don't know if i'll look goofy on it haha.
Hahaha. To be honest, you probably will look goofy on one of these. I’m 5’5” and it fits me pretty well. Depending on your build this bike might be a little uncomfortable for you as these Vitpilen’s are pretty small. Have you sat on one yet?
✌🏾
here in India we got the vitpilen/svartpilen 250. I really hope the 401s get launched here too, it's fantastic to ride them
I sure hope so too. It’s nice to have that little extra displacement while still keeping the small frame. Cheers thank you for watching.
Here in Canada this is an easy choice I was in the market for a small supermoto so I looked at the DRZ 400 which is $8600 before taxes and not fuel injected, The KLX 300sm which is $7500-8k before taxes and a gutless no torque 22hp joke, The Vitpilen is under $6100 all in and has double the hp.
Good explanation. I too was surprised when I found out how much DRZ’s are. I originally thought they were $5000 bikes, had to have a friend educate me on how much they really cost. Thanks for sharing man.
I wish that 401 will launch in India soon I am waiting for that
Am I correct in my understanding that India only has the 250 and 125 available in the Pilen’s?
@@ridewithKY only 250
They say it will be launch this year, last quarter.
@@ridewithKY 125,s are made in India but only for exporting
Thank you for the info.
And the advanced riders should go for the Svartpilen 401 Super Marauder: ruclips.net/video/rccHU6rSg0k/видео.html
Thanks for the great videos on this bike! I see that you have spoked wheels on this bike. Are you running tubeless tires on this? I know that the Svartpilen running Pirelli Scorpion STR requires tubes. Not sure what tires are on this Vitpillen.
Thanks for the feedback and for watching. I’m still running tubed tires since that’s what it came with. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to stay tubed. I’ve got just shy of 3000 miles and still have plenty of life left on the back tire.
The pilens are real amazing bikes. The looks and performance checks out, kicks like a dirt bike but, KTM reliability kinda disappointed me. Seen failures in the forum at odos as low as 2000km 5000km. Make sure you got a dealer/supplier with starter relays and fuel pumps ready
I agree. KTM reliability and quality is on the lower end. They aren’t terrible, but I think you need to come into ownership with the expectation that the experience won’t be absolutely problem free. It’s just reality.
@@ridewithKY true. I owned the Svart and sold it with a heavy heart. Stared at it until I couldnt see the van that picked it up like some romance drama. I value reliability over anything else but the svart stills stay in my memories rent free. Would definitely buy another one as a second bike.
Totallly understandable. If reliability is at the top of your list then KTM/Husq probably not an appropriate choice.
4 the ALGOH
Thank you!
Hi Mr ridewithKY or anybody who have this bike, planning to get the 2023 vitpilen as my 1st bike in a couple of weeks. Any advice to do before leaving the dealership? Heard I need to have them unlock something? And after 3000miles I need to bring it back? Abd how to properly break it in? Thank you in advance…
Good choice for a first bike, you’ll enjoy it. The dealer should do a detailed walk around with you to explain the features of the bike. I know these bikes have some kind of security feature on them where if the dealer doesn’t unlock it, the bike will shut down on you pretty quickly (can’t remember the exact mileage). I think the idea is if somebody goes on a test ride and doesn’t come back, the bike will shut down after a given number of miles. If the dealer doesn’t disable this then the bike will essentially think it’s stolen and shut down at the predetermined mileage. I’ve heard some of these Vit’s don’t have the quick shifter enabled from the get go, that wasn’t the case with mine though. Mine was enabled from day 1.
First service is supposed to be at 620 miles. I just changed the oil myself and didn’t bring it to the dealer because it’s a hassle for me. However, it’s probably a good idea for you TO bring it to the dealer for that first service. They’ll change the oil, check the chain, and scan it for any faults. They will also make sure all the software is up to date. As far as break in period goes, nothing special there. Don’t go nuts with the RPM and you’ll be fine. You’ll notice the shift light is set really low during the break in period. It won’t keep you from revving it but the shift light will start blinking way early.
Any other questions let me know. There’s not much to these bikes, pretty simple machines overall.
Oh, that first service they’ll also check the spokes.
@@ridewithKY thank you for the advice, i will try to that. Hope you don’t mind, i’ll probably bug you once I get my bike hehe
No problem at all! Happy to share any information I have regarding these bikes. I definitely don’t know everything but I will share what I do happen to know.
Bro, mine dealer is charging 8 000 for the bike (tax and license plate fee included)
Are you located in the US?
@@ridewithKY northen part of europe
I’m not sure if that’s competitive for the area unfortunately. I can only speak to what’s competitive here in the US.
@@ridewithKY😔
I'm trying decide between a ninja 400, xz-4r, r3, or rc390 or this. I cannot decide bro. I'm a mature and smart driver. I'm not into being nuts. Still can't choose.
I had a 2022 401 and recently just got rid of it for a deal on a different bike that I just couldnt pass up. The 401 feels a lot faster than it is, looks absolutely amazing and pulls a ton of attention. Its extremely fun in every regard, zipping around in traffic or tearing up curvy roads but the only place I avoided was a fast highway. Its not a highway road trip bike due to the way its geared, how light it is and no windscreen or fairing. I wouldnt do more than a 20-30 minute stint on the highway. I will 100% miss that bike and cant promise I wont have another one down the road.
Well I think you know what my choice would be. However, an RC390 is a pretty neat bike as well. I just don’t like how the ninja 400, R3, etc look like they are trying to emulate a real super sport. That’s just my opinion, obviously many others would disagree with me. I’m coming from bigger bikes so keep that in mind, but there is no way I would want a bike slower than a KTM 390/Husq 401. The ninja 400, r3, etc have similar PEAK power numbers but don’t make as much power down low and are much heavier. When you have this little power, weight makes a big difference. You are talking 360-370+ lbs for your other options. Husq 401 is only 330 and you can easily drop another 15-20 lbs by removing the skid plate, exhaust guard, passenger grab handle, rear fender, etc.
I know it’s so difficult to choose, but in my opinion it’s a no brainer. The only time I would even consider an R3 or Ninja 400 is if I was apprehensive about the reliability of the Husq/KTM’s. If I wanted ZERO issues with my bike then that is the only time I would consider the other options you listed.
This is a good point about its Highway manners. I geared mine a little taller to help with this, but you are absolutely right. It’s definitely not a cruiser for long stints. I’ve taken mine about 75 miles one way and it was decent, but yeah… I can see how many people would find a trip like that unbearable. Thanks for sharing.
@@ridewithKY I'm glad you mentioned power to weight ratio, because when you look at the specs on paper its kind of underwhelming. The 401 power to weight ratio is equivalent to something like a Mustang GT with a 460hp V8. I removed the rear fender plate holder, went with smaller mirrors, ditched the skid plate, grab handle, switched to a lithium battery and I bet I was under the 300lb mark.
You were probably pretty close with that lithium battery. It’s stupid easy to take weight off of these. I’ll probably go to a lithium battery at some point as well.
Is It 2021?
This is a 2022
how tall are you? is the vit comfortable for you?
I’m 5’5”. So it’s definitely tall for me but it’s not terrible. These Vit’s have some strange ergo’s… really tall seat height (about 33”) but the clip ons are very close to the seat. So if you are tall the seat height will be good but the clip on position will be uncomfortable due to them being so close. If you are short, like me, the clip ons will be comfortable but the seat height will be too tall.
Cheers.
@@ridewithKY yeah. im looking at a vit and a svart locally and love the look of the vit but feel you on that - maybe ill just get the svart and put some nice street tires on it when these wear out. thanks for the response man
Svart is a nice medium so long as you can deal with the appearance. These bikes lose a lot of their aesthetic when they lose the clip ons.
@@ridewithKY yeah. a duke 390 near me actually popped up today so im gonna go with that. i went and sat on the svart and vit this morning - vit was super uncomfortable, and i did like the svart but the one i was gonna buy is 3.5 hours away which is hella annoying
Duke 390 definitely has better ergo’s. Looks a little bizarre as most KTM’s do, but definitely more comfortable than a VIT. Good luck with your search bro.
Just bought mine last week 😁
Right on! You made a good choice, and I think you’ll be satisfied with the choice you made. First bike???
@@ridewithKY yes first bike :)
Enjoy! Great way to start your riding journey. 👌🏽