Norton Commando 961 Sport vs Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Norton Commando 961 Sport vs Husqvarna Vitpilen 701. Norton Commando 961 Sport: 80 hp @ 6,500 rpm hp, 198 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 200 km/h (estimated; approximately 124 mph), Motoryk rating 7.8/10. Husqvarna Vitpilen 701: 74 hp @ 8,000 rpm hp, 157 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Norton Commando 961 Sport
Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
Horsepower (hp)
80 hp
74 hp
Torque (Nm)
90 Nm
73 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
200 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
198 kg
157 kg
Type
Cafe-racer
Cafe-racer
Horsepower
80 hp @ 6,500 rpm
74 hp @ 8,000 rpm
Torque
90 Nm @ 5,200 rpm
73 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Top Speed
200 km/h (estimated; approximately 124 mph)
175 km/h
Weight
198 kg (wet/curb weight)
157 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
4.5–5.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Norton Commando 961 Sport
7.8/10
"Buy one with full history or walk away completely."
Pros
+Genuinely gorgeous parallel twin sound
+Handling is genuinely sharp
+Bulletproof when properly maintained
Cons
−Parts availability still patchy
−Early clutch issues lurk
−Service history absolutely critical
Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
7.8/10
"A head-turning urban weapon that punishes neglect and highway abuse equally."
Pros
+Stunning industrial cafe styling
+Torquey, characterful LC4 engine
+Lightweight and flickable handling
Cons
−Vibration tiring at motorway speeds
−Tiny fuel tank range
−Expensive OEM bodywork panels
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
