Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 Review

Item: Husqvarna Svartpilen 701
Rating: 7.8
Author: Motoryk

"A flawed but genuinely exciting single that rewards committed riders."

Weekend thrillseekers wanting usable single-cylinder performance $6,500-$9,500 used 2019-2023

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Key Specs

speed

Top Speed

175 km/h

bolt

Power

74 hp

@ 8,000 rpm

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Torque

72 Nm

@ 6,500 rpm

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Fuel Economy

22.2 km/L

52 mpg · 4.5–5.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)

build

Service Every

15000 km

scale

Weight

157 kg

(wet/curb weight)

settings

Engine

692.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, SOHC

height

Seat Height

860 mm

cog

Transmission

6-speed

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Used Buyer Review

The Svartpilen 701 is one of those bikes that rewards riders who actually know what they're getting into. Powered by the same KTM 690 Duke engine, it pulls hard from low rpm and sounds genuinely aggressive through a quality aftermarket exhaust. The scrambler-ish styling is legitimately cool rather than costume-party pastiche, and the WP suspension handles mixed surfaces better than you'd expect for a road-biased machine. Just know what you're signing up for. Used examples need careful inspection around the fuel pump and throttle body — early units had gremlins there. The 4.5-litre tank is genuinely painful for touring, and service intervals sneak up fast on hard-ridden examples. Always ask for service history because the trellis frame hides stress points that an untrained eye misses. Inspect the swingarm pivot area specifically. Buy one in good shape and you've got something genuinely special — a single-cylinder that actually pulls its weight at speed without feeling like punishment. Terrible choice for commuting daily. Perfect choice for everything else.