According to European reports, the Managing Director of Husqvarna Motorcycles has told a Swedish magazine that the two concept models shown in Milan last Fall, the 401 White Arrow and the 401 Black Arrow, are headed to production for the 2017 model year.
He did indicate, as expected, that styling will likely differ from the concepts shown at the show, but the basic purpose of the machines, simplistic “nothing more than necessary” functionality will remain.
Since Husqvarna is now a sister company of KTM, it is expected that the 401 models will feature a version of the engine currently powering the KTM Duke 390 and RC 390, which is a 375 cc, 44 hp single-cylinder.
MD is currently testing one of the new street-legal Husqvarna enduros, FE 350 F (pictured at bottom). With a claimed dry weight under 250 pounds, the FE is about as spare as it gets for a street-legal bike. The 401s will be all-business, we expect, in the Husky tradition.
These look like love children of a first generation Speed Triple and a Suzuki Trail Hopper.
I think my bladder holds more than its gas tank. I also think I’d prefer the OIF B50 SS I once owned, fully kitted, PEI, Mikuni, the works. It at least looked like a functional motorcycle.
I feel bad for them. Husky once built a damn nice looking motocross bike. I would not hit my dog in the butt with either one of those hideous things.
+1, “hideous” says it all.
Butt Ugly!
It is difficult to believe that the 701 comes from the same people. Butt ugly is correct.
I don’t even care how much they real ones deviate from the prototypes, because just the idea and the foundation for the idea are so awesome.
If it morphs into a v-twin 500-600cc twin, even better.
390 KTM Duke with different body, cool bike, kind of like buying a GMC instead of a Chevy pick up.
You’ve got it exactly right !
Actually, I think I’d prefer the Duke.
The bikes look awesome, especially the black one, but the nearest dealer is 3 hours away from me. Seems like they would want to piggyback on the KTM dealerships which are much more prevalent.
Like the little beast scrambler / dual sport.
Also like the reversed cylinder head with the exhaust to the rear. These small capacity engines are sensitive to high air temps (less oxygen per volume) so providing inlet airflow from the front that hasn’t been heated by engine or exhaust piping should show benefits regardless of the adjustments made by the injection CPU.
That does not look like a reversed cylinder head to me. Definitely looks like throttle body / injectors on the back of the head. And while it is hard to see on the black bike due to the black exhaust, you can clearly see the exhaust header in front on the white bike.
first pic of “White Arrow”, looks like an exhaust pipe coming out the fronty of the cylinder…
My mistake Jeremy – the exhaust looks to be coming from the back of the head in one side on shot but it’s clearly visible from the front of the cyl head from the head on shot. Another learning opportunity for the day
The sensitivity of these small engines to high ambient inlet air temps is definitely the case however. Sourcing the inlet air from an unheated position around the front of the bike could be useful.
Doubt there is any real difference other than airbox location. Only Yamaha has gone with reversing the head on the YZ and that has not shown any advantage.
The primary interest to me is the temperature of the inlet feed air. The higher the inlet temp the less oxygen is present / volume.
Every IC engine I’ve ever run (diesel, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, methanol) showed better performance at cooler ambient temperatures. Picking up inlet air from a heated engine room or from a heated airflow robs potential engine output.
Nice. That 401 Black looks like a fun ol’ dirt saw.
The 350 looks Husabergish. Too bad KTM bought and burned them.
I like the black bike.
I’d need the 690 motor in it for me please.
Someone from Husqvarna recently said the direction the company was taking was going to be clear “soon”. Aparently Huskies are gonna be all about KTM’s for grown-ups. Solid colors, hidden frames, subtle designs.
Just hope they don’t leave the dual-sport/supermoto market. Even if KTM has the on-off road covered, they abandoned the supermoto style/design a long time ago, and if I’m not wrong Huskies were some of the few remaining true supermotards.
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Well, you did better than me. I threw up on the floor!
To naked… to sparse… too this / too that.
These bikes stand out in a big way compared to all the “I’m different”, but not really bikes out there.
Time will tell, but a reversed motor, 250lbs and good quality suspension, etc. You guys are missing what this bike is all about.
I do need to see what the GOV does to them about mirrors / turns signals / long rear fender for license plate etc… I’m sure the naked model that she is will then be dressed in ugly clothes… but as with any svelte model… she’s only a dress away or losing a dress away from blowing your mind!!!
Missing a chain guard then?
I read somewhere that the 390 motor needs valve adjustments every 4,500 miles. If this is true, then no thanks.
Not necessarily a deal breaker, the work needed depends on the type of valve adjustment. Some small cc singles employ a screw/nut type (don’t know if it’s the proper name), you just need to tighten or release a screw to adjust. Some even have a hole to access the valve, it’s even easier. The real question is, how much work this particular engine needs to reach and adjust its valves?
Do any manufacturers still use screw and locknut? I would expect you to have to pull the cam off of this engine to adjust a valve. Don’t have one though, so I don’t know for sure.
Just because they want you to check the valves that often doesn’t mean they need to be adjusted that often. I’ve seen a Ducati with over 80,000 miles on it that has never needed a valve adjustment. That means they were disappointed there was nothing to do the dozen or so times they checked them.
Likely, the manufacturer sets a low adjustment interval to get people into a dealership where they can find the worn out sprockets, loose spokes, and wobbly wheel bearings the owner overlooked during their own “inspection.”
“That means they were disappointed there was nothing to do the dozen or so times they checked them”
Not too disappointed, I’m sure. Service departments get paid to check them, too.
The owner of that bike didn’t need anything adjusted, but the adjustment still had to be checked. For the price of that dozen or so valve checks at a Ducati dealership, one could almost buy a Scrambler. If you are someone who rides a lot, you might be checking valves three or four times a year with a 4500 mile interval. Whether you pay someone to do it or do it yourself, that still sucks. And it sucks more so if one or more of those valves need adjustment. I think that is what Mike is getting at.
Luckily for Mike, the interval is 9300 miles.
Service at 4700 miles, valve adjust every 9400, finger followers/shims on dohc.
I’m in love with the Scrambler! That’s what Ducati should’ve made in the first place… Scrambler with a mid sized Single Cylinder, Not an 800cc V-Twin…
Although, I can’t say I like the radiator…
As long as it’s big enough for a six footer, so I don’t look like I’m humping a football, I like it. I think the styling on the concept is a little too far, but that’s to get attention. I imagine the production version will look a little more polished and easier to live with, for a sparse, cruise canyons, commute lightly, type of city or small town bike. Obviously it’s not a sport tourer.
I’m sure the styling will be toned down somewhat. Concept bikes usually shock us to the bone.
Fun to see a company that is excited about making different motorcycles for us to consider buying. I’ve seen enough cruisers and sportbikes to last my lifetime.
Amazingly cool looking bikes…but they won’t sell many. Most want look alike sport, cruiser, or standard rides. Or look alike ones that come with heated grips and seats, cruise control, abs (even on 250cc bikes), traction control, bags, and more storage somewhere else, fairings, diapers..(ok, that’s a joke), navigation, 100 watt stereo’s……..etc, etc. These bike are for a select group, and as always that means limited numbers.
I think Husqvarna is in the business of selling limited numbers. They haven’t been mainstream for a very long time. So it is no CBR250R, but the bike is unique enough that they may meet their own modest sales goals.
Even when Husky was a name almost any dirt rider was aware of I wouldn’t say they were mainstream. Malcolm Smith brought some attention to the brand but I wouldn’t say they were mainstream even then. To me they held a place just a bit more well known than Maico at that time and the movie ON any Sunday may be the biggest reason. Being an old dude I think I’d prefer the model below.
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/01/husqvarna-concept-baja-recalls-malcolm-smith-glory/
You reference a time when KTMs were white with orange frames. The “Big 3 Euro Bikes” KTM, Husky, and Maico were the only real alternative to Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. You bought a Euro bike because you rode in the woods/desert, not supercross, and could afford to pay double the price of a Japanese dirtbike.
The looks are weird, but not too far off for me. These might actually look better in production form. Would be the size and type bikes that I like, so I do hope they bring them out and stir the water in this engine size category. Good to see so much stuff to have opinions about lately.
I think they are a great direction, even if the styling doesn’t suit everyone.
On the FE, see if you can find some panniers and an aftermarket seat.
A little too naked
When I first got a glimpse of these bikes, I was a bit underwhelmed. However, the more I look at them, the more I like them, particularly the Black Arrow.
When Volvo eventually figured out, how their car should look like to be attractive, they had Italian styling company to do it for them. They should do same thing with this; it present form is fall-though. Basically, waste of time.
Eye of the beholder situation as usual. I like the Black Arrow – just the chopped off tail section disturbs me. Something that flows with the rear tire would work better. But, a Ducati Scrambler would be first on my list.
Let’s hope the production models are fairly different in styling, otherwise, I don’t think these will sell very well at this stage of homely.
Cool looking bikes.
If I was twenty something, 5′-6″, 150lbs, lived downtown, and carried my groceries home in a backpack I would take one of these over a scooter any day.
Yes, but you could buy 5 scooters for the price of one of these!
Wow, reminds me of the AJS porcupine. Definitely looks better form the seat.
How hard must they work to make such an ugly bike? Weird.
wonky.
Are these to be street legal? Pretty cool machine for running around the city. Through the alleys, down the sidewalks, etc.
Both are way too much “sit up and on top of” instead of “in and part of”. Very hard to be engaged in the ride this way, not to mention feeling like you’re straddling a 2 x 4.
Works for a dirt bike but not, especially not, a café roadster. Don’t believe me? Check the Super Duke, the 690, Honda’s VFR (the old ones people liked) and any new BMW.
Doesn’t help that they’re both ugly either.
Interesting at first, but like a poorly composed picture, I’m not inspired to look at it for long. If I had cash for a bike in this segment, I’d go get one of Ducati’s beautiful new Scramblers.
i like the scrambler too, but its pretty much a street bike, the suspension will let it down. these are gonna be able to go any where, look at the front end, huge!! id pony up for the off road one, fantastic!!
Finally! Something that out-uglies the first gen V Strom.
Very cool!
KTM swingarm… check
KTM engine… check
KTM trellis frame… check
sooo it’s like a kit for da lil duk, nice anyway, the more they sell the core package the cheaper will be, another win for the motorcyclerdailier
to me it’s a hit on premise and a miss on execution. Maybe production versions will look better. They made fiberglass tank/seat bases for Honda 750’s back in the 70’s but even those looked better than these.
I’d like the FE350S, but at 10 large, I dunno.
Are they really that much?
plus change.
Done deal! Love it.