VOLUME ISSUE SEPTEMBER , P117
At the rear, the WP Apex mono-
shock, now all glammed up in its
45° right side angle for all to see,
runs a progressive spring, so it's
softer at the start of the stroke
before ramping up as more travel is
used. This is a carryover from the
old model, but still worth noting.
Control of the shock is the same as
before, with preload and rebound
damping adjustment but not com
-
pression damping.
What's impressive is how simi-
larly the two bikes handle despite
their different tire setups. The Svart-
pilen, with its Pirelli Scorpion Rally
50/50 tires, is designed to hit the
scrambler feels, while the Vitpilen's
Michelin Power 6 sportbike tires are
more suited to tarmac pursuits.
Despite these differences, both
bikes exhibit a fluidity in their steer
-
ing that belies their distinct desig-
nations. The Svartpilen, however, is
the more versatile of the two—plen-
ty capable on the tar, but you can
take that dirt ride if you want.
In contrast, the Vitpilen, which
has evolved into more of a mini
streetfighter with its new one-piece
handlebar, is about as useful
off-road as a screen door on a
submarine.
The decision to replace the Vit-
pilen's original café racer-style clip-
on handlebars with a single-piece
handlebar is significant, as this
new handlebar setup offers better
rider comfort, particularly for lon-
ger rides. However, the single-piece
seat, while good-looking, becomes
uncomfortably hard after about 45
minutes, so long rides might not be
in the Vitpilen's wheelhouse.
Perhaps Rennie could have used a
little preload on that poor fork.
