VOLUME ISSUE NOVEMBER , P97
However, it's not perfect, especially when it
comes to price. At $11,149, it's nearly $1000
more than the $10,499 Husqvarna Svartpilen 801,
a bike I'll admit I wouldn't have thought to pit
against the TT, but the more I rode it, the
more this comparison began to make sense.
The Svartpilen is the wrong bike to put
against the TT, right? Its knobby-ish tires and
scrambler ethos are not really in the same ball-
park as the TT's pure tarmac demeanor, but the
performance of the former and the features it
packs would argue otherwise.
Let's have a bit of a spec sheet GP to see
what's up.
The Suzuki runs 776cc capacity compared to
the Svartpilen's 799cc, both of which come from
parallel-twin four-stroke lumps, although the
Husky has a clear advantage in horsepower with
a claimed 105 ponies compared to the Suzuki's
claimed 80 horsepower. The Austrian/Swedish 801
also holds a lead when it comes to torque, with a
claimed 64 lb-ft to the Japanese Suzuki's 57 lb-ft.
While not a big advantage, the feel at the
handlebar is quite pronounced. The Husqvarna's
engine is faster revving and more playful than
the Suzuki, which takes a bit of time to get going
but delivers what it has in a smoother fashion
compared to the Husky.
