Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/972780
2018 HUSQVARNA VITPILEN 701 FIRST TEST P104 motor and base chassis, everything else, from the exhaust and the lights to the gas tank and the tailpiece, is designed purposely for that sleek and minimalistic feel, and to challenge the status quo. I felt the gas tank's shape would lock my knees in brilliantly for cornering, although Maxwell told me the tank was more an aesthetic exercise than for hooking a knee. We agreed it was a nice little combo, even if by chance. The Vitpilen had my back with the traction control system, which I could feel working underneath me when we hit some sections of the road with sand and debris. There's ABS, too, Pioneering Since 1903 H usqvarna is the oldest motorcycle brand with uninterrupted produc- tion, established three months before our own Harley-Davidson in 1903. The Swedish company was actually established centuries ago—1689 to be exact—and originated as a musket manufacturer, gradually moving into other markets like sewing machines, kitchen ap- pliances, and eventually chainsaws, bicycles and of course, motorcycles. Although many of us recognize Husqvarna as an off-road motorcycle, the company competed in Grand Prix road racing in the 1930s in the 350cc and 500cc classes. They also dominated the Swed- ish Ice Racing scene at the time and competed heavily in off-road racing. Nowadays, Husqvar- na's bread and butter is motocross and off-road competition, and the production machines that follow in the wheel tracks of Jason Anderson and Pablo Quintanilla. But in 1955, Husqvarna came out with the cousin of the Vitpilen, the Silverpilen (Silver Arrow). This was primarily an off-road/ scrambler motorcycle, but had the same properties of the present-day Vitpilen and Svartpilen—aiming to be a bike for everyone. Creative lead for the current generation of Husqvarna street bikes, Maxime Thouvenin, has reached his goal of capturing the essence of the past in the Vitpilen and Svartpilen, infusing Husqvarna's heritage in new motorcycles that are sexy, innovative, enticing and fun. To me, the most im- pressive thing about these bikes is how Husqvarna has woven its history into the design, and created something that pays trib- ute to the past while also acknowledging the things that are missing today in the art of motorcycling. Husqvarna Motorcycles has created something that appeals to the masses; it includes every- one, from the design to the marketing, all the way to the handling and feel of the motorcycle itself. Bet you didn't know Husqvarna finished fifth in the 1972 500cc World Championship with Bo Granath on this factory-built 500cc parallel-twin two-stroke. Neither did we, until our own Alan Cathcart showed us this pic of him testing it!