Husqvarna’s Vitpilen and Svartpilen lineup has been reimagined with a larger engine, new electronics, updated styling, and improved ergonomics. The new direction was originally applied to the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 platform we tested last year. Husqvarna’s Vitpilen 801 and Svartpilen 801 have received the same treatment.
The Vitpilen 801 just might be Husqvarna’s most desirable streetbike yet. Departing from cafe racer styling and ergonomics, the new Vitpilen 801 provides increased comfort and performance with the addition of the spicy LC8c parallel twin.
Based on the KTM 790 Duke, the 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 utilizes many of the same components. Powering the 801 is Pierer Mobility’s 799cc liquid-cooled DOHC LC8c parallel-twin engine. This is the same engine found in CFMoto’s 800NK. A 5-inch TFT display provides access to three ride modes (Sport, Street, Rain) and switchable cornering sensitive traction control. Dynamic mode can be purchased as an option, providing 10 levels of traction control, switchable Supermoto ABS, and a bidirectional quickshifter (Easy Shift). The Vitpilen 801′s chassis bleeds orange. Its chromoly steel frame is pulled over from the KTM 790 Duke and suspension components are supplied by WP. The 43mm Apex fork provides compression and rebound adjustment. The Apex shock offers rebound and preload adjustment.
Before hitting our in-house Dynojet 250i dynamometer, the Vitpilen 801 weighed in at 419 pounds on our automotive scales. On the Cycle World dyno, the 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 produced 95.96 hp at 9280 rpm and 60.19 lb.-ft. of torque at 7910 rpm. For reference, the 2023 Suzuki GSX-8S produced 74 hp and 52 lb.-ft. of torque on our dyno. Pierer Mobility’s LC8c engine punches above its weight in the middleweight class, rivaling larger engines such as Ducati’s 937cc 11° Testastretta-powered DesertX which produced 93 hp and 57 lb.-ft. of torque on our dyno in 2023. The 2025 Husqvarna Vitpilen 801 engine is a standout in the middleweight class for its punchy, quick-revving nature and large spread of torque.