SECOND OPINION: SAM GREENSLADE
All my experience riding motorcycles has been
riding off-road, and until now there has been
nothing tempting me to swap knobs for slicks
and head onto the road. This was until the au-
thorities in my area decided to make driving a
personal car to work as difficult as possible. My
frustration with these decisions about parking
and traffic control got me wondering if now
was a good time to hit the streets on a motor-
cycle. Almost as though the team at KR were
reading my thoughts I got a call from them
asking if I would like to give some road testing
a try. This was the perfect opportunity to see
if I could make it as an every day motorcycle
commuter.
The Husqvarna Svartpilen has been the per-
fect place for me to start this test. Knowing
little about the bike I was fooled by its first
impressions. Despite the semi-knobbly tyres,
raised off-road style handlebars and a modern
scrambler essence, the Svartpilen hasn’t been
designed to go off-road. In fact, the Svartpilen
is the first motorcycle specifically designed for
road use that I have ridden. What a difference
it is to the enduro bike that I sat my motorcycle
license on!
The Svartpilen feels very compact, has a re-
laxed cockpit, and soft compliant suspension
that leads to a comfortable ride for every day
commuting. It isn’t a racer and riders favouring
an aggressive ride probably won’t get along
well with it. But I don’t think Husqvarna ever
intended it to be for them, the Svartpilen has
been designed for the new age urban environ-
ment where comfort and space are premium
features.
New riders will get on great with the Svart-
pilen, the smaller stature makes stopping and
starting easy, and slipping in and out of traffic is
a breeze. Not having to wait multiple phases at
traffic lights really eased my tension as I head-
ed into the office. The soft suspension soaks up
the bumps on rough roads, a common feature
on my daily commute, and as long as you don’t
push it too hard it’s fine for more experienced
riders.
Flashing lights on the speedo give a visual
cue to change gear at certain revs and are a
handy reminder if your speed creeps up out
on the open road. Speaking of the open road,
it isn’t the Svartpilen’s strongest point. There
isn’t a specific issue, it just performs a lot better
navigating tight twists and turns at low speeds
rather than doing high speed motorway work –
it loves the urban life.
For someone like me who is looking for an
easy to ride bike on which to get to and from
work, the Svartpilen ticks all the boxes. Sure, it’s
not the most exhilarating ride, but the Svart-
pilen has a practicality and style that make it
perfect for town or city commuting.