Any Vitpilen 701 experience?

[gareth h]

I’m contemplating changing my 690 Enduro R for a Vitpilen, as I can’t see the KTM being used offroad, anybody have experience of the Husky? The one I’m looking at is 2019, I know the KTMs got an upgraded engine that was smoother, did the Husky get the same?
Thanks
G

[GreaseNipple]

Yeah it's got the double balancer shafts, I've owned a svartpilen 701 for four years and kept it because I think it's great. Have you considered the svartpilen? The longer travel suspension should be better on B roads and I've dobe light scrambling on mine and it coped fine. I test rode an smcr when I was buying it and the svart was a bit more refined than that bike, I preferred the seating position and it's better on motorways.

[carinaman]

It's got two balancer shafts:

https://www.facebook.com/bennettsbike/videos/2018-...

I like them, but I think they're a bit too tall for me. I've ridden a Duke 690 and the height gave me slight hip pains. I was considering one as they seemed good value to prices Duke 690 Rs were advertised at.

[WhisperingWasp]

Gareth, I had a Vitpilen for an enjoyable few months last summer until it was stolen! I've replaced it with a Monster 1200s which I guess is objectively better but my god I miss the Vit. Really suited how I use a bike (the Monster is arguably a "bit much"). Happy to answer any questions.

[WhisperingWasp]

[WhisperingWasp]

[horsemeatscandal]

Just sold my Svartpilen, loved it but needs must. Similarly happy to answer questions. There's a thread about it on here, which others owners contributed to.

[gareth h]

Thanks chaps, I’ve got a Multistrada too, so this is for blatting around locally, I’ve liked the look of the Vit since they came out, but can’t get on with the Svart’s looks, I did wonder about a set of higher bars as the local B roads are pretty nadgery, a sort of designer supermoto!

[WhisperingWasp]

Perfect bike for "blatting locally" for sure. I know you're coming at the handlebars from a handling POV but I must admit I found the bike really comfortable to ride with the clip-ons.

[Frankychops]

gareth h said:

I’m contemplating changing my 690 Enduro R for a Vitpilen, as I can’t see the KTM being used offroad, anybody have experience of the Husky? The one I’m looking at is 2019, I know the KTMs got an upgraded engine that was smoother, did the Husky get the same?
Thanks
G

I had one, ran it on track, bloody epic. like a race 250 2 stroke. 70bhp at the wheel, so much fun at cadwell.

[gareth h]

Well, here we are, 600 miles in a tranny, but we’ll worth it, first impressions, what a laugh, can be thrashed without risking a prison sentence, but really having to recalibrate corners as it turns so quickly.

[WhisperingWasp]

Hell. Yes. Gareth.

Recognise that one from keeping a constant eye out (although not seen it for sale recently?). The 'Vitpilen' script at the back I have not seen on another.

Looks like you have some nice extras with the Akra - I had the same in black - and what look like EP mirrors? The EP rad guard looks great on these. What are your thoughts re tail tidy? I had the EP on mine but I kinda like the way the seat unit is so clean with the standard plate carrier...

This thread has made me realise that my heart is with the Vit if I'm honest. Anyone want a M1200S with termis??

[GreaseNipple]

They do look great don't they, totally understand going for the vitpilen over the svart for that reason

[gareth h]

WhisperingWasp said:

Hell. Yes. Gareth.

Recognise that one from keeping a constant eye out (although not seen it for sale recently?). The 'Vitpilen' script at the back I have not seen on another.

Looks like you have some nice extras with the Akra - I had the same in black - and what look like EP mirrors? The EP rad guard looks great on these. What are your thoughts re tail tidy? I had the EP on mine but I kinda like the way the seat unit is so clean with the standard plate carrier...

This thread has made me realise that my heart is with the Vit if I'm honest. Anyone want a M1200S with termis??

Bought it from a lovely fella, he had reduced the price recently, and by luck I was looking for one, perfect storm! I’m not sure if the mirrors are EP, but a rad guard is prob a good idea, been thinking about one for the Multistrada for a while, I’ll be losing the monstrous number plate hanger, there’s a tail tidy arriving today, had been thinking about the high bar conversion, but quite like the clip ons so will stump up for some Gilles risers and see how they work.
Oh and the rear tyre looks a bit squared off, and the Nitron suspension looks good and …… Here we go again!

[TheOversteerLever]

Nice bike! I've rode one and really liked it.

Nitron suspension... check the link in my profile and we'll look after you

[gareth h]

TheOversteerLever said:

Nice bike! I've rode one and really liked it.

Nitron suspension... check the link in my profile and we'll look after you

Thanks, will do, I had an R1 on my old R nine t, is there any point spending extra on the R3 for road use?

[TheOversteerLever]

gareth h said:

Thanks, will do, I had an R1 on my old R nine t, is there any point spending extra on the R3 for road use?

Technically, as you'd expect for the difference in price, the R3 is the better of the two shocks - there's a performance advantage to it having a piggy-back reservoir and over and above the preload, rebound and length adjustability you get with the R1, the R3 adds independent high and low speed compression adjustment.

That said, for 99% of road riders, I would suggest that the R1 is more than up to the job. But, the R3 looks tricker, can be dialed in to suit your preferences and will knock vital 10ths off your butty shop run on Sunday morning!

My advice - if you can afford/justify the R3, go for it - they're trick bits of kit and Nitron are just as good, if not better, than other expensive brands (Ohlins for example) when it comes to performance, build quality and material quality. Plus you get something that's made in the UK

[WhisperingWasp]

How you getting on Gareth?

[gareth h]

WhisperingWasp said:

How you getting on Gareth?

All good, lost the silly side mounted number plate, removed the airbox lid and fitted a fuel dongle which seems to have smoothed out the bottom end a bit.
Have ordered a set of ABM super bike bars as my old body doesn’t really like the clip ons, and my aim was always to create a sort of low seat 690 SMCR

[Janluke]

gareth h said:

All good, lost the silly side mounted number plate, removed the airbox lid and fitted a fuel dongle which seems to have smoothed out the bottom end a bit.
Have ordered a set of ABM super bike bars as my old body doesn’t really like the clip ons, and my aim was always to create a sort of low seat 690 SMCR

I had a Svartpilen 701 for a while and had the ecu flashed, small gain top end but a healthy gain in mid range and a lot smoother. The tuning guy said the biggest difference when setting up was removing the airbox lid

I also thought the best option would be the Vitpilen with higher bars as the Vit has a smaller front wheel

Enjoy