I have been reading up on the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 which weighs in wet at around 160Kg. I doubt very much that I would be taking it out on extreme tracks (like in the video below) but for those rough B roads of the Lothians and Borders of Scotland and for some green lanes up on the hills, it could prove an excellent choice. Most of the reviews are very positive, especially the latest reviews with the 2023 model, which has wire spoke wheels.

The bike has a single cylinder liquid cooled 4 stroke 373cc engine, 44hp, 37Nm torque, quick shifter, 6 speed gearbox, two channel ABS brakes, 145mmm ground clearance, 835mm seat height, 9.51 litre petrol tank, 17" wheels and 142mm front and rear suspension travel. There is no traction control and more technical details can be found on the website.

Accessories
There are a number of accessory options on the
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 website and also crash protection and other options on the R&G Racing website.

I sat on the
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
the other day in a showroom and I found the seat very comfortable and coupled with a seat height of 835mm, I could sit flat footed (32" inside leg) on the floor.

Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (with wire spoke wheels)

 
No Traction Control - Winter and Wet Weather Use
The
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is a motorbike that I could use in the winter months and on wet days. All it requires is Oxford Heated Grips and some preparation with ACF-50 protection spray. Scotland is notorious for wet weather and the month of July (2023) has experienced rain most days. Unfortunately it does not have traction control but I have ridden a Suzuki GSX-1250FA (Bandit) Sport/Tourer for 9 years, without traction control in wet weather so the Svartpilen 401, which has less power, should be okay.

Inner Tube Dilemma
For many bikers out on a countryside ramble on their Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, the thought of an inner tube puncture inside a tyre and the additional thought of removing a wheel, tyre and inner tube to repair the puncture, especially one on a back wheel,
is problematic. Also consider the tools they would have to carry to remove a wheel, especially a torque wrench to refit it. However, with great care, it is possible to fix a puncture without removing a wheel, especially if you can see a nail sticking in the tyre. A tyre sidewall which is slashed open, effectively makes a repair impossible as the tyre itself is unsafe to ride on.

Repairing an Inner Tube Puncture
Repairing an inner tube puncture without completely removing a fully deflated inner tube from it's tyre or removing a wheel should not prove that difficult. More on the subject of Repairing an Inner Tube at the foot of this article.

Video Reviews -

 

 

 

 


 

Inner Tube Punctures - Repair Kits
With regards to inner tube tyres, a couple
of Motul Tyre Sealant puncture repair kits (for larger wheels) can temporarily seal an inner tube providing the puncture is not too severe - see how in the Technical Support Sheet. This is a temporary repair to get you to a garage or home for a permanent repair.

For a permanent repair of the inner tube, you will require a Husqvarna Tyre Lever Set, an Inner Tube Repair Kit from Halfords and a Bike It CO2 Cartridge Kit with a few Bike It Extra CO2 Cartridges, to re-inflate the tube (perhaps a few times during the repair process). To make life easier, a Bike IT 90 Degree Valve Extender is a handy accessory. If I purchased the bike, I would carry all of the above, including the two Motul Tyre Sealants in a pannier bag.

Inner Tube Puncture Repair - Without Removing a Wheel and Without Removing the Entire Tube
If you know exactly where the puncture is (say a nail sticking in the tyre) turn the wheel (tyre puncture area) to where there is easier access. You can break one side of the tyre beading with your hands or a tyre lever and remove the side of the tyre from the wheel rim (without removing the wheel) then remove the nail from the tyre, and gently pull out the fully deflated tube (only the section where it is punctured) and apply the repair patch before carefully pushing the the tube section back in and carefully push the tyre back on and finishing the closure using the tyre levers.

Great care has to be taken in opening (or closing) one side of the tyre and removing/replacing an inner tube as using the tyre levers the wrong way can actually create another puncture by pinching the tube against the tyre rim or the wheel rim. When refitting a section or an entire tube, you must ensure it is not twisted. Very often, after the tube is in place, a partial inflation will assist in properly seating the tube before closing the tyre.
  
 


Richard Lawrence
Scotland
United Kingdom

 

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