The 2024 Husqvarna Vitpilen 401 is a single-cylinder naked street bike that is all-new for 2024, from the engine to the chassis. It keeps its head-turning style while gaining displacement, electronics, and friendlier ergonomics, and it is priced at $5899.
The LC4c engine is a new design, with a longer stroke raising displacement to 399cc. Fueling switches to Dell’Orto ride-by-wire, air comes in through a larger airbox fed from the front of the bike, and the revised stainless steel exhaust tucks under the engine. Power and torque peak earlier in the rev range. The 6-speed transmission has a quickshifter, and the clutch has assist-and-slipper functions.
Street and Rain ride modes come with matching traction control settings, and traction control can be switched off. An unusual feature lets the rider set a maximum speed. Bosch cornering-aware ABS has a front-only Supermoto mode.
The steel trellis frame is new, with a bolt-on subframe and a cantilevered, side-mounted WP Apex shock on an arched swingarm. The WP Apex fork has five-position compression and rebound damping adjustment that needs no tools, and the shock adjusts for rebound damping and spring preload. Both ends have 5.9 inches of travel. A radially mounted ByBre caliper grips a 320mm front disc, and Michelin Power 6 tires are mounted on cast aluminum wheels.
The clip-on handlebars are gone, replaced by a flatter bar that gives the Vitpilen a more upright riding position. The seat drops 0.7 inches to 32.2 inches, the redesigned tank holds 3.4 gallons, and curb weight is 341 pounds. Its small size makes the 401 easy to maneuver in traffic, and it has the speed for the freeway and the agility for canyon roads.
A 5.1-inch TFT display with backlit switchgear, LED lighting, a USB-C port, and auto-canceling turn signals are standard. The Ride Husqvarna app adds turn-by-turn navigation, music control, and phone calls. Husqvarna intends the Vitpilen 401 as a stylish, fun city bike that is equally ready for the daily commute.
Honda CB1000F + Sabatino Moto at Mecum + Peter Egan
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello and welcome again to the Motos and Friends Podcast, my name is Arthur Coldwells. Our subjects this episode can best be described as ‘iconic’.
Honda motorcycles recently launched the all-new CB1000F, a retro-styled inline-4 roadster that created an absolute social media sensation when it was announced. The er… iconic(!) styling is of course an homage to Freddie Spencer’s 1980/81 AMA CB750 Superbike with its swooping lines and silver paint with blue accents. Freddie rode the superbike so ferociously that sometimes he’d bend the handlebars at high speed. Jonathan Handler rode the new bike recently, and although he didn’t quite do that, he did however have an apparently very spirited ride that left him impressed. The new CB1000F is clearly an outstanding motorcycle, and Jonathan gives us the lowdown on exactly why you’re going to have make space in your garage for one of them.
* * * * *
The annual Mecum Motorcycle auction in Las Vegas is now an ahem… iconic event, yet many people believe it’s aimed at only very serious buyers with very deep pockets. Of course the really expensive vintage motorcycles are the ones that grab the headlines, but interestingly, there is way more to the Mecum Vegas auction than you’ve probably heard. There are also hundreds much more modestly-priced bikes as well, with a strong chance you could pick up a dream bargain if you play your cards right. For this episode, I found Eric Sabatino, who started Sabatino Moto in Portland Oregon a few years ago. It rapidly became one of the top Royal Enfield dealers in the country. Eric went to mecum Las Vegas for the first time earlier this year and was blown away by what he found. The auction ended with him winning a classic BSA, and admits it was such a good deal he feels like he practically stole it. Clearly going to Mecum was an eye-opening experience for him and quite different from what he’d been led to expect. Eric tells us all about his experience and how you too might be able to have the bike of your dreams follow you home this coming February.
* * * * *
This episode’s guest is Peter Egan, the (dare-I-say) iconic American writer whose 40-year career specialized in motorcycle and automotive journalism with magazines Cycle World and Road & Track. I’m sure you’re familiar with Peter’s writing as he’s published many, many books. Peter is of course a natural story-teller, and he chats with Teejay Adams on how he got started, a look back at his amazing career, and some of his adventures along the way. Peter is also a pilot, and recently published another book, Landings in America: Two People, One Summer, and a Piper Cub, and his anecdotes from that are just as entertaining too.
* * * * *
Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
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