Some motorcycles are engineered to be comfortable. Some are made to be efficient. But a rare few are built with a single obsession , to thrill. The Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is one of those rare machines. Riding it is not just transportation. It’s a sensory hit. Pure, loud, and unapologetically raw. I had the chance to put this beast through its paces on the legendary Tamhini Ghat, and what followed was one of the most visceral riding experiences I’ve ever had. Let’s get into what makes the Vitpilen 701 not just unique, but borderline insane , and yet somehow lovable.
Engine: 75 hp from 0.7 Liter Displacement
First things first , the heart. This bike is powered by the world’s most powerful production single-cylinder engine. That’s not just a spec line; it’s a statement. The engine is essentially lifted from the KTM 690 Duke , a motor known for its aggression and lightness. It cranks out a wild 75 hp and 72 Nm of torque from a 693cc single-cylinder. That’s right , one piston, one bang, and a whole lot of fury. When I first started it up at the base of Tamhini Ghat, the bike barked to life with a deep, mechanical growl. Below 3,000 rpm, it feels lazy , like it’s half-asleep and grumpy about being disturbed. But twist the throttle past that point and it doesn’t just wake up , it detonates. At 6,750 rpm, the torque kicks in like a hammer. By 8,500 rpm, you’re clinging on as 75 horses surge through a chassis that weighs just 166 kilograms. Every time I exited a hairpin on the ghat, I could feel the rear tire biting into the asphalt, and the front gently floating, always teasing a wheelie. The throttle is sensitive , it needs finesse , but it rewards with brutal acceleration when you nail it. It’s not a forgiving engine. It doesn’t like to be lugged or babied. This isn’t the engine for relaxed Sunday touring. It’s a performance tool, and on a tight, twisty road like Tamhini, it’s the closest thing to mechanical caffeine you’ll ever find.
Husqvarna Range: 300 km
Now, you’d think with this much performance, fuel range would be a compromise. That’s what I assumed too when I saw the tiny 12-liter tank. But here’s the surprise , the Vitpilen 701 can go up to 300 km on a full tank, thanks to its frugal single-cylinder heart. Official numbers suggest 4.0 l/100 km, and on my ride , with all the aggressive corner exits, engine braking, and uphill bursts , I averaged about 4.4 l/100 km. That’s pretty incredible for a bike that can do 0 to 100 km/h in just over 3 seconds. So, even though this bike is designed for the city and the twisties, you’re not constantly hunting for a petrol station. I started my ride from Pune, rode through Mulshi, climbed all the way up Tamhini, and made the return trip with fuel still left to spare. There is one small annoyance though , the clutch lever is a bit too short for my taste. In heavy traffic or constant shifting, it does take some adjusting. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s a reminder that this bike is more about attacking corners than crawling through city blocks.
Enormous Power-to-Weight Ratio
This is where things really get interesting. The Vitpilen 701’s power-to-weight ratio is 2.21 kg per horsepower. That’s supercar territory for a naked street bike. For context, a BMW F 800 R, which has more power on paper at 90 hp, actually ends up being slower because it hauls more weight , 202 kg to be precise. On the road, this translates to an immediate, direct connection between throttle and motion. Every movement of your right wrist feels like it’s directly pulling the landscape toward you. On Tamhini’s tight corners and unpredictable surfaces, the bike felt super nimble. It tips into corners effortlessly , almost telepathically. At times, it felt like the bike was cornering for me, as if it knew the line better than I did. And it never flinched , not once , even when I pushed into lean angles that would make most bikes weep. Bridgestone Battlax S21 tires, stock on the bike, offer phenomenal grip. I could feel how much lean angle was still left in reserve. I read later that the tire grip limit is 60 degrees, which is MotoGP-level crazy for a road tire. You’ll run out of skill before you run out of grip. The suspension setup , WP Apex forks up front and a WP monoshock at the rear , is taut, focused, and sharp. It’s not plush. You feel every bump, every ripple in the road. But that’s part of the deal. This bike is not about comfort. It’s about communication. And man, does it talk.
Technical data Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
For accuracy and reliability, all technical info is sourced instantly from the official websites of Husqvarna.
| Manufacturer information | Components |
| Motor | Liquid-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder engine, four valves, two balance shafts, displacement 693 cc, power 55 kW/75 hp at 8500 rpm, maximum torque 72 Nm at 6750 rpm, six-speed gearbox, chain |
| chassis | Steel tubular frame, upside-down fork with 43 mm diameter fork tubes and adjustable rebound and compression damping at the front, aluminum double-sided swing arm at the rear, central spring strut with lever system, adjustable spring preload and rebound damping, front dual disc brakes with a diameter of 320 mm and four-piston fixed calipers, rear single disc brakes with a diameter of 240 mm and a single-piston floating caliper, traction control, Bosch ABS. Tires: 120/70 ZR17 (front), 160/60 ZR17 (rear). |
| Dimensions and weights | Wheelbase 1434 mm, fuel tank capacity 12 liters, seat height 830 mm, weight ready to drive 166 kg, gross vehicle weight: 350 kg |
| Measured values | Top speed approx. 200 km/h, 0-100 km/h n/a, WMTC combined fuel consumption: 4.0 l/100 km |
Conclusion
I’ll be honest , the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is not for everyone. It demands attention, both in terms of maintenance and rider input. It’s not a sit-back-and-cruise machine. The seating position is aggressive. The ride is stiff. The engine is loud and moody when cold. And there’s barely any room for a pillion, although Husqvarna has somehow made that tiny seat surprisingly tolerable. But when you’re alone on a road like Tamhini Ghat, with the early morning mist hanging low and the corners coming fast and tight , this machine makes perfect sense. Every squeeze of the brake, every twist of the throttle, every quick downshift with that buttery quickshifter, it all clicks. The bike becomes an extension of your will. It’s not just a motorcycle. It’s an experience. An unfiltered one.
