‘A ‘new perspective on urban biking’ is how Husky promote it’

much fun at a gentle pace either. You have to wonder who Husqvarna are targeting with the Vitpilen as the WP suspension is set sportsbike hard. Yes, it has a hint of a café racer in its styling, but when you are on anything other than billiard-table smooth roads, which is quite often the case on the MCN250, it translates into a harsh ride that exaggerates the firmness of its saddle. As a supposed ‘new perspective on urban motorcycling’ which is how Husky promote the Vitpilen, I’d have thought a bit more compliance in its fully-adjustable suspension as standard would have been a prerequisite. Although, as the Yamaha proves, too much give can be equally irritating.

In town you can’t fault the XSR. However get it out of the urban environment and the relaxed nature of the Yamaha’s suspension sees it turn to mush at anything other than a gentle pace. The MT-07, upon which the XSR is based, gained firmer suspension for 2018 and while the XSR missed this update, you have to hope it will be getting it soon as it desperately needs some better damping. You could argue that this is a machine aimed at newer riders and those more experienced should buy the larger XSR900, but the 700 parallel twin is such a beauty of a motor it deserves to be given its chance to shine and to not be held back by poor suspension. And if I’m honest, I’d probably opt for the 700 over the 900 anyway as it is just so much fun to ride. But

‘It isn’t an urban bike – it’s a single-cylinder café racer’

would I go for a single?

While the KTM 690 engine Husky use in the Vitpilen is a staggering bit of engineering, making more power and torque than the Yamaha parallel

twin, I’m not sure it is a motor suited to modern living, especially in an urban environment. In town the Vitpilen is a pain as, as with all singles, it doesn’t like to be ridden at low revs. Select a gear too high and it judders and complains where the Yamaha’s twin is happy to pull from almost anywhere in its rev range. This makes riding the Husky in traffic a hassle; something the low bars and firm seat exaggerate. Take the Vitpilen out of town, feed it revs and work the super-slick gearbox hard and it’s remarkable just how fast this single is, but it’s meant to be an urban bike. The truth is, it isn’t. It’s a single cylinder café racer that isn’t happy unless the surface is smooth, the bends flowing and its rider in full-on attack mode. At this point it’s brilliant. But that does somewhat limit its already fairly narrow appeal. And that’s going to be the Vitpilen’s biggest issue when it comes to tempting riders into parting with their money.

For 80% of the time the XSR700 is brilliant: a really friendly and easy-going bike in most conditions. But for the remainder of the time its suspension is pretty terrible and ruins the fun.

The Vitpilen, by contrast, is hard work 80% of the time and not much fun to ride. However, when you hit that magical 20% when the road is smooth, the bends are right and the sun is out it’s absolutely fantastic. Yamaha’s XSR700 may be far from perfect, but if you play the percentages game, it’s the better bet.