Husqvarna’s 1301, the bike the company hopes will challenge the likes of Ducati’s XDiavel, has been spotted under test.
According to Visordown, the bike was seen this week near KTM’s headquarters in Austria.
The 1301 is built off the KTM 1290 platform, and appears to use most of the components, including the frame, swingarm and engine, from the KTM 1290 Super Duke R.
That’s not surprising, given the two companies have been sharing technology since Husqvarna came under the same ownership as KTM in 2013.
Husqvarna’s technical partnership with sister company KTM is allowing both companies to broaden their ranges while minimising R&D efforts.
And while Husqvarna will have access to every KTM engine, it will remain as a distinct company targeting a different type of customer to KTM.
Husqvarna has added its own styling to this new bike, with a new subframe, single seat tail unit and a belly pan under the engine, and there also appears to be a different exhaust to the KTM 1290.
The short tail and rear mudguard with a number-plate hanger that extends from instead the tail unit is clearly a take on the Ducati XDiavel.
The engine will most likely to be the latest version of the 1290 that has already been made compliant with the Euro 4 emission standards.
That engine is already quoted as putting out 130kW, but may have been tweaked a little more to give the new bike an edge over the competition.
Based on those power figures, it will outclass the XDiavel engine which produces 115kW.
Whilst it’s being labelled as a cruiser, the spy shots suggests the seating position is more forward and aggressive than laid back like a typical cruiser.
It will be interesting to see whether that seating position remains, or whether Husqvarna changes the bars to something that’s more swept back and relaxed.
Along with the upcoming Vitpilen range, this bike is giving us a clear indication of what we can expect from the KTM/Husqvarna partnership.