Words by Tom Gilroy from Purpose Built Moto.
The transformation of the Husqvarna Vitpilen was a quick one, but it leaves the bike almost unrecognisable from where we started. The custom street tracker build received a mix of aesthetic and performance enhancements. Starting with some custom work to improve the riders position. A set of risers were welded onto the top yoke and a set of Renthal MX bars added. We’ve also modified the factory footpegs to move the riders feet forward about 40mm. Instantly creating a more Motard style seating position for a more engaging and comfortable ride.
At the core of this build, I just wanted it to be fun. Smile inspiring, something any rider could get on, enjoy the shit out of, and get off telling his mates – ‘Holy Shit you gotta ride this thing’. That was my driver.
The factory turn signals have been swapped out for a set of Purpose Built Moto Hollowtips, with the brake light being hand made using some sheet metal and Acrylic that’s Backlit by an LED strip. The only lighting left unchanged was the very definitive 401 Headlight.
Removing the stock swing arm mounted rear fender and plate mount we’ve fabricated a clean, minimal tail tidy that tucks neatly under the brake light.
With a lot of the small parts tucked in and tidied up the Husqvarna Vitpilen started to treat into motard territory. Leaning into that a high sided stainless steel exhaust was fabricated, and ends with a hand made muffler. The replacement exhaust sounds unbelievable. The bark from the high revving 400 single sounds straight from trackside at your local MX park.
The intake also received a huge upgrade with the DNA performance filter Stage 2 kit. Replacing the standard filter, and the air box lid with a second filter cartridge that drastically improves airflow and give a huge boost to the throttle response. If you have one of these bikes, you have to get this kit – it’s a huge booster.
We had our mate Josh from ride design co in to get designing a new graphics kit. Opting for this route over a custom paint job was a fun process. We took queues from the Husky Enduro and MX lines using blues, greys and white and removing the fluro yellow from the standard Vitpilen colourway.
Some smaller parts like the front fender mounts and radiator shrouds had to be painted to colour match the graphics kit. During this process the swing arm was removed for black powdercoat as well.
One of the final pieces for the street tracker husky was the seat. Timeless Autotrim delivered once again, the perfect fit for this bike. Using the design to tie through our ideas on a motard driven custom. We used a grey gripper material accented with some husky blue gripper strips. The stock seat received a minor reshape that again gives the rider more room and furthers the Motard look of the bike.
Dropping the bench down on the husky Vitpilen and getting out for its first ride was a heap of fun. Everything about this bike screams enjoyment. With the bike breathing easier, the punchy 400cc single has been livened up a lot, and the weight we’ve managed to strip off it made the already light weight ride even more nimble. Winding the Vitpilen Street tracker out its hard to keep the front wheel down in lower gears.
All of this makes for a head turning ride that begs to be ridden, and ridden hard. The best part of it all, is you could own it. So make sure you jump in on our competition.
Simply buy a Husky Sticker Pack to enter the competition and you will be in for the chance to win:
- The completed Husqvarna Vitpilen
- A Maintenance kit supplied by Motul Australia
- A Makita tool kit and tote
Use the code PIPEBURN10 and receive $10 off your ticket.
Thanks to our sponsors for making this motorcycle build project possible: Makita Australia, Pipeburn, United Tools Burleigh, DNA Performance Filters, Motul Australia, and Ninefivers.
[ Photography and video by Ninefivers ]