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Why is my new Husqvarna so slow?

7464 Views 21 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Offcenter
Hi All,

I have been riding bikes for just over a year now and have just upgraded from a Mash dirt track 125 to a brand new Husqvarna svartpilen 125 until I am able to take my A2.

My reason for this post is that I am fairly underwhelmed with the performance of the husqvarna due to the fact that I haven't managed to get it to go faster than 52mph. This is made even more apparent with the fact that my previous mash which had 10hp would fairly easily be able to do 60mph.

Obviously, it is a 125cc with 15hp, so I wasn't expecting much to begin with.

However, having looked online and at reviews, most people seem to at least be able to get over 70mph without too much problem. (I am a fairly light rider as well - 70kg)

I am also aware that the svarpilen uses the same engine as the ktm duke 125, which is known to be "fast" for a 125, with it topping out at just over 70mph.

I was just curious whether the reason for the lacklustre speed was because the bike is new and hasn't been run in yet, or whether an aftermarket exhaust such as an Akrapovic or Leo Vince might fix the problem.

To be clear, I know it is only a 125 so please don't tell me it's not made to go fast, I am fully aware of that. I just wasn't expecting it to be quite as bad as it is.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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However, having looked online and at reviews, most people seem to at least be able to get over 70mph without too >much problem. (I am a fairly light rider as well - 70kg)
There's a part of your problem -- you're accepting online brags as fact. My 16-year-old neighbor was super-excited to tell me how his new Chinese 250 could easily top 100 mph -- until I pointed out the difference between mph and kph...
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I was just curious whether the reason for the lacklustre speed was because the bike is new and hasn't been run in yet, or whether an aftermarket exhaust such as an Akrapovic or Leo Vince might fix the problem.
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No to the performance issue being related to break-in,
and no, you should absolutely not need to modify a new motorcycle to make it perform up to the new stock motorcycle performance specification.
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This helped me save time, thank you.
How did it help you save time?
Since your new, why not stop in the new users forum and introduce yourself?
Hello, did you get any further with the top speed?, I currently have the same model and I can get 55mph on a good flat road.

I’ve looked at a fly screen to see if that would help but like you I’m new to motorbikes as well.
Tuck into position and become more aerodynamic with the machine, its always good for another 5 mph.
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You need to watch a youtube channel called gentry and sons. He will claim his cars and trucks have 1000 hp constantly when most of them are just junk. He was hauling a boat going to a bass pro wrapped in plastic and claimed it to be a million dollar load. As said what people say you just need to take it for who is saying it and judge for yourself.
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Hello, did you get any further with the top speed?, I currently have the same model and I can get 55mph on a good flat road.

I’ve looked at a fly screen to see if that would help but like you I’m new to motorbikes as well.
The flyscreen would technically slow your motorcycle down even more.

The answer may be what Zebraranger suggested. Leaning forward and going into a full tuck may make the difference between 50 and 70. Your torso is a huge air brake. Make your profile small and you'll speed up.
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Why is my new Husqvarna so slow?
Because it's not a Kawasaki. (not sorry)
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My one was hitting 50mph mac in brake in period. When I hit 620miles and chamge settings after first check up so I could go over 6k rpm I got to 70mph in tucked position on small decline... but I am 110kg without my gear
That much mass on decline will actually add to top-speed!
My one was hitting 50mph mac in brake in period. When I hit 620miles and chamge settings after first check up so I could go over 6k rpm I got to 70mph in tucked position on small decline... but I am 110kg without my gear
I"ve got the same problem, in 5th and 6th gear my svartpilen 125 wouldn't rev past 7k rpm on a long straight road. How did you change the settings? MIne has 620 miles and had it's first service a few weeks ago.


I've spoken to a few KTM / Husqvarna dealearships in London and they all say different things. Some say that the bike needs to be somehow deristrited, other say that it just won't go past 60 mph unless I build up the momentum and revit high in lowergears, building up the momentum all the way through the 6th gear.

I'm stillconfused, is there a limp mode restriction set during the break-in period or there isn't?

A quuck update, got to the bottom of this. The bike'a mapping is in a restericted mode for the first 621 miles, once you hit that, it should automatically let you rev higher and go faster up tp 70mph or so.
Not many 125cc anything for sale to the general public will go faster than 70mph. Even the KTM 125 Duke will only do 78 mph.
Although I never owned a Husky, I knew people that did. In the 70's they were 2-stroke, and had awsome acceleration, not sure about the top speed.
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Although I never owned a Husky, I knew people that did. In the 70's, They were 2-stroke, and had awsome acceleration, not sure about the top speed.
2-stoke 125 should be close to hitting 88-90mph top-speed!!! :eek:
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A quuck update, got to the bottom of this. The bike'a mapping is in a restericted mode for the first 621 miles, once you hit that, it should automatically let you rev higher and go faster up tp 70mph or so.
OK good! My wife's CB125T with 16.4bhp can hit actual 73mph (buzzed radar booth). There is aerodynamic technique:

  • turn both mirrors back so they're parallel
  • tuck all way down with chin on tank, looking through windshield
  • elbows tucked into ribs
  • knees squeezed inwards trying to implode tank
  • both hands on bars inside of grips
  • only right pinky-finger on grip to keep WOT
So I had the same but straight after 600miles/first service it completely changed used really stick at 52-53mph however not sure if something changed on the bike on the way across to the service or whether it was the service but now can easily keep at 57-58 and can get it over 60 if on the flat with a but of revs. Cheers
YAY!!!

Not sure on that particular model, many modern ECUs are pre-programmed with various break-in distances and it won't allow full-power until after break-in mileage has been completed. Or dealer may have unlocked it. :)
The flyscreen would technically slow your motorcycle down even more.

The answer may be what Zebraranger suggested. Leaning forward and going into a full tuck may make the difference between 50 and 70. Your torso is a huge air brake. Make your profile small and you'll speed up.
The key word is technically. They said the same to me when I put a full batwing fairing on my Honda 185 Twinstar. In fact it helped a lot simply because of your statement about the torso being a huge air brake. The fairing not only improved top speed but also improve fuel mileage. As if that little Twinstar needed that ¿¿¿¿¡¡¡¡ Will a fly screen do the same? Don't know but I doubt it will hurt. Directing the air over you, at least some, will help. How much is the true unknown.
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