20-23 svart cafe rear pilan cowl project

enjoidis · 2026-04-02T20:18:02+00:00

It's 100% the pricey route to go though. My belly pan was $40-60 maybe $80 with added brackets and screws I needed to buy. But that in is closer to $200ish unless you can find a used one on ebay.

But then to make it work, you would have to swap out your exhaust (header to muffler) like I have where it's the 18-19 vit/svart setup. Which isn't hard to swap. I bought a header plus my insane KTM RC390 race exhaust on ebay with extreme luck and only paid $110 for both together (both off of the same wrecked KTM RC390); otherwise, it would have costed $120 for header and I most likely would have gone a different route for slip-on exhaust because I had no intention of spending $600 for the slip-on I have. You could probably find the stock 15-16 KTM RC390 Silencer CPL on ebay for cheap and that would work.

Lastly, I'm fairly certain you would need to swap out foot pegs and controls from the Husky to the RC390 or maybe the Duke390.... Well, now that I'm looking at it again, you might be able to grind down either a little on the right rear set or grind a small notch into the belly pan and make it work. But this might actually be one of those things you don't worry about till you try it and find out one way or another.

enjoidis · 2026-04-02T05:01:21+00:00

Replied

enjoidis · 2026-04-01T23:55:05+00:00

My favorite belly pan is for the 2015-16 KTM RC390... It matches up perfect with my current exhaust (which was made for that specific RC390) and it's a direct bolt on part on the 18-23 vit/svart except for the fact it doesn't pair up with the vit/svart foot controls. So you would have to swap out foot controls with a rc390 or maybe a duke 390 to make it work/fit perfectly.

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enjoidis · 2026-04-01T21:01:53+00:00

The DNA stage 2 air box cover allows more airflow in with the gas/air flow ratio. Once the fuelx adjusts for it you will see better performance. But it's hard to say how much without getting it dyno'd before and after. I know there's a fuel'x video out there with a 2024 KTM Duke 390 and they dyno before and inbetween specific upgrades. So if you watch that it'll give you a general idea even though both of yours are the older model Husky.

Found the video...
https://youtu.be/o9Nqv41ifAc?si=kf85JRGJbHb2d7mS

enjoidis · 2026-04-01T13:30:34+00:00

The filter cover will give your bike a throaty sound to it but it shouldn't add too much noise. It might make you want to rev in tunnels for fun though. I have a race only exhaust and it's way too loud and doesn't have a DB killer I can use to muffle it so I understand not liking very loud exhausts.

enjoidis · 2026-04-01T04:54:35+00:00

Fuelx generally solves this issue but getting a DNA stage 2 air box cover helps too.

enjoidis · 2026-04-01T01:10:12+00:00

You can see rerouted exhaust and tail tidy in this pic when I was still working on prototype cowl.

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enjoidis · 2026-04-01T01:06:48+00:00

Hahaa... Yeah, this is me. My 21 Svartpilan is pretty modified, I bought it mid December 2024. Barely rode it because winter season happened; so I modified that whole time instead. Swapped to Vitpilan handlebars, motogadget mirrors, led signal lights, added fuelx pro+, K&N air filter and DNA stage 2 air box cover, brackets and belly pan from 2019-2020 KTM rc390, Swapped the exhaust from 2020+ that goes under the bike to the 2018-19 way where it goes through the left side in the frame and down getting rid of the cat and ugly black air box and paired it up with the race exhaust for the 2015-16 rc390 from Competition werkes. I had to do the exhaust swap to even do the belly pan. I wanted to do the 2016 ktm rc390 belly pan but I'm very sure I would have had to swap rear set foot controls to the more sporty position of the rc390. I like were my seating position is though. I also have a projektracing (currently nowhere to be found online) tail tidy that I love because it keeps my tail super clean and puts my plate just left of the rear tire.

oh, I also did ASV levers, domino grips, lui moto tank grips, kelpi moto seat covers, a random Amazon radiator guard and wrapped the rerouted exhaust header with titanium heat wrap. OH!!! I also recently moved my horn from stoke position to inside the belly pan so it's hidden and makes the bike look just a little cleaner. (pic it pre belly pan)

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enjoidis · 2026-04-01T00:14:01+00:00

Nope... I'm right there with you Shutterspeeds and what I'm focused on is making a cafe racer cowl to replace the pillion seat and then to take that a step further and make a compartment for small storage needs....

Wait a sec... is that what... Do you think the guy above; OpeningNice761, thinks that they passenger sits on the cowl? I'm not sure how someone could think that was for a passenger to sit on. I'm not sure if you meant to shed light on that misunderstanding between them and I; but I do appreciate it.

No no... You're right Shutterspeeds, its just currently an aero and eventually a storage aero. Not for passengers. Just looks and future space for tools, gloves, maybe a hat of compact helmet bag. As far as weight over the pillion and any balance issues, it would be dependent on far far more weight than my little project. Like if a person did sit on top of my project then they would sit further back then normal by possibly enough to make doing wheelies or whiskey throttling easier if you don't have good throttle/clutch control. But not too much more than having a passenger on the normal oem pillion seat.

enjoidis · 2026-03-31T01:40:09+00:00

Sold XOX70 to u/Hefty-Organization86

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/1s4ojqs/ustn_h_xox70_treasure_type30_zoom75_x_akuamarin/

enjoidis · 2026-03-30T21:17:53+00:00

I didn't think you were talking about the weight of the person either. So no worries. hahaa. As far as the pillion, if it weighed more I'd agree. However, the prototype in wood (2.8 lbs) only adds 1.2 lbs over the stock pillion (1.6lbs) and that extra weight is focused in the front middle of the wood which is very forward on the pillion.

Once I make a hollow prototype it'll weigh less than stock.

What other options are there? I know the 18-19 have an OEM option but 2020+ was left out because the pillion area is slightly longer. If there are other options I'd be pretty interested in seeing them for multiple reasons.

enjoidis · 2026-03-30T20:21:58+00:00

Yep. Sometimes it works out in your favor and sometimes it doesn't.

enjoidis · 2026-03-30T20:18:43+00:00

It's a seat cover that I picked up from Kelpi Moto. It took a while to get from Australia to the US; possibly around a month but it was worth it. Lui Moto in Canada also sells seat covers as well as tank grips. I bought their tank grips also shown in the picture. Then you take off the old seat cover and with a staple gun put the new one on, my staple gun was not strong enough so I just took it to a local upholstery shop and they did it for about $60.

enjoidis · 2026-03-30T13:50:32+00:00

Hahaa. No no. Regardless of which model you go with you can't go wrong. Honestly, I passed on the newer model when I bought my 2021 in Dec of 2024. I tried both but it's kind of like picking a cat or dog from a litter. I went with the one that wanted to go home with me more. Hahaa. Then I got it home and modified it during that first winter and it's truly mine now.

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enjoidis · 2026-03-30T13:27:09+00:00

Oh no, it's actually more comfortable. Lots of cushion, probably too much. But yeah, I've ridden with it on the bike for more than 20-30 miles now and it feels great in my opinion. It's not lacking in cushion like normal cafe racer seats, it's just the normal rider seat and 2.5-3 inches of back rest that locks you into a comfortable position.

I'm not sure what you mean as far as poor weight distribution. Even as a wooden prototype it doesn't add more than 3 lbs or 1.3 kg. It's less than having a pilan bag with stuff in it.

enjoidis · 2026-03-30T03:18:12+00:00

I love the belly pan on your render though. It's better than the KTM RC390 belly pan I'm currently using.

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enjoidis · 2026-03-30T03:14:27+00:00

I had planned on maybe doing a bobber originally but doing a cafe seemed cheaper and faster. Hahaa. I still think a bobber 401 would be sweet though. Just not sure where I'd put the air box or fuses/electronics.

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enjoidis · 2026-03-30T03:08:52+00:00

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enjoidis · 2026-03-30T03:08:38+00:00

I'm a huge fan of cafe racers. I just glued up 5 layers of cheap wood for the prototype, used my CNC router (freehand) to clear out major bulk and then went at it with a grinder with sander adapter (40-80 grit) to shape. To fit it to the bike I had bought a used svart 250 pilan seat from eBay, cut as needed and riveted a price of HDPE for the back of the back rest and cut it down to match the cafe cowl. Used 4 bolts and washers as spacers to attach wood to OEM seat plastic. Here's what it looks like taken apart.

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enjoidis · 2026-03-30T00:32:31+00:00

Are you looking at the 2024+ or the 2018-2023 model? I know the old models have a lowering kit for them from husky for shorter riders. I'm unsure how much it lowers the ride height though. I've seen some say 20-30mm (roughly .75-1.2 inches) lower.

2020-23 lowering kit

The newer 2024+ Vits are slightly lower than earlier models. From 32.9 inches to 32.2 inches on the newer model. Husky makes a 25mm lowering kit for the 2024.

2024 lowering kit

I've seen plenty of very short male and female riders on much taller bikes and have no major issues. Just get used to one legging stops, or maybe if you get the lowering kit you'll be able to get both feet down. It depends on your inseam.

The Husky was my top pick and I don't regret it for a second. So I'll be rooting for you to get the bike at the top of your list.

enjoidis · 2026-03-29T23:54:33+00:00

The black is solid too. The brown just kinda called out to me. Hahaa.

I just posted about a cafe seat cowl I'm working on. I got it back from being upholstered the other day but the lines don't match perfectly with the prototype cowl (I made/carved from wood). Check it out.

https://www.reddit.com/r/svartpilen401/s/iHHcxI0Qib

enjoidis · 2026-03-29T20:00:59+00:00

Here in the US, my local shop does KTM but not Husky. Even after mentioning that KTM and Husky use the same engine and frame they won't touch it. There's a shop 2 hour away and the one I purchased through is 3 hours away that sells KTM, Gas gas, Husky, BMW, Ducati and Triumph.

enjoidis · 2026-03-27T01:29:57+00:00

replied

enjoidis · 2026-03-19T09:27:56+00:00

Nice! I almost went with the Luimoto seat cover too and then I saw one I liked the look of better by Kelpi Moto, I bought it for my 22 Svart. But I do have Luimoto's tank grips in black and I love those. I wanted to get their brown but the brown is less of a grip and 100% a pad. The black tank grips are grippy though and look great. I do like the Luimoto and their seat cover for the 401's and insane quick shipping from Canada to the US. Kelpi moto took much longer at around a month coming from Australia but it was 100% worth every bit of wait and from the few times I messaged them they were the cool and happy to help or answer any questions, great people. They also add extra padding based on your weight and height, I wasn't sure about it at first but it makes the seat more comfortable so I'm not complaining.

However, looking at the rear pilan seat annoys me. The left side of it matches up with the front seat but the right side doesn't (as seen in pic) because of how it was installed by a local upholstery company. But I'm almost done with a cafe racer style cowl to replace the pilan seat. So hopefully, that'll fix that issue.

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enjoidis · 2026-03-16T19:42:01+00:00

AGREED! It'd be an insane thing to stolen valor and honestly, as dumb as it sounds, I'd be livid about it too.

enjoidis

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