Husqvarna 701 Supermoto in the PS driving report

Posted on by admin

Husqvarna 701 Supermoto in the HP driving report

Play child

Content of

Husqvarna wants to bring a whole range of new street models. It starts with the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, which inevitably awakens the fidgety in every driver.

Straight to the most important thing: In the Husqvarna 7th01 Supermoto you can see a familiar "face". The current KTM 690 SMC-R was the model for the Austrian drifting tool with the Swedish brand emblem. Its monopoly position as the only supermoto that can be approved and that brings full punch and everyday qualities under one roof has a positive effect on sales figures. No KTM was in greater demand this year, which at least lifted the 690 SMC-R to eleventh place overall in the registration statistics in Germany.

Husqvarna 701 Supermoto in the HP driving report

Play child

190 km / h on the highway

We start with a sprint over the motorway, which should lead further over the winding hinterland to the kart track in Portimao. If you fold up a little on the "Husky", the speedometer shows just over 190 km / h on the straight line without the machine noticeably flapping or swinging. Not bad for such a long-legged and light device. Thanks to the tank volume, which has increased from 12 to 13 liters in comparison to the KTM, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is even suitable for longer overland stages between your home garage and cornering paradise.

In addition, the driver sits on a slightly wider seat with a different structure, which positions the driver more in the motorcycle than on a pointed one. Another feature of the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto are the new triple trees. They should distribute the clamping force better and thus increase the front wheel feel. The handlebar clamps, which are mounted in rubber, eliminate vibrations very effectively. Even at top speed of the single cylinder, there is little tingling in the hands.

Front wheel likes to be in the air

Finally it goes down from the autobahn, jagged over the roundabout and with the front wheel held high. Regardless of whether it is second or third gear, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto playfully lifts the front, is easy to direct and encourages the driver to do extensive wheelies over and over again. As soon as you arrive in the winding part of the route, the weather conditions unfortunately prevent wild pressure. It’s raining and the streets are as slippery as soft soap. great!

After all, the soft throttle response and the nicely adjustable power input fit the difficult conditions. The ContiAttack SM sports tires actually need dry asphalt and a good temperature, otherwise they won’t really stick. To be on the safe side, we’d rather hold the boot out towards the inside of the curve and let it glide gently over the ground in case the front wheel collapses or the rear wheel slips away. But it’s going well. The soft clutch and the cleanly shiftable transmission make precise driving a lot easier. Although the damping of the fork is softer than the KTM and the deflection of the shock absorber is less progressive, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is fed up.

Price difference of 350 euros between Husqvarna and KTM

Later on the go-kart track it is still wet, but we still select the more aggressive mapping using the rotary switch under the seat. Objectively, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto now works better in the medium speed range. In any case, it responds more spontaneously to gas commands and still remains easily controllable. The detail changes and the fresh design should be worth the price difference of 350 euros to one or the other customer, which is between the Husqvarna and the KTM.

Still, we’re really looking forward to until the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is equipped with the new 75-horsepower single that makes its debut in the current Duke. Greetings from Euro4, it will be ready by 2017 at the latest.

Technical data Husqvarna 701 Supermoto

Husqvarna

The flat seat positions the rider more in the motorcycle than on top.

701 supermoto vs. 701 Enduro

Husqvarna

Actually a KTM 690 SMC-R, but the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto differs in details such as tank, chassis, seat, speedometer, handlebar mount and triple clamps.

We already know the duo from the KTM model range – an Enduro joins the Supermoto. In the case of Husqvarna, the mud brother is called the 701 Enduro. The machine also uses the 690 single with 67 hp and the same trim as the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. The bike is suitable for off-road use thanks to the large-treaded Continental TKC 80 tires and an engine guard. With 275 mm of travel at the front and rear, it not only has more damping reserves than the 701 Supermoto, but even more than the KTM 690 Enduro R..

In addition, a high-quality closed cartridge system with four chambers (4CS) is used in the fork. At 1504 mm, the wheelbase is more generous than that of the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, and the front wheel measures 21 inches for off-road use. With a 300 mm single disc at the front, the brake system is slightly smaller than on the road model, but this does not detract from sporty use, especially in light terrain. Speaking of the road: On asphalt, there are significant handling disadvantages compared to the Supermoto. The Enduro is more restless and doesn’t want to bend so sharply. At least with the coarse TKC 80, it is clearly reluctant to tilt.

On gravel roads, it inspires with its enormous power. For a casual off-road driver, it is amazing what speed you can walk on loose ground if you just dare. Even if the terrain is muddy or the stones are bigger than small pebbles, the 701 Enduro does a great job. The off-road ABS works so far satisfactorily – professionals can of course, just like with the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, switch it off at the push of a button in the cockpit. The accessories include a so-called “dongle” that only deactivates the ABS on the rear wheel. The 701 Enduro is a terrific combination of road and off-road, and its only competition is the KTM 690 Enduro R. Due to its chassis, the Husky should have the edge.

Related articles

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *