MotoGP – 20 free MotoGP video games “ Valentino Rossi The Game ” –

Husqvarna 701 Supermoto in the top test

Out of competition

Husqvarna motorcycles have long been considered exotic outside of enduro and motocross tracks. Things are looking up with the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. Despite the radical concept, it conquers the streets in no time, and especially inspires the younger generation. Right? We tested them intensively in the top test.

Looking at the registration statistics is irritating. A phone call to a Husqvarna dealer, however, clears up the last doubts, transforms the questioning look into an appreciative nod: The Husqvarna 7th01 Supermoto is a complete success, yes, it lets the entire brand rise to the top ten of the ten best-selling manufacturers. Husqvarnas were always considered exotic beyond Nuda, Terra and Strada. Where does this surprising demand come from? The reason for this is simple indeed.

Husqvarna 701 Supermoto in the top test

Out of competition

traffic & economy

Adjusted registration statistics 2017

New motorcycle registrations for private individuals

read more

traffic & economy

New registrations in 2017

The most popular motorcycles in Germany

read more

Policeman speaks of a new subculture

A quick look back: In 2012, KTM took over the Husqvarna brand from BMW. When it debuted in 2015, the 701 Supermoto is nothing more than a KTM 690 SMC R painted in the Husqvarna factory colors, as shown by the increasing sales figures. With the implementation of the Euro 4 standard, the surprising news comes from Austria: With the model update for 2017, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto receives the modernized single-cylinder from the Duke with a second balance shaft, shorter stroke, Unicam valve control and now 75 HP, the 690 SMC R, on the other hand, retains the Euro 3 unit. This year it will inevitably disappear from the registration statistics, and even worse: One of the best-selling KTM models is no longer in the dealerships. Husqvarna benefits from this. The 701 is now the only supermoto in this performance class. Competitor? No!

Where a mighty single-cylinder with a displacement of 693 cubic centimeters and a piston with a 105 mm diameter meets just 160 kilograms when fully fueled, you can already sense the dynamics that make this radical concept so unique, so desirable, so unreasonable. Something like this is definitely well received in times of great popularity of hipster retro ovens. Especially in their early twenties. In an interview with MOTORRAD, a police officer even reported on a new rebellious two-wheeler scene, a subculture that manifests itself, among other things, through acrobatic performances on Supermoto motorcycles. To be found again and again: the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. Her sportiness, her agility, however, are only on one side of the coin, which she has yet to prove in the top test course. The other side also arouses curiosity: How does a 701 fare in everyday categories? How much motorcycle is there in a supermoto?

Only 3.8 liters / 100 km at country road speed

The narrow and slightly roughened bench invites you to sit down at a lush height of 900 millimeters. Inexperienced short-legged people can stumble when stopping. In terms of ergonomics, however, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto offers a really good living room. Nothing pinches or pinches, the knee angle fits, as does the handlebar width. Nice that both the clutch and the brake lever are adjustable in reach. By turning the clamping blocks, the handlebar can even be adjusted in two horizontal positions. Sure, you shouldn‘t expect a stately first-class Recaro armchair in terms of comfort. As expected, the seat upholstery is tight, and the driver can start loosening up the buttocks after two hours at the latest.

bilski-fotografie.de

The tank is located in the rear of the subframe, the tank is at the rear.

When it comes to wind and weather protection, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto exercises restraint. A little bit of both would not be so absurd: If necessary, the 701 runs at up to 196 km / h on the motorway. It gets drafty in the command center. At this speed, however, it no longer runs straight ahead; gently stirring the steering head warns the driver to close the ride-by-wire throttle. But that is much less surprising than the consumption at the recommended speed. The ultra-modern injection engine with double ignition remains extremely frugal, burning only 4.5 liters at a constant 130 km / h. At highway speed it is only 3.8 liters. Together with the 13-liter plastic tank in the rear frame, this results in a range of lush 342 kilometers.

It’s a shame that the rustic LCD cockpit does not provide any information about the tank content, remaining range or temperature. In terms of equipment and assistance systems, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is limited to an ABS that can be switched off and an anti-hopping clutch that effectively prevents the rear wheel from locking when downshifting. At a price of 9,695 euros, you can get pillion footrests and grab handles as an add-on kit as standard. In case of doubt, this not only serves a potential passenger, but also the proper lashing of a baggage roll. Otherwise there are no luggage hooks.

The husky goes off like Schmitz’s cat

Traveling with a supermoto is absurd? Perhaps. But no matter how potent and discreetly bassy the single-cylinder may be when standing and shaking up memories of earlier large single-cylinders: this stew transforms the propulsion and drivability of this engine concept into another dimension. Longer stretches can be covered painlessly: the clutch is extremely easy to operate, the gear change is possible with the least amount of effort – almost by itself (and therefore sometimes unintentionally). The engine takes on gas gently and runs smoothly from around 3,000 revolutions. From here, the single pushes the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto bearishly. The second balance shaft does an excellent job, successfully minimizing vibrations like the rubber-mounted handlebar. Fluffy and lively, the engine revs up and up, can never deny its revving.

The usable speed range is impressive. Up to the gently intervening limit at 8,800 revolutions, the maximum 75 hp and 74 Newton meters have easy play, catapulting the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto on the country road even above 100 km / h in no time, not just past Sunday drivers. You should press yourself firmly against the flanks of the seat, not gripping the handlebars too loosely. Because the husky goes off like Schmitz’s cat. How naturally and loosely the piston rushes through the cylinder, carefully changing the load and still promptly implementing every movement of the driver, is still good even for novice drivers. Fine manners and vehement power speak for a first-class set-up – which does not even raise the question of different engine mappings. Good thing, after all, unlike the 690 Duke, there aren’t any.

Of course, you shouldn’t move this single cylinder in the lower speed range either, the sixth gear, for example, only makes sense from around 80, or better still 90 km / h. In built-up areas, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto feels most comfortable even in the third. That takes some getting used to, but since the sound never seems chubby or annoying and just as little bloodless, you can easily come to terms with it. It is all the more pleased that the powerful propulsion can be slowed down in a finely dosed manner by the snappy Brembo fixed calipers. The braking effect is also no cause for criticism, the ABS regulates jaggedly, always keeping the rear wheel safely on the ground. You can see how effectively this happens when you switch off the ABS: As soon as the pads pack into the 320 mm disc, the 160 mm rear tire loses contact with the ground – stoppies are playful.

Husqvarna 701 Supermoto good-natured at the limit

In the dry, the Conti Attack SM, mounted on 17-inch wire-spoke wheels, show their full potential. The feedback is likely to be more transparent and its tendency to set up less. But once the tires have been brought up to temperature, they bond to the asphalt like superglue. So it brakes wonderfully into deep lean angles, motivated you fold the hyper-agile Husqvarna 701 Supermoto from the left into the subsequent right-hand bend, hammers out of the bend with ease, so that the front wheel inevitably receives an open-air insert. Without question: the wild card of the 701 is its brilliant handiness, its low weight, and the possible down-to-earth use of it at the limit. In no time you changed direction, corrected the line at the last moment. Tight radii? No problem! Even closer to the corner? Nothing is impossible! But this only applies as long as the road is dry – the tires don’t stick well in the rain – and the track remains reasonably level. Because as tight and individually adjustable as the WP fork (rebound and compression stage) is: When driving over short faults, it tends to stumble and tends to ruin the targeted line.

In the top test course, the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto otherwise shows off all its strengths, impresses with its precise and neutral steering behavior, rich damping and its good-naturedness at the limit. The reward: best time in slow slalom! It only lacks a little stability in long curves. Then she asks for a steady hand on the handlebars, which is especially true on the country road with successive bumps. The spring strut controlled via a deflection has a comfortable basic design, but can be effectively adjusted in terms of the spring base, the compression stage (low and high speed) and the rebound stage.

But beyond praise and criticism, at the end of testing and driving the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, only one thing remains in mind: The feeling of absolutely having to own this motorcycle. She is currently driving out of competition.

Conclusion

This supermoto is an athlete. The perfectly coordinated engine and its hyper-agile handling are its greatest assets. The Husqvarna 701 Supermoto challenges you to explore the limit. Wheelie, stoppie, drifting are easy for her. The fact that it also shows fine manners, vibrates and consumes little and offers great ergonomics makes it an insider tip for all those for whom a super athlete is too sharp and a powerful naked bike too common.

Technical background Euro 4 approval

The 693 cubic single-cylinder engine has complied with the Euro 4 standard since 2017, and has also increased its power and smoothness. Part of the responsibility: a second balancer shaft.

Husqvarna

The new cylinder head saves a lot of space that has been used sensibly for a second balancer shaft.

The Husqvarna 701 Supermoto has had the engine from the current KTM Duke since model year 2017 and thus meets the Euro 4 standard. The valve control is based on the Unicam principle, which is already known from many Honda motorcycles. In this case, the camshaft actuates the 42-millimeter intake valves directly via rocker arms and the 34-millimeter exhaust valves via a rocker arm. That saves space. The space that this frees up enables the installation of a second balancer shaft, which noticeably increases the smoothness of the run. The ease of revving and drivability of the single cylinder with double ignition with 80 millimeter stroke and 105 millimeter bore is simply unique.

Related articles

Related articles

Leave a Reply

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