2018 Husqvarna 701 Enduro review

Most of the time, a bike is all about its engine – a great engine makes a great bike. Most of the time. The Husqvarna 701 features one of the best single-cylinder engines ever made, the same dual-counter-balanced engine KTM’s 690 Duke enjoys (note: not the 690 Enduro!), so it’s a great bike to ride. But who is this bike for?

Finding a customer for a bike is a tough one for manufacturers, because there are niches within niches these days. This bike’s niche is adventure riding, however it also crosses into enduro territory thanks to its much slim build.

Its closest rival is, of course the bike it’s based on, the aforementioned KTM, and between them the pair make their own niche. At just a claimed 145kg dry, it’s only 30kg or so more than a full-spec 450cc enduro weapon, yet packs that magnificent power figure of a claimed 74hp from the 692cc engine – 20hp or so more than the marque’s TE450 enduro.

On top of the KTM 690 Enduro R spec, there is that amazing engine, 4CS fork (as opposed to the closed cartridge fork on the KTM), billet triple clamp and small but meaningful options such as the ABS button on the dash. The Husqvarna/KTM marriage has positioned the Husky as the upmarket version of whatever KTM it’s based on – same goes for this model.

A factor in the extra weight is the extra fuel capacity, and with the 13-litre tank being drained by efficient fly-by-wire throttle and fuel injection, the bike has a useful range of over 240km; not bad for a bike this size. Hardcore adventure riders need a lot more than that, however and most would add extra fuel capacity to accommodate that. There are a range of aftermarket options for that, making use of the space under the front of the seat where the airbox now is. The fuel tank is hung over the rear wheel.

The rear-mount fuel tank leaves flat seat space to plonk yourself on and weight up the front end to compress that quality 4CS fork and squash the front hoop into the loam – the seat runs almost all the way to the triple clamp. Strapping a small bag there is also possible, with the flat seat making it easy to give the bag some purchase.

Luggage and fuel are crucial for an Aussie adventure rider. Aussies are loving the smaller adventure bikes at the moment, because you can go places the bigger bikes won’t take you as comfortably, such as sandy river banks and narrow 4WD tracks. Without luggage and fuel range in Australia, however, you are buggered.

Happily, because the Husqvarna is based on the KTM, which has been around in various guises for longer, the aftermarket accessories are there for the picking and many fit. While I like the execution of the rear mount fuel tank, and the fact it’s easy to use the rear fuel filler, too, it does mean that if you strap a bag onto the rear – which the rear grab handles easily allow – you will need to take it off every time you fill up. If you like to load your small adventure bike with gear, this is annoying, if you ride it as-is, it works really well.

Speaking of riding it, being ridden is something it does really well.

Master blaster
As mentioned, the engine is a corker. Time after time I was blown away by the arrival of the top end power right when I’d expect a single to be getting all asthmatic. I rode this bike on the freeway, on the commute and in the bush, and this engine does it all.

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Sitting on 110km/h, with power aplenty left over for passing? No worries. Grunting off the bottom end to roll up a rock face? Easy done. Mid-range poke to keep the rear wheel steering you on a fast fire trail? Yep, loves it.

It does all this in a progressive fashion, too, which is even more of a marvel, allowing lots of flexibility when poking around rocky, technical terrain, and it resists stalling beautifully, aided by the EFI and fly-by-wire throttle.

Lofting the front wheel in fourth to clear a log you only just saw is just a matter of rocking back and applying throttle, but gently driving up a crappy hill can be achieved with sniffs of torque and not much noise.

The engine is superb.

Tarmac application
The brakes are, too, with one exception and that’s the ABS system. A quality ABS system will handle most off road situations these days, aside from soft/rocky descents – not this system. As soon as the bitumen turns to dirt, I turned it off. This is mildly annoying, as you need to be stationary and the dash-mounted button needs a long push to dismiss the ABS.

Leaving ABS on leads to a whole lot of lever pulsing at each end as the ABS fails to deal with the soft terrain and simply refuses to stop you quickly enough. Turn the bike off by the key, and on re-starting, you need to do it all again – I’d be looking to rig up an easier-to-use switch if I owned it.

With the ABS off, the bike stops beautifully off road, much better than larger adventure bikes do, and it’s one of the reasons riders are turning to smaller, lighter adventure bikes when they can. On the road, the ABS is good enough.

Part of the reason the braking is so good is due to the quality Brembos at each end; the other reason is the stable and balanced chassis.

Go that bit further
The four-chamber 4CS WP fork is so good for so many reasons. With easy-to-get-to adjusters on the fork caps and a plush action that firms up as things get gnarly, plus more feel than the average front end on a big adventure bike, the 701 Enduro encourages you to get a bit silly and go a bit further when you explore those trails that just seem to beckon you down them.

That fork is one of the major differences between the KTM offering and the Husky, and it’s worth considering because it’s lovely.

The rear WP shock is also a class act, providing traction up hills and support and stability down them. A heavier spring would be all it needs to handle extra weight from luggage and fuel, while the damping has a huge range of adjustment.

Standing up on the wide footpegs, throttle rolling open and closed as I booted along the kind of trail this bike was born to roost, it all makes sense. The engine keeps the pace right where you want it, and only a Dakar winner would want more power in this terrain. Or be able to use it.

The boingers are supple enough to be all-day friendly, but spinning the damping adjusters gives them a new range of use in harder terrain and pace, too. Broad power slides, long wheelies, short bursts of power mixed with subtle terrain-conquering sniffs of torque, the engine and suspension lets you do it all.

I like the looks of the Husqvarna, though all that white will stain if you aren’t clever and regimented with your cleaning. My knee braces also chamfered the edge of the side plates. The gear lever also tagged the edge of the engine cover after my little lay-down (see the video for evidence), but bent back easily and let me keep on riding. I shouldn’t have crashed it, simply put…

Summing up
The big question remains, though: who is this bike for? It’s similar in many ways to the Honda XR650 – too big for single track enduro work, but not so large that it restricts your sense of adventure. If an enduro bike can do it, chances are the 701 Enduro will too, albeit slower and more cautiously.

If the thought of heading somewhere desert-like appeals, but that thought evaporates when you picture yourself on a $25k behemoth that leaves little room for error at speed and holds you back from exploring narrow trails disappearing into the distance, then the 701 is worth exploring.

Rigged up with an aftermarket screen, luggage and extra fuel tank, this bike would carry you over almost anything, with the suspension not only really capable, but also really comfortable. The bike’s plushness rates it well for all-day comfort, but it can also be firmed up to handle throwing it off some serious erosion mounds and down wicked hills.

There’s not many other two-wheelers in this bike’s class, the KTM 690 Enduro being the main one, obviously, however the 701 is dearer due to its up-spec components ($15,995 versus $14,695), though there are more aftermarket parts available for the KTM, still, though that gap is closing.

This is a great bike that rides well, with a superb engine, however “finding its people” is its main challenge. There are lots of reasons it is a fun bike to push through the bush, loaded up with adventurous expectations for the rider, with a heap of reasons to buy into an adventure rig that takes you places the big bikes won’t.

SPECS: 2018 HUSQVARNA 701 ENDURO
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled four-stroke single
Capacity: 692.7cc
Bore x stroke: 105mm x 80mm
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 74hp (55kW) at 8000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 71Nm at 6750rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplate

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Chromium-Molybdenum steel trellis frame, powder coated
Front suspension: 48mm WP upside-down 4CS closed cartridge fork, 275mm travel
Rear suspension: WP shock absorber with Pro-Lever linkage, 275mm travel
Front brake: 300mm disc with Brembo twin-piston floating caliper, switchable ABS
Rear brake: 240mm disc with Brembo single-piston floating caliper, switchable ABS
Tyres: Front 21-inch, rear 18-inch

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed weight without fuel: 145kg
Seat height: 910mm
Ground clearance: 280mm
Wheelbase: 1504mm
Fuel capacity: 13 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $15,995 plus ORC
Colour: White/yellow/blue
Test bike supplied by: Husqvarna Australia, www.husqvarnamotorcycles.com.au