Worth the Price? Good for Long Distance? The New DR650? Husqvarna 701 Enduro 

After riding the first 300 metres on a 701 I totally got it Power difference to other dual sports is obvious but the handling and light weight with 74hp is hard to describe I’ve been on one for 3 years now and I can’t imagine a better bike (and I’ve owned a few)

Gas Gas 700 ES owner here. It is a true 50/50 Bike that can do everything but nothing particular well. If you can only afford one bike, this would be the bike. For a 75 HP bike the new euro 5 models are lean off the bottom but will be more fuel efficient then the DR at 4.2 litres per 100 km. The down sides are the purchase price but a Gas Gas 700 can be bought for thousands less than the the KTM and Husky models. Reliability is still a question mark and if I was to take this bike in remote areas, a DR or DRZ would be my preference.

Dam good review brother 👊. Covered virtually everything that could be. Thanks for the update

I own a 701 and love it, did have headshake when I first got it and it was only suspension setting.

Great vid and review mate :) Love it!

I've been a die-hard 701 owner for the last 4 years, so I might be able to add a bit. For the longer trip vs the DR650 question, I might be able to help since I've done long days (+800km) on both. Stock seats, the DR650 wins hands down, so you need to upgrade the seat if you're wanting the ability to long days without contemplating riding off a cliff edge after 4 hours. The engines for the current 690/701 are faaar better at that kind of riding. Far smoother with the balancer of course, but also doesn't have to work as hard when highway speeds, meaning you're dealing with less buzz in general. For the 701 vs Vstrom question, there isn't a week that goes by where I didn't wish I had a T7 or 950 in my garage. I also have a small 250 for technical stuff, and the middle point of the 701 just isn't the same as a bigger bike for longer distance or road riding. It's a big single so it will drink a bit of oil over long distances, and will never be the same as a twin. It IS the best middle of the road, one bike to do it all option though, and it is a VERY fun bike. It's fun factor is the main reason I probably the main haven't sold it yet.

12:52 As I said to you I run the 733 cc kit on my LR and you use the rear tank first keeping the front tank for weight blast ye ,and I have no problems with my LR

KTM 690 Enduro R owner here. Curtis, nice channel. Good content. You seemed to enjoy the 701 test ride. I rate the 690/700/701 highly, if used for its intended purpose. Each model is basically same-same. The 700 may have some slightly lower spec components, if I'm not wrong (unconfirmed). I've owned a 690 outside Australia for the last couple of years, In the Middle East, where I cannot think of a better bike for the type of riding that I do here: Sand dunes, sand flats, wadis (boulder strewn dry creek beds), steep mountains, single track, 4WD track, long road miles, touring/camping and proper adventure riding exploring the backcountry. It's an adventure rider's heaven (excluding the heat!). My steed is loaded with all the bells and whistles and full Rade Garage fruit, plus other doodads. I've ridden several ADV/MX bikes, so I have some reasonable benchmarks. I'm no expert by any means. Just a weekend warrior like most of us. Take this as empirical feedback from a 690 real-world user. To provide some feedback on your comments regarding your viewer's comments: Don't buy a single cylinder if comfort is your priority. Though, if willing, you can still put serious miles on it. The longest trip that I've done on my 690 was 4,400km over 2 weeks (solo). The longest day was almost 1,000km (a travel day that was as straight as an arrow and I decided to keep pushing on through). You need to be committed and really want to do it. It's doable but I can think of dozens of other bikes I'd rather do a 1,000km day on. Tuck your head in and grind away the miles. In that situation it's just a means to an end. The bike did not miss a beat. Not even engine oil burnoff. My biggest gripes were the fuel range and the fuel tank cap position. This requires you to undo luggage when refilling every 200km or so. Somewhat inconvenient. However, I'd still do that trip again on a 690/700/701. Seat (OEM) is fine, but maybe that's just me. There's no denying that a Seat Concepts upgrade is cushier. However, I'm used to discomfort after +50 years on this planet. Your butt goes numb pretty quick and you forget about it. Focus on the beautiful scenery and not hitting that random camel. The 200km stops help to walk it off for a few mins. Lower dry weight is a huge benefit in technical terrain or sand. Loved it relative to other ADVs. My experience riding the top heavy and tippy T7 scarred me for life. There are a few 690's in my riding group and they are often the only bikes that do not require some form of assistance from others when it gets gnarly. But make no mistake - It's still heavy. I've dropped it at walking speeds plenty of times and it's stood up well. Nomad pannier racks, barkbusters and adventure foot pegs complete the triangle of support (crash bars for good measure). Try doing a 170kg single leg press once it starts tipping. Let it go. Step away. Lay it down. If that's the type of riding that you'll do, then get a proper Enduro/MX bike. Horses for courses but the 690 can accomplish that better than most other ADV bikes. Head shake at high speed was evident until I installed the Scotts steering damper. This comes with bar risers. Best money ever spent for high speed runs, sand, deep gravel beds etc. Worth every cent of its expensive entry price. I run some high speeds, as road speed limits go up to 160km/hr around here. Fuel burn is massive at that speed but it can be done. Comfort level is up to about 120 km/hr. 140 km/hr is normally the open road speed that I limit myself to. +160 km/h gets a bit full-on for extended periods. However, that's not what this platform was designed for - Get a GS or 1290 SAR instead. They eat miles for breakfast. I've run TKC80's and Hidenau Scout K60's. I prefer the former to the latter but the K60's were chosen for the long trip based on good wearing and hard carcass for puncture resistance. Yes there's road noise on a motorbike with nobbies. That likely has more to do with helmet and ear plug selection. Select the right tyres for the right task. Motoz receive positive comments from others. The LC4 engine is well proven, long lasting and a solid power plant. As you point out, "Ready to Race" requires giving it some throttle to put the LC4 into the powerband sweetspot. Don't be shy. It likes to be ridden hard. Suspension I have found to be top rate. Even with

thanks for the detailed reply to my question on is it worth it 😊

Good and fair review of the 701/690. I got my 23 701 for $14K as an ex-Husky Trek bike with only 3000k's on it. Pretty much brand new. The bike is euro 5, so this affects the power down low for emissions, a remap(~$600) and a new exhaust will fix it. The rage garage front tank is great and I can get over 350kms out of it. I do mostly multi-day adventure rides on mine. Yes the seat could be better, but its way better than the EXC seats. The front wobble is annoying and I've had it on most of the fronts I've run, so its probably a design issue. Some tyres are worst than others. Currently on the Motoz Dual Venture and its really bad on this tyre. Never noticed it as much on the E09 front. The Motoz will last ages, the E09 doesn't, but its a more confidence inspiring tyre for my riding. This bike is for people who want a dirt bike that can do road sections (70%+ dirt). Not people that adv ride on roads (70%+ roads) and want to do the occasional dirt section. If you want a big bore 700cc dirt bike that scares you in the dirt, then its the bike for you, else get the DR or anything else. 🙂

Great review and with you on your comments. I’ve just ridden a 4,200 mile trip in the US over 23 days on the TET and BDR on a 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R. The essential mods that were on the bike when I bought it were a Nomad rally tower, Seat Concepts seat, Kineo tubeless wheels, a Rade Garage range extender fuel tank, Vanasche foot pegs, Vanasche fuel cap and a variety of dongles. I added R&G engine protection covers, Fatbar 605 bars to give more pullback and 1” bar risers. It performed faultlessly and a staggering 3.6 litres per 100km. Our mix of riding was 50:50 on/off road. The TC kept me on the bike with very few dabs and I didn’t drop it. Tempting though it was to switch of the TC I simply don’t have the skills to tame that sort of power on the loose surfaces we encountered. On the road it was excellent. The screen is taller than some but for my 5’8” it kept the wind blast down and no buffeting. I used Anakee Wild tyres. The front came back looking unused. The rear was done at 2,500 miles and replaced with a Metzler Enduro 3 Sahara which while less off-road was excellent on and proved to be good off-road despite this. 6 to 8 hours in the saddle each day was perfectly doable. I have a 701 at home in the UK and this has persuaded me to make it the bike the KTM is. Excuse the waffle….. Ian

I had a 690 for the last 3 years and just sold it. I'm now trying a bigger ADV bike for a while but they are just so heavy when you hit the harder rocky trails like Mt Mee in your video. Miss my 690 so much already. I'll probably go back to a 690/701/700 one day. I did 22,000 km on my 690 and not a single mechanical issue. Best money I've ever spent. Cheers

I just bought a 23' 701 with 350 miles on it. So. Cal. USA. The guy sold it because it was to high, even after installing a lowering link and dropping the forks. I'm 6"2" so I went the other way and bought the stock link and a Seat Concepts comfort with 1" more foam. Got the aux tank by Rade and a heavier rear spring if needed. Puig small wind screen. Came with Acerbis (bark busters) and side guards. Going to use it for a Canada to Mexico 2 week ride on dirt back roads in August. Pacific divide route, Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges with So Cal Desert to Mexico. I have a KTM 790 Adv S model but I don't like it on dirt. Have a KTM 500exc-f 2023 I was going to use before I bought the 701 but that bike might be a little to hard core for this ride. I even bought a new rear wheel with the Haan Cush drive hub for the ride, 500exc-f, O'well. I read the 701 is 80lbs. heavier than the 500exc-f and 100lbs. lighter that the 790 Adv.

Great answer😂! 701 or the 501 is the one bike solution. If you have 3 bikes then it doesn't make sense!

Love your videos! I have a crf300l with some mods wich i love for the tight tracks around here. Looking to get a bigger bike to go along with it and been looking at the 800DEbut we also have the tenere extreme here in sweden and man i do like the looks of it. Do you get that in AUS? Would love to hear your take on it.

thanks

I own a gasgas and the seat is wider and higher. The suspension feels somehow harsher. I have stalling issues from the very beginning. One time in a corner at 30km/h it stalled in 2nd gear and I almost highsided. My bike consumes oil and I have some issues with false neutral between 4th and 5th gear. Cheers

It just seems for the price I can totally trick out a XR650L and still have money leftover. Or I can trick out a 450RL and get close enough for the same price, both new and used.

Suscribed, since you asked so nicely. I’m a bit puzzled by the suspension; you call it firm, but then you harden the rebound to improve that? Why not soften the compression? Just curiosity, trying to learn something here. Cheers.

Did you mention the slipper clutch? I ran across an interesting discussion and video on blipping before downshifts, even with slippers. I've noticed lately, that I've been blipping quite a bit on my WR250R. Had a 390 adventure prior to the 250, and was shocked at how much I was sliding the rear on the 250 (on pavement). It's not a technique I really knew much about though. Just something I find I'm doing naturally.

I have the dv tubeless on the 800de now, and . my take. Is there are difference between the tubeless and tube type? Yes. Is the tube tupe better offroad? Yes, slightly, but on road it is noticeably worse than the tubeless. The tubeless is a tiny bit less grippy offroad, but more than makes up for it onroad. It is literally barely noticeable offroad, even pushing. Caveat: the differences offroad are more noticeable the worse the terrain gets. For the DE, I'll always use the tubeless.

Where do you ride usually mate? Looks really similar to the tracks around my area in northern NSW

Just asking your opinion on a side issue , do you think a 21 inch front knobby tyre on say a 300 rally , is safer than a 17 inch 80/20 front road tyre on a Versys 650….on damp slimy bitumen on back roads?…when applying front brake prior to cornering?

How can you compare 701 and Dr, the first is more expensive in two or three times, the first is a modern model, but the second can be left to your great-grandchildren when the first "dies" and you bury it twice. The 701 is a weekend bike. It is difficult to imagine that you will take and ride it 5000-10000 kilometers for a month without preparing the motorcycle, and if you prepare it comes at a price like a regular bmw or ktm, but not the fact that it will be better for traveling....

It's definitely overpriced, but it's the best 50/50 only have one bike. It looks like the only competition might be from Ducati if they make an enduro version of their 698 Mono. Would love to see a Japanese competitor, but it's a slim to none chance, and I don't think it would have the tech that makes the 690/701 a great all-rounder (like ride by wire which allows for cruise control).

But how does it wheelie? 🤣 I think we know the answer to that one. 👍 I'm going to look a a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 today. I'm looking for a Distinguished Gentleman's Ride bike to add to the garage. Maybe a bike I can handle into my late 70's when all they'll be making is electric. Plus the guy has lost his vision and I feel like helping him out.

I don't need 70 hp on my CRF300 Rally, but 40 would be real nice.