1602 DT final

continue as spokesmen hinted about more product
announcements coming soon.
We’ve known since we featured the prototype in
2013, that the 701 was based on the famous 690.
Husqvarna maintains that their machines will be more
‘user-friendly’ than their Austrian counterparts, ‘less
extreme’ according to product manager Justin Maxwell.
In the case of the 701 Enduro, ‘more for travel,’ he
said. To that end, the tank, which is also the polyamide
sub-frame, is one litre bigger than the 690, meaning a
13-litre capacity.
Beating at the heart of both Huskies is a SOHC,
four-valve, 690cc (102.0 x 84.5mm) single-cylinder
engine boasting a claimed 67 peak horsepower and
66 Nm of torque. Engine management is handled by a
46mm Keihin throttle body with ride-by-wire technology
(a first for any Husqvarna motorcycle) and three ride
modes: Standard, Soft, and Advanced. The chromemoly-steel
trellis frame is manufactured by yet another
sister company, WP Performance Systems. The molded
polyamide rear sub frame pulls double duty as both a
structural component and a fuel tank.
Our attention was brought to the new, ribbed seat,
extending virtually from handlebar to tail light, and to
the narrowness of the new bodywork, allowing the rider
freedom to move around. Interesting is the fact that the
bikes that arrived in SA here have black seats – seems
that the seat factory could not keep up with demand, so
the correct seats will be here soon so the early buyers
will get two seats. Cool huh?
WP provides the fully adjustable suspension. Up front
is a separate-function fork with the right leg dedicated to
rebound damping and the left to compression, while out
back is a single, linkage-actuated, gas-charged shock.
Rider aids include a Magura hydraulically actuated
slipper clutch and an advanced Bosch ABS that is
capable of being switched off. An optional plug-in under
the seat gives the rider a third setting that provides ABS
to the front wheel only. The Enduro is outfitted with
21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels wrapped with
Continental TKC 80 knobbies. Brembo is responsible for
stopping power with a two-piston front on the Enduro
and a single-piston rear.
16 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2016
1602 DT Husky 701.indd 16 2016/01/24 9:35 PM