2020 Husqvarna 701 Enduro
I know longer own this bike---but my build thread
is still here for you to read.

Bought it new from Spykes KTM Husqvarna in Lafayette, Indiana-----super nice dealership
with good informative people working there. Sales guy just rode it right into my van.
He didn't need no ramp-------damn kids.
Me----I was too skeert !!
Purchased 7-20-2020

This page updated: 2-23-21

If interested scroll all the way to the bottom and I tell exactly what I think of the bike
and how it compares to other bikes I've owned.

 

 

 

Opinions------everybody's got one !!!!
1. These motors are touted to have a counterbalancer to make it smooth---smoother than the 690 they say.
I don't see it that way at all-------seems the same to me. Still the vibes are minimal and don't bother me at all.
But it is no way as smooth as my Honda's. Moving from one bike to the other is a revelation.
2. The quick shifter ???------I'm still on the fence--but right now I can shift it smoother my self the old way.
If it had a switch to turn that off---I'd probably turn it off.
3. ABS------perfect awesome---I leave full ABS on all the time. So---the brakes are unbelievable---but believe it !!!
4. Traction Control---Awesome----works perfect. The traction control on my Africa Twin let you know it
was working as it seemed to make the motor miss to reduce power. This bike you don't feel a thing---it just works.
It won't spin out on you---but still moves you aggressively forward somehow.
4. Power-------holy crap--seems more powerful than my old 690---I surely don't need it---but it's there.
5. Motor feel----it sure ain't no lugger. You have to keep the motor spinning a bit to be smooth---my 2 honda's pull
smoothly down to an idle------not this motor---it will try to jump out of the frame if you lug it. Flywheel could be bigger.
6. Headlight---I'm OK with it--seems much better than my 690 was---I won't be adding the complexity or weight
of additional lighting.
7. Fuel Mileage-----really happy--it will go 196 miles on the stock tank (3.4 gallons) and get over 60 mpg.
8. Suspension---rear is fine--but front is a bit harsh for this old man.

 

 

Just getting started with it but have quite a few things done to it.

 

I did manage to get it muddy early on.

 

 

 

 

I just didn't want the Mosko Moto Reckless 80 on this bike. Although that might be the lite and fast
way to go. I wanted something much easier to get into and less fiddly---not that I'm in a hurry.
So I installed these Tusk combination pannier racks and nice aluminum rear rack.
I have soft luggage that I made to be quick release to use on these-------I already had them.
So for day riding------I just pull the pin and off comes my wolfman expedition bags. Good for motel use too.

 

 

 

Check out Wolfmans new stuff------everything is waterproof now--out with old and in with the new.
This is the famous Enduro bag---but is now waterproof right out of the box-----no rain cover needed.

 

 

 

 

 

Double Take Adventure Mirrors

 

 

 

 

 

Cycro Pro-Bend handguards and shields
I have always hated those expandable things to attach to the end of the bars so I tapped the handlebars
with a tap and inserts from HDB (Highway Dirt Bikes) and used that to attach--much more solid and I
had them laying around from a previous install.

 

 

 

 

Had this "Wolftail" tailbag laying around---the new one is waterproof---this is the old model.
I bolted it to my rear rack as I don't approve of the bungy cord attachment system that comes
with the bag--------I have no reason to ever remove this bag. It's on there for day rides or traveling.
It doesn't look like it-----but there's still easy access to my gas tank filler right in front of the bag.

 

 

Steering Damper Install
Not to difficult of a job---but if you hire someone to mow your lawn or change your oil
--I'm bettin' you better hire somone to do this.
About $700 if you don't have the damper already----I had 2 dampers layin' around from previous bikes.
The kit below is about $450 (no damper included) and does more than just allow you to put a damper on.
It raises your handlebars a small amount but also has rubber dampers to soft things up for you hands.
It comes with 2 set of rubber grommets---one hard and one soft.

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions say you can't install this with center mount Cycra Pro-Bend hang guards----that is not so.
Some guy that can't mow his own lawn told them that !!!!!

 

 

 

You do have to pull the headlight mask---and take out a couple bolts to the headlight backing
plate so you can get you fingers under the right bottom side of the triple tree.
When you have pulled it forward "this much"--your good to go.

 

 

 

 

 

On a lot of bikes you have to pull the top triple tree off to mount the tower that goes in the
damper arm. But not with this kit--this one thing makes doing this a lot easier----- as pulling the upper
triple tree is a lot of work. Might have to learn how to mow your own lawn :)
Comments are tonque and cheek and meant to be funny !!!!!!
Finished job----This was really easy for me as I'd done the exact same thing on my KTM 690.
You know-----the one that blew up !!!!!! (not funny).

 

 

 

 

Replaced original gas cap that required a key with this one.
Got all wiring done for heated vest, heated grips, Power outlet etc.

 

 

 

Damper arm is in the way of locking my steering---don't know what I'm going to do about that ???????

 

8-7-20

 

Ordered a Wings Muffler-----DHL shipping guy couldn't find my house even with this sign out ??????.
So a new delivery day was set and I put this sign out again----I caught him on a drive by and waved him
down. His gps navigational skills wouldn't fly on a motorcycle adventure ride.

 

 

1/4 the weight of the stocker----and so much cooler (temperature wise).

 

 

 

You can see my oxford heated grips and my controller in this picture.
Ran a fused line straight to the battery as these grips will shut themselves off soon after you turn the motor off.
Genius !!!!

 

Ran the stock gas tank dry today.

 

 

 

 

Mounted up this little windshield--------It is made by Puig
Directions want you to pull the headlight all apart to mount this----totally not necessary.
Just drill the 4 holes and mount her up.

 

 

After mounting the windshield I used a longer ram arm and put my gps up a lot higher.

 

 

 

To do this you have to relocate the front brake line and ABS line behind the original headlight shroud.
Just pull it behind there----------took 2 seconds--no problem.
You can see the black rub marks where those cable were rubbing.

 

 

 

 

Tusk Olympus Saddlebags
The cool things about these which you can't really see----is these come off in 1/2 second
by pulling and spring loaded pin-------just like hard bags----or maybe even easier than some
of those.

 

 

 

40 litres each bag---lets see 2 X 40 is...........80 litres total.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The really cool thing I got going on with this installation----I have a set of Wolfman expedition bags
that are 18 litre each (about 1/2 the size of these) that I can put on the Tusk racks.
I modified them myself to be quick release the same as these. Changing from the big bag to
smaller is really quick.

 

 

 

Just for a picture sake----I have a 1.5 litre fuel bottle in the front and a 1/2 gallon touratech
fuel bottle in the rear pouch.

 

 

 

 

Had to replace my countershaft seal at about 700 miles---came with an O-ring so I replaced that too.
The Vanasche thingy---is what they call a dongle----I removed the kickstand switch and this fools
the computer into thinking the kickstand is up.

 

 

 

 

Old seal.
One keyboard jockey puts on the internet that you have to drain the oil or lean the bike way over
to the right to keep oil from pouring out when you pull the seal out. He was wrong.
But 8.2 million people read it---and they kept yakking and yakking about it------next thing you know
everybody thinks this is so.
It's Not---the oil level is a good inch below the seal area when the bike is straight up.
Wouldn't try it with it leaning on the sidestand tho.
I've seen pro factory mechanics post video's of this procedure and warned to lean it over or drain
the oil. Bah---Humbug !!! Common sense has gone out the window a long time ago.

 

 

 

 

I'm a tankbag guy-----always was---always will be.
I had the Enduro WP on my bike it was fine--but really wanted a bigger tankbag --------if---and only if
it didn't interfere with my riding. Sitting on the bike it is 4" from my crotch---standing the same.

 

 

Enduro compared to the Black Hawk---everything from Wolfman now is waterproof------everything !!!
4 litres for the smaller one---------10 for the Black Hawk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It hangs over the sides of the seat just a bit.
And is slightly wobbly because of that. I think after it's loaded and re-shapes itself a bit
it will be fine-------I could glue some foam on the bottom to take care of that-------yeh that's what I'll do !!!

 

 

 

If you've got that auxillary gas tank up front---this might not work for you.

 

Replaced the clutch slave cylinder with a Rekluse one------original was still working fine.
OEM slaves are prone to failure and I didn't want to have that happen in the middle of nowhere.
You don't need the brass crush washers----and the tubing they sent with the kit was useless
as it was way, way, way too small. Simple work and bleeding the system went fast and well.

 

So------with about 5,000 miles on the bike---what do I think of it ??????
It's an awesome bike and I've had absolutley no problems with it. 75 HP--wo that's a lot.
I've had fun riding it on long rides carrying camping gear.

It gets about 60 mpg and I ran it out on purpose once and it quit at 196 miles--but I think mileage has dropped
since new-------don't know why ???
ABS and traction control are absolutely awesome !!!!!!
Vibration----it's plenty smooth and doesn't bother me at all ---but is no way as smooth as my 2 Honda's
and WR250R as they are on another level of smooth.
Quick shifter-----sounds cool---sounds really cool-----I'm not really liking this feature------both my Honda's and my WR250R shift way smoother
and better without it-------I wish it wasn't there.
Hydraulic clutch----wish it had a cable. The clutch slave cylinder is prone to failure (replaced it with a Rekluse). Newish japanese bikes have
figured out how to make clutch feel easy and is as good or better than hydraulic systems.
If you'll lube the ball end of your clutch cable on your clutch cable occasionally---the cable will never break..........
as in "NEVER". So I have no use for a hydraulic clutch system----and it costs more.
Motor Noise-------I've owned about 10 KTM's-----all of their motors sound like they are coming apart--why is that ????
Suspension is good I guess----but..........this may just be me---the front suspension on this bike (and my old 690) seem
to be setup for an expert on a a motocross track. Super harsh-----that's not what most dualsporters want.
All the fancy suspension adjusters so far have failed to make it plush after backing them off to
their softest settings. To the folk that always say these bikes need to be ridden very aggresive for the suspension to work
I say..............HOGWASH !!!!

Do I wish I had kept my Honda 250 rally ???? I think so. It was a better built machine all around.

Not interested and won't debate the above.