“IF IT FITS YOUR USE CASE,
I HAVE A FEELING YOU’LL BE
VERY IMPRESSED.
no, the Husky has very smooth, turbine
like power which builds progressively in a
particularly linear way. At low revs it feels like
about 20hp, at half throttle maybe about
50hp, with maximum power near maximum
revs. So, while it’s not that punchy down low,
the 701 does make up for it by being
responsive. The revs build quickly so it’s
excitingly quick and fun to ride, but it
manages to still be user friendly in slow-ish,
more technical, terrain. At one stage while
road riding with little fuel in the front tank,
but near full in the rear, wheelies came very
easily making for delightfully hoon-like
progress. On the dirt and gravel roads I
found myself typically switching the ABS
and TC off and selecting power mode 1 of 2
for maximum engine effect and fun. For
mainly road work thought, I’d advise leaving
the sophisticated lean-angle sensitive ABS
and TC on – this motor will readily light-up
the rear Continental TKC80 on wet tarmac.
ROAD V OFF-ROAD
The handling is typically dirtbike on the road
– light and agile with the initial turn-in very
light. This will feel especially light if you’re
coming from a heavier adventure machine.
This feel soon becomes natural and normal.
In hardly any time I had fully adjusted. It feels
substantially less motorcycle than KTM’s 790
Adventure, which, while not being a direct
comparison, is probably a potential option for
701 LR buyers. The 790 is nicer, a little quicker
and more effortless on road, while the 701 is
definitely lighter and better off-road, but
both are awesome fun. It just depends on
which side of the road/off-road line you
wish to dance.
With both fuel tanks completely full I was
amazed at how fast and planted the Husky
is on gravel. The fuel load seems to settle the
701 down on to the gravel giving it great
steering grip and rear wheel drive – much
more so than a typical dirt bike. Admittedly,
42 KIWI RIDER