Words: Sheridan Morais

After watching the very exciting promo video Husqvarna released a couple of months ago, one can’t help but be excited about the prospect of a 700cc-powered Supermoto monster. Wheelies, a smoking rear tyre or an adrenalin rush are the order of the day when thinking of this new motard.

We all love the idea of MX bikes but if you are like me, and don’t like the dirt part and high altitudes, then owning an MX bike is pretty pointless. But keep the same ergonomics and character of an MX bike and just throw on a set of road wheels and tyres, then you have my attention.

The Husqvarna 701 Supermoto is powered by a 690cc, liquid-cooled single that produces a claimed 49kW at 7500 rpm and 67Nm of torque at 6000 rpm. Three engine maps are available on the 701 Supermoto: Standard, Soft and Advanced to accord with riding conditions. The six-speed transmission is engaged via a slipper clutch.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Making the 701 even more desirable is the high-end WP components and best in the business Brembo brakes. To add even more safety and confidence to the bike the Husqvarna 701 comes with Bosch 9M+ Two-Channel ABS which, thankfully, can be disengaged. It even has a ride-by-wire throttle which is real impressive on this sort of machine. Combine all that with a package that weighs only 145kg, and you have a weapon that you can really enjoy!

Fun, plain and simple. That’s what the new 701 is all about. It loves tight curvy roads and begs to be ridden aggressively. It isn’t a long distance highway cruiser, it’s a bike that likes to avoid the straight and boring – the more curves the better!

From the word go the comfort factor is evident. The dirt bike-like upright sitting position sets the mood for what will no doubt be an exciting and thrilling ride. The dash and controls are very simple but really easy to use, which is a breath of fresh air after trying to figure out how things work on some modern day sportsbikes.

Next to grab my attention was the power. It’s incredibly linear with plenty on tap. Accelerating through corners is easy and smooth without any surprising power bursts that would cause the rear to break loose without warning. The perfect amount of power and torque to enjoy out on the streets without having that fear factor.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

There is a bit of vibration through the bars but nothing to off putting. The strong brakes are always on hand to help out, although on this kind of bike you find yourself using a lot more back brake than normal. I would get the rear wheel stepping out as often as possible, and not always through the use of the back brake. More often than not I used the engine compression to get the rear tyre squealing – something so easy to do on this bike.

In my two days with the bike my normally pretty boring 30km commute to gym and back now turned into a thrilling rush of excitement. The most fun I have had in 30km ever. All that fun does take its toll on the 13 litre tank but nothing to off putting, you still get good mileage for your buck.

The 701 is dressed to impress with close to 50kW, advanced electronics and a state-of-the-art chassis. The 701 Supermoto captures the thrill of the racetrack and brings the pure riding essence of Supermoto to the street. Labbled as an urban bike by Husqvarna themselves, I personally cannot think of many other bikes that would offer more fun on your daily commute while also catering for the inner hooligan when needed.

Specifications

Engine type: Single, four valve per cylinder, liquid cooled
Capacity: 690cc
Bore x stroke: 102 x 84.5mm
Claimed power: 49kW @ 7000rpm
Claimed torque: 67Nm @ 6500rpm
Dry weight: 145kg
Seat height: 890mm
Wheelbase: 1480mm
Fuel tank capacity: 13L
Colours: White/blue/yellow
Price: $15,995+orc
Detailed specs: www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/au