FRODO
I don’t know about you lot, but for me a supermoto is an extreme, full-blooded fun machine, with no exceptions, no remorse, and absolutely no maturity. This meant that the choice was an utter no brainer –after testing KTM’s 690 SMC R a few months back I opted to go for its (almost) twin brother, and it’s fair to say, Supermotos don’t come barer. But to be honest, that’s just what I love about the Husky 701 Supermoto; at a time when saying the wrong things can get you in a lot of trouble and even a lack of ABS seems to offend people, something still so raw, feisty and fun is exactly what’s needed. We all love a bit of spice.
Yeah, it may only be packing 74 horses in the power department, but the zinger of a single cylinder engine also delivers 68Nm of torque, all while weighing in at under 150kg. Couple that with an aggressive, MX-inspired stance, a fuel tank bedded in the sub-frame and absolutely no traction control as far as the eye can see, and you have a proper stunt monster – without even mentioning the fact that the ABS can be easily switched off. From the first time I laid eyes on the Husky, its intentions were clear; unlike the other two electronically controlled and gadget crazed motos, the 701 is a real technophobe, in the rawest sense. The controls look like they’ve been lifted straight from a motocross bike and the dash, well, if we can call it that, looks older than one of those Casio watches, with no fuel gauge, rev counter or, well, anything. There’s no shifter or blipper, no traction control, and it certainly doesn’t come equipped with a Nespresso machine. At first glance the Husky is a one-star hostel, while the two Italians compare as five-star hotels. But then again, who on earth buys a supermoto for anything other than the riding experience? I have no idea, and that’s exactly where I felt the 701 Supermoto would come into its own.