VOL. 53 ISSUE 25 JUNE 28, 2016 P95
top of your to-do list as a hot tub
rendezvous with Kathy Bates and
Donald Trump.
But, if buying for the reasons
we, certainly I, ride—that afore-
mentioned face-splitting laughter,
fear and adrenalin—a Husqvarna
701 SM would be about as close
to the top of your to-do list as a hot
tub rendezvous with Miranda Kerr
and, if you're that way inclined,
Ryan Gosling.
A few years back, when the first
sketches of the 701 Enduro and
this 701 SM, the bike world went
comparatively gaga over what
would turn out to be one of the
largest capacity dirt bikes of all
time. Under new KTM manage-
ment, the "pioneers of motocross"
as it says on the side of their van,
would get access to the 2012-
'15 KTM Duke 690 powerplant,
thus allowing this hooligan home
wrecker to take shape and bring
supermoto sliding back into our
collective subconscious.
Kit Palmer's initial thoughts and
R
ecently we got a letter at the
office asking why we always
publish photos of bikes look-
ing like they are going fast, rather
than just pottering around town.
It seemed a trifle question—who
wants to see photos of a rider
who looks like he's going to the
shops? Bikes are meant to induce
face-splitting laughter, fear, adren-
alin—all the stuff that make you
feel alive. Photos displaying these
emotions are what makes us want
to go out and ride. So you'll forgive
me if this article displays images
portraying such feelings—riding a
Husqvarna 701 SM will do that to
you.
This is possibly the silliest
motorcycle I've ridden in a very,
very long time. Its practicality level
is close to zero. It doesn't ride
freeways well at all, doesn't feel
that great going to the shops for
the milk run, and doesn't take two
people. If you are buying for these
reasons alone, a Husqvarna 701
SM would be about as far from the
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
Take a ride on a Husqvarna 701 SM and get
ready to embrace your inner hooligan
URBAN BANDIT
