2020 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
One Cylinder, Full Commitment
Husqvarna built the 701 Supermoto around one idea: a big single, 17-inch street tires, and as little else as possible. The 693 cc liquid-cooled motor makes 74 hp and 54 lb-ft, which on a 346 lb wet machine is enough to rearrange your weekend. A steel trellis frame carries fully adjustable suspension at both ends, and the rider-aid package is more serious than the stripped-down look suggests, with ABS, cornering ABS, traction control, and ride modes all standard. In a class that usually trades civility for attitude, this one manages to keep both.
It rides the way the numbers promise. Light steering, huge lean clearance, and enough compactness that a canyon road and a downtown block feel like the same job. Running costs stay low: one cylinder, 43 mpg, and a parts catalog deep enough to build the bike you actually want. The caveats are just as real. This is a tall motorcycle, and that alone rules out a lot of riders before the first mile. The 3.4 gal (13 L) tank cuts long days into short legs, and there is no cruise control and no luggage system. A weapon for the good roads, not a mile-eater.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 74 hp (54 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 54 lb-ft (73 Nm) |
| Displacement | 693 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 9.4 in (238 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.5 in (215 mm) |
| Rear travel | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Seat height | 35.0 in (890 mm) |
| Wet weight | 346 lb (157 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (13 L) |
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Clutch slave cylinder O-ring failure
The bellows-style gasket in the clutch slave cylinder can become damaged during assembly, causing fluid leakage and eventually making the clutch inoperable. A recall (NHTSA 21V-792) covers this issue.
Side stand magnet detachment
The magnet in the side stand switch can fall off, causing the engine to cut out unexpectedly as the ECU thinks the side stand is down.
Intermittent display flickering
Some owners report the LCD dash occasionally flickers or fails to display mileage, often resolving on restart. May be related to voltage fluctuations or a weak battery.
Where this Husqvarna 701 Supermoto pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 701 Supermoto is actually built for.
This is a canyon tool first. It changes direction faster than you expect and never runs out of lean angle. Plan the loop around fuel stops, not around your stamina.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
Brilliant on the tight stuff, honest about the rest. The Twisted Sisters will be a riot. The long straight run out there, with no cruise control and a 3.4 gal tank, is the price of admission.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
You ride the same corners to get better at them, and this bike answers every small input you make. Light, sharp, and cheap enough to run the Dragon again and again.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Husqvarna 701 Supermoto. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2019
One Cylinder, Zero Mercy
About the same used price as this bike at 6 yr
Competitor · 2019–2024
Italian Attitude, Street Legal
Roughly $1,900 pricier used than this bike at 6 yr
Same Platform · 2020–2025
The Long-Haul Dirt Weapon
Roughly $1,700 cheaper used than this bike at 6 yr