When I was looking last autumn for a middle weight adv type bike that could manage fairly long distance with good light off road capability (once you reached your destination) I narrowed it down to the Husky 701LR and the T7.
So to say they are completely different bikes and aimed at different markets isn’t exactly true as folks who are interested in say travelling to the Northern TET in Scandinavia or journeying to Iceland might want to consider both. I certainly did. My local Husky dealer also told me that people who had enquired about the 701LR were also interested in the T7 as an alternative. I suppose the most important part is want kind of riding to you want to do and if it’s the above mentioned then yes you should consider both.
I choose the T7 as I figured out what I wanted to use it for would be roughly 70% tarmac and 30% light off road. If it was the other way round I’d have probably bought the Husky.
They are quite different bikes but can be used for the same thing.
I was interested in the Tenere when it was announced,but was underwhelmed when I sat on one at EICMA.Too plasticky and bland colours.
Having owned a couple of 701SMs, my interest was piqued when they announced the 701LR.
I knew it was a great motor and the idea of a 300 mile range planted a seed.
As previously mentioned, one of my all time favourite bikes was my KTM 950 SuperEnduro.
I owned that for a decade and by fitting a Safari tank, pannier rails and Renazco seat, turned it into a long distance tourer.
It took me all over Europe and was brilliant.It rarely ever ventured offroad.
I only sold it as it got a bit too tall for my dodgy knee.
I see the 701LR as the natural replacement .It’s complete overkill fitting the Nomad kit but it should let me tour,the Renazco seat should let me do long days if needed and I can sling my Mosko Moto luggage over the racks.
I’ve even fitted an Atlas Throttle Lock.
Admittedly I think the Tenere Rally looks great and has addressed some of the base model’s issues.
But my 701LR has more power, 40/50kgs less weight but has a greater range, so a win/win for me.
Just wheeling it in and out the garage shows how light the thing is.
The LR hasn’t been a huge seller in Europe but I think they’ve had supply issues.I know many have gone to Australia, where they love it.And now Euro 5 has killed it off.
At the end of Q3 2020, only 16 were on UK roads, so it’ll always be rare.
Would be quite handy to have that new dash with gear readout and rev counter.
Doubt it’ll work on older bikes as will need extra electricky bits, but some bright spark might make a plug in loom or sumfink......
as I was expecting the headlight to look different (as well as the exhaust).
