After searching the internet for the options on skid plate and crash bars for my 2023 Husqvarna 701 Enduro I decided to go with the T-Rex kit (Part Number: N167-16EG + N167-16SP). This kit did not claim to fit my bike exactly but rather KTM 690 Enduro/Supermoto and Husqvarna 701 Supermoto of years prior to mine. I contacted the company and asked about it fitting my bike. I worked out a deal to try it out.
Before installing it I weighed the components so I could later compare to what I removed.
Skid plate - 53.5oz
Left crash bar - 32.5oz
Right crash bar - 34.7oz
Attaching hardware - 22.2oz
142.9oz or 8.93lbs. I also weighed the factory plastic skid plate assembly and it came in at 25.4oz and 8.7oz of removed mounting hardware for a net weight gain of 6.8lbs. The added weight is fairly low on the bike, the skid plate being the heaviest single component and also the lowest.
The install was very easy and straightforward. It took less than 20 minutes I would guess. Here is a video of the install.
It fit the bike well and offers the protection I was looking for. The crash bars are simple and don't go as high as others but will likely take most of the hit if I drop the bike on either side, protecting the radiators.
The skid plate has extensions on both sides that help protect the side cases from objects from the front. They even offer some protection from dropping the bike on the side depending on the surface.
While it would have been convenient to use the original sockets to catch the back of the skid plate, the T-Rex design is much more robust.
Between the skip plate and crash bars, the water pump looks well protected now.
I like the lower position of the crash bars, both to keep the weight down low, and since this is a much stronger design than other bars.
I like the design of these crash bars compared to many others I have seen. The cross bar is positioned well to prevent branches and other things from getting captured by the bars when riding. It will tend to deflect them away.
I bought this bike just 3 months ago and now I have passed 1,000 miles. Being a dual sport, there are many highway miles in that but I ride mostly off-road. Over 85% of Nevada is public land and this is one of the most open states for motorized off-road trails. Now that it is winter, the weather is perfect for motorcycling too.
My last motorcycle was a 1989 KTM 500MX that I sold back in 1997. That bike had 65HP and weighed 227lbs. I have not owned a motorcycle since, until now. This Husky is the heaviest and most powerful bike I have owned, weighing 325lbs and having 74HP. It also has the most electronics with ABS, traction control, EFI with electronic throttle, etc. It is the only electric start bike I ever had. I did get into electric mountain bike riding over the last couple years so I have been on 2 wheelers quit a bit. However, those electric mountain bikes are light as a feather compared to a motorcycle. It has taken me that 3 months, dropping it several times, and 1,000 miles to get acquainted with this bike. Now I am at the point I really like it. For comparison I tried a friends KTM 890 and another friends CRF 450 (in the photo above) and I think I made the right choice with this 701 for my riding style and where I want to ride. This 701 is very light for an adventure/travel bike but heavier than an enduro or motocross bike. I love having a street legal bike I can just ride from home. It also opens up many roads and Jeep trails that require a street licensed vehicle. This bike has great road manners in my opinion, but I have ridden very few street bikes.
The 2023 Husqvarna 701 Endure, the KTM 690 Enduro, and the Gasgas 700 Enduro are all KTM motorcycles now. They are almost identical except for some bodywork. These bikes were designed and built in Austria for model year 2023 (and since 2016). PRIERER Mobility Ag owns all these companies.
Rear bag which I bolted in place. I also have Velcro straps bolted inside to keep the load from moving around. I carry a small 12V compressor and flat sealer in there.
USB charger with both USB-C and USB-A Quick Charge
1.3 gallon gas can with center mount. I custom made a bracket to mount this on the side. I also installed bolts through the mount the can came with since the mount is really weak.
During my first 3 months of ownership, I have crossed several mountain passes on Jeep trails, often with steep and very rocky sections like the Rocky Gap Road Rock Garden and Wheeler Pass. I have also ridden many loamy washes with loose sand and gravel which can be a handful at times.
I have tracked the fuel consumption along the way. I have averaged about 47mpg so far. This includes a considerable amount of low gear off-road riding which seems pretty good to me. I have never had to use my spare gas can yet so I generally don't even carry it. The most I have had to add to the tank on any fill-up so far has been 1.6 gallons and the bike has a 3.4 gallon tank. If I do plan a longer trip I can bring the 1.3 gallon can and have 4.7 gallons available. That would give me a 220 mile range. Actually it would likely be longer since my average mileage calculation includes a bunch of 1st gear off-road riding and a longer ride would likely include more higher gear riding where the mileage improves. Also as the bike breaks in more the fuel economy improves. There is no fuel level indicator on this bike except for a low fuel light. The rear mounted tank does not let you even look in to see the level. However, it puts the fuel weight on the back which helps in loamy conditions.
The bike has many electronic features including ABS, 2-mode traction control, electronic throttle and EFI. Mode 1 is for pavement and mode 2 is for off-road. You can also disable traction control all together but I have not found the need to do that. Once you select a traction control mode, it will retain it through key cycles. I do turn OFF the ABS off-road as it actually stops faster with it disabled when on loose terrain. One minor complaint I have with the ABS is in order to disable it after starting the bike you have to first ride fast enough to pass the pre-checks and the ABS light will then go out. It is only then that you can stop and disable the ABS. It will turn back ON every time you key back ON. You can buy a dongle that will keep it disabled. The EFI is great. The bike starts very fast even after you drop it and even stone cold. It also have a much longer maintenance schedule than most enduro bikes. It goes 6,200 miles between oil changes.
This bike is tall and large compared to a typical enduro bike. It also has a higher speed first gear. This, along with the added weight, makes really challenging technical stuff harder than an enduro (500cc or smaller) or motocross bike.
I really enjoy riding my electric mountain bike off-road around here. I go every weekend. However, there are more places I would like to explore that are too far to go on it. I do have a rack to carry it with my SUV but that takes work and still the riding range is limited (by me). I started riding with a friend who is also into dual sport motorcycles. He convinced me to get a dual sport bike.
Back in the 80's and 90's I had dirt bikes. My first was a 1982 Honda XR250. It was not very powerful so I upgraded to the XR500, then a 1986 XR600. My last dirt bike was a 1989 KTM 500MX and that was the best bike I owned to that point. Fast forward more than 25 years and now I bought this 2023 Husqvarna 701 Enduro.
At 325lbs it is the heaviest bike I have owned by almost 60lbs. It is also the most powerful at 74HP, 10HP more than my KTM. I wanted a dual sport so I would not have to haul it and because I wanted to explore some roads that require licensed vehicles. I like the idea of just riding from my house.
