Husqvarna 701 Enduro 7500 mile update

 

I just passed 7,500 miles on the Husqvarna 701 Enduro. My warranty will expire in September. I have been through 4 rear tires (just ordered the 5th rear). The original TKC80's were great tires but were not available when I needed to replace them so I switch both to Anakee Wild. The Anakee Wild front is still going strong at about 4,600 miles on the front Anakee Wild with 5.2mm tread in the center (about 60% remaining tread). I got 2,900 miles out of the original TKC 80's but I was just starting to ride again after over 30 years without a motorcycle. The longer I ride, the less miles I am getting from the rear tires. I wore out the first Anakee after 1,700 miles, the second after 1,500 miles, and the 3rd after 1,400 miles. I replace then when the center is down to around 4mm tread depth remaining.  

Since my 5,000 mile update, the only modification I have made is the Veridian cruise control with ABS add-on. I have this bike well equipped now to my liking. To date I have spent about $2,700 on additions to this bike, which includes things like the Garmin Zumo XT2 navigation. I take the windshield off in the summer as the airflow is welcome. I replaced the 4 mounting crews with thumbscrews. It is great that 4 thumbscrews is all it takes to remove or reposition it. One of the most important upgrades for this bike is the Seat Concepts Comfort XL seat. If you spend more than an hour on the seat, this makes a huge difference. This bike makes great power so no performance upgrades are needed. Even above the maximum highway speed limit, and going uphill, you can pass with ease. The suspension is also perfect for me (5' 10" and 185lbs) with basic gear. In fact, it is to the firm side if anything. I have never bottomed out this bike. Not even close. I have the compression front and rear set on the soft side and it is still a bit firm. The video below shows a pretty hard hit that dislodged my camera mic adapter (start at 9:30 minutes in).

Dork in the Road recently did a review on the KTM 690 (same bike with slightly different plastic).

I commented on this. His list of pro's and con's is fairly accurate, but we all prioritize them differently. I don't agree at all with his complaints about the traction control. It works great. Simply set to mode 2 for off-road and enjoy. Super easy. He kept trying to disable it which I have only done a few times. It is just not necessary. Many others who own these bikes has similar comments that the traction control is great, just put it in mode 2 when off-road. It even holds that mode between key cycles. Perfect. I don't agree with his overall assessment as I prioritize these things different and some of his complaints are not issues for me. His big issue of comfort is pretty much solved with the Seat Concepts Comfort XL seat. He mentions reliability with no facts at all to back up any reliability issues with this bike.

His complains about the ABS is true. I found riding with ABS off-road can be scary. On soft surfaces (pretty much everywhere off-road) it intervenes way too much increasing stopping distances substantially. As he shows in the video you have to start the bike, roll forward enough that the system validates the wheel speed sensors, come to a stop, and hold the ABS button for 8s. Every key cycle it reverts to ON so you have to repeat that process. I opted for the optional ABS add-on with the Veridian cruise control system I installed. This allows you to set it in an off-road mode and it will maintain this mode through key cycles. However, this off-road mode does not disable front wheel ABS. I just installed the system and I need more time riding with it off-road to see if that off-road mode will meet my needs.

As he says in the video, this bike is fantastic at higher speeds, even off-road. When I first got the bike, I crashed many times, all at low speeds (under 10mph). I felt the gearing was also not great off-road (as he points out) at low speeds. First gear was just not low enough. However, after learning how to ride better off-road, I no longer have these issues. The solution: just ride faster. Keep it over 10mph and keep your feet on the pegs and life is great. This bike can quickly recover from what feels like a certain crash at speeds over 10mph. Things like a big rock causing a large deflection in the front or rear wheels at first feel like a certain crash. However, just as fast as the deflection happens, it snaps right back and all is good. It feels like magic but the reality is a combination of momentum and the gyro effect from all the rotating mass. On the highway it is very stable for a bike with knobby tires. I can cruise along at..., well a "spirited rate" with no issues. Occasionally I do get just a light weave at certain speeds but it never feels unsettling to me. Even riding highways speeds over grooves feels pretty stable to me. 

When I first got the bike I would occasionally get a check engine light with a fault code for the kickstand sensor. The dealer even swapped the sensor to address this. It happened a few more times even with the new sensor. I have not had that issue in a long time now. Back then I would be raising the kickstand at the same time I hit the start switch or turned the key ON. Now I carefully make sure the stand if fully up before turning the key ON. 

I still track the fuel economy and I average around 50mpg. It can get 65mpg when in high gear and below 55mph. It can go as low as 35mpg with the windshield on at high speeds on the highway into a headwind. I have found the 3.4 gallon tank to be adequate for over 90% of my rides. I have a 1.3 gallon can I can mount on the back but I rarely every use it. I have never ran the main tank dry. When the low fuel light turns ON, there is about 0.8 gallons left in the tank, good for about 40 miles. 

Would I buy this bike again: hell yes! It is truly awesome. Some say magic unicorn and many dispute this but in my opinion this is a close as you can get. Bikes are all trade-offs, especially in this segment between a dual sport and an adventure bike. It may be expensive but it also does not need any performance or suspension modifications. 

The video below is a very short video review of this bike at 7,500 miles.

The video below shows a demo of the quick sifter. Love this thing.

  

Veridian Cruise Install

Unboxing.

 I love my Husqvarna 701 Enduro but one thing I wished I had was cruise control. Those times when you are cruising on the highway for over 30 minutes is when I really want it. Your hand just gets tired holding the throttle for long periods, and too often I don't maintain speed well. My mirrors get knocked out of position off-road, generally from hitting branches. I don't notice it until I am cruising down the highway. Adjusting the left side is no big deal but the right mirror requires I take my hand off the throttle and the bike slows down fast. This was not a big enough deal by itself to buy cruise control.

I searched around for a cruise control system and found the Veridian system for my bike (Euro 4 kit). Not only was it a proper cruise control system, but it also supports CAN dongle features. A very important feature it supports is the ability to enter a permanent off-road mode (ABS fully OFF). It maintains this mode through key cycles too. The frustrating and dangerous thing about the stock ABS system is that it always defaults back ON after every key cycle. This can be dangerous off road as ABS does not help at all off-road. In fact, it makes stopping distances much longer. In order to disable ABS after key ON you have to roll forward fast enough for the wheel speeds to qualify, and then the ABS light goes out. Now you have to hold the ABS button for 5 seconds until the light goes back out. At this point you are ready to ride, but only for that key cycle. Shut the key OFF and you have to repeat the process. This Veridian system lets you set off-road mode and have it maintain it through key cycles, until you re-enable it through the Veridian system Perfect!

The install was fairly easy but did take a couple hours. I have so many farkles on my handlebars finding a place for the 3-button control was a challenge. I ended up mounting it to the right mirror mount. I used some hose pieces and tape to make the mounting diameter correct. I may revisit this as the button are a bit far from your grip and it would be better to have it on the other side.

I routed the wire under the key switch cover. I mounted the module behind the left side cover, in front of the airbox. This is where it connects to the throttle wiring too. The module needs to be mounted near the ignition switch, which is where the throttle connectors are as well. 

The image above shows the module mounted behind the left side cover near the ignition switch.

The image above shows the view of the connectors from the top with the seat and ignition cover removed. You can see the white connectors.

I routed the OBD connector wiring along the airbox and back to the fuse box area where it connects to the OBD connector, and the rear brake input. Like many of these kits, they have a Scotchlock in the kit to tap the rear brake wire. These are evil little things you never want to use. Instead I used a screw block. I used dielectric grease on the wires to prevent corrosion (see below). This is under the seat where it is semi-protected. 

The system works as advertised. Basically just like a typical car cruise control. The image below shows the wiring. The system modifies the throttle command to the engine control. It also connects to the OBD port to get power and data such as engine speed, brake status, wheel speeds, etc., from CAN. This CAN connection is also used for the ABS disable function. 

Video showing how to go from normal ABS mode to ABS disabled mode.

This video shows going from ABS disabled mode to normal ABS mode.

Function of ABS add-on

After installation the cruise worked fine. I came home and entered and exited the ABS add-on feature (videos above). The next ride the cruise would not work. When I tried to engage it, the throttle control went away, engine dropped to low idle. After about a second, I was able to control the throttle again with the handle as normal. I contacted Veridian and they suspected that I may have inadvertently entered the throttle calibration mode. Sure enough, I had. Notice the both throttle for each sensor are about the same.

The said to recalibrate the throttle following this procedure: 

Here is how do to the throttle calibration.

1. Bike on, Engine off

2. Press Cruise Set 5 times, the controller will flash blue.

3. HOLD the throttle open and press Cruise Cancel.

https://youtu.be/NTCSbwuB6WU

That fixed the cruise control. Now my calibrations are correct.

8-17-2025 Update

I have now used the ABD add-on more and I really like it. There is still some front ABS but it totally disables rear. I have now ridded several miles on easy to medium terrain and I will be using it from now on. So nice it holds though key cycles. 

One interesting note is that the accel and decel work differently than some car cruise control. You can't hold it to continue to accelerate or decelerate. It only recognizes a single press, no matter how long you hold it. As it says in the operators manual, a press of the set/decel means set that speed, or if you already have the cruise engaged, decel by 3mph. The + button (right side in my installation) means resume to last set speed if the cruise was not currently engaged, or increment by 3mph if the cruise is engaged. 

Based on this function, I changed how I mounted the switch.

This was the set switch is closest to the throttle, making it easier to set.

Here is a short video showing the cruise control system in use.

That video was shot just before changing the switch orientation.