Any KTM SMC / Husq owners?

[5150]

Hi all,

Looking to venture in to the SuperMotard category, and been recommended the KTM or Husqvarna 701.

Wondered if anyone had any experience of owning these and any gotchas worth looking for when buying second hand? Any years / models to avoid?

Understand the service schedule on these is quite decent / high miles, but I'm presently looking at around 2022 onwards / low mileage (around 750-2000 miles).

Thanks in advance.

Edited by 5150 on Monday 15th April 15:05

[horsemeatscandal]

I've got a Svartpilen 701. Had it three years, no mechanical or build/quality issues that I can recall. Used and serviced as normal. The display sometimes has a hissy fit and tells me that all the electrical gubbins have broken, but that's rare and lasts a couple of seconds and isn't shared with the SM anyway. Responded well to a remap to smooth out the fuelling. Brilliant bike.

[scorcher]

Had a couple of SMCR’s. A 2016 model and 2022. Think servicing is yearly/6k but a log of people change oil and filters a bit more regularly ( it’s only 1.7 ltrs from memory) Think they’ve gained a couple of horses over the years but you’d probably be hard pushed to notice. Engines are quite rattley, more so on the new ones due to a cheaper cam chain ( apparently). Great fun to ride and cheap to run( apart from back tyres) They don’t like chugging around and encourage you to ride flat out everywhere. Newer ones have TC and switchable maps. Abs can be turned off. New ones turn up occasionally cheaper than 2nd hand ones as they’re not big sellers. Got 7k trade in on my ‘22 It’s still for sale, down to £7250 now.

[5150]

Many thanks . .

Off to look at one tomorrow,

[GreaseNipple]

Another Svart 701 owner here, mines comng up to 14k miles and mechanically has been trouble free. I've read newer euro 5 smcr's and 701s run very lean, with a jerky throttle and really benefit from a remap.

[KTMsm]

I've owned 690s and currently a 701

On a 22 they're basically the same, on the earlier ones the Husqvarna was generally the better bike as it had the better engine

[scorcher]

Thought the engines were identical across the board. What was the difference between the two that made the 701 better?

[yellowstreak]

I have had a 2016 690 a few years and love it. Its the one before they fitted the balancer shaft to smooth it out. Its raw.

They are tempting to modify. Mine has a power commander, air box and full exhaust system and has been geared down (all by the previous owner). Its a lot of fun but not something I want to ride more than an hour. I originally looked at more extreme bikes like the the Husaberg FS650 and Aprilia SXV550 but the 690 was a better choice for me as its less stressed and doesn't require constant oil changes etc. Its been completely reliable.

[airsafari87]

OP, have you considered the new Ducati 698 Hypermotard? Or is that budget prohibitive?

[Janluke]

I ran a Svartpilen 701 2019. Such a fun bike, benefited from a power commander/remap, not massive increases but smoothed it out loads.

Oberon clutch slave cylinder upgrades are popular as the KTM/Husky ones can fail

[KTMsm]

scorcher said:

Thought the engines were identical across the board. What was the difference between the two that made the 701 better?

Have a quick Google but basically the Husqvarna had the later engine / engine updates years before the KTM

[ujio]

I'm very tempted by the Husky 701 as a next bike. More to do with how sh*t the roads are down here and the bike looks like a right hoot on B-roads.
I don't know whether it will be a compromise too far if I did decide to do a few short UK rides it would be a bit long in the tooth.

Also the fact they are highly nickable and they seem to be holding up in price remarkably well. If spending £7k plus on a single, might as well go for a much more usable 2021 MT09 .