Discussion
Hi folks, at the ripe old age of 66 with time on my hands and with a bit of experience of off road riding in the past, do I start doing it again at my age, green laning and the like?
I have a 2020 Husqvarna 701 LR Rally which is in VERY good condition having never been off and only used on road with road tyres. The thing is I need to get my head around using it as a tool. I thought if I did, I could just take some of the panels off to save them getting too messed up.
The other option would be to sell it and get something cheaper and older.
What would you do?
I have a 2020 Husqvarna 701 LR Rally which is in VERY good condition having never been off and only used on road with road tyres. The thing is I need to get my head around using it as a tool. I thought if I did, I could just take some of the panels off to save them getting too messed up.
The other option would be to sell it and get something cheaper and older.
What would you do?
Something old and cheaper. If you're really green laning/off roading as opposed to riding in a field, it's the better way. For me it's the same reason I wouldn't want to use a new flash Ducati as a dedicated track bike, I'd go for an old GSXR
Depends on your budget and appetite for damage I suppose.
Depends on your budget and appetite for damage I suppose.
That's a lovely bike. I think you can get matching white protection bars for it. But it might be a bit much for UK green lanes.
There's a couple of non-LRs in my TRF group and both the owners I spoke to said it is overkill really. But they both love them and you don't have to ride it fast. Everyone seems to say you will crash at some point but I don't think you have to. I'm only 47 and I don't want to break any more bones so I ride cautiously off-road and don't crash (touch wood). And if the worst does happen the Husky will take a crash pretty well I would have thought.
Go out locally a few times and see how you get on, so long as you have like 50/50 tyres and not pure road you should be fine.
There's a couple of non-LRs in my TRF group and both the owners I spoke to said it is overkill really. But they both love them and you don't have to ride it fast. Everyone seems to say you will crash at some point but I don't think you have to. I'm only 47 and I don't want to break any more bones so I ride cautiously off-road and don't crash (touch wood). And if the worst does happen the Husky will take a crash pretty well I would have thought.
Go out locally a few times and see how you get on, so long as you have like 50/50 tyres and not pure road you should be fine.
slime bomb said:
Hi folks, at the ripe old age of 66 with time on my hands and with a bit of experience of off road riding in the past, do I start doing it again at my age, green laning and the like?
I have a 2020 Husqvarna 701 LR Rally which is in VERY good condition having never been off and only used on road with road tyres. The thing is I need to get my head around using it as a tool. I thought if I did, I could just take some of the panels off to save them getting too messed up.
The other option would be to sell it and get something cheaper and older.
What would you do?
Why not try it, I picked this one at random, there are other UK based companies I have a 2020 Husqvarna 701 LR Rally which is in VERY good condition having never been off and only used on road with road tyres. The thing is I need to get my head around using it as a tool. I thought if I did, I could just take some of the panels off to save them getting too messed up.
The other option would be to sell it and get something cheaper and older.
What would you do?
https://www.overlandertrailtours.co.uk/
I’d use it , I’m one of those who would not take a bike out in rain , I remember heading to Matlock with mates & turning round at Bingham & heading home when it started to spit with rain at Bingham , mates carried on .
The bike was mint when I sold it , but had I enjoyed it , no, as there’s not many days in this country where it’s not raining or threatening rain , so it spent 99% of its time looking new in the garage
Maybe it won’t look new when you sell it , few dents & scratches but enjoying it I think now is more important than a few extra ££££ ,s in the bank .
The bike was mint when I sold it , but had I enjoyed it , no, as there’s not many days in this country where it’s not raining or threatening rain , so it spent 99% of its time looking new in the garage
Maybe it won’t look new when you sell it , few dents & scratches but enjoying it I think now is more important than a few extra ££££ ,s in the bank .
If you’d said 701 enduro my answer would be go for it but for an LR I’m not as convinced.
The 701 is probably at the top end of acceptable weight for a less experienced rider when the conditions can vary wildly on the trails, gravel roads would be a breeze but throw in rocks and mud and the extra kgs will start to show. My biggest concern with the LR is part availability if you damage those tanks or panels. Can you get them replaced? I thought the parts were difficult to come by and command high prices when they can.
The bike sounds like it’s been looked after and I assume clean so make sure you're happy that it will get dropped off road. Big power, high seat, more weight and a keen but inexperienced rider pretty much guarantee it.
The 701 is probably at the top end of acceptable weight for a less experienced rider when the conditions can vary wildly on the trails, gravel roads would be a breeze but throw in rocks and mud and the extra kgs will start to show. My biggest concern with the LR is part availability if you damage those tanks or panels. Can you get them replaced? I thought the parts were difficult to come by and command high prices when they can.
The bike sounds like it’s been looked after and I assume clean so make sure you're happy that it will get dropped off road. Big power, high seat, more weight and a keen but inexperienced rider pretty much guarantee it.
It depends if you're happy owning / riding a scuffed bike and / or are worried about the resale
Many people fit a cheap set of plastics, keep the OE and swap them over before they sell "never been used off road mate"
I use a late 701 green laning - the weight hasn't been an issue - the seat height has
I bought mine a couple of years old but it was already scuffed as the PO used it off road too - which was why I bought it
Only you know whether you'd be better with a lighter / smaller / cheaper bike
I've surprised myself by moving on to a bigger, heavier bike - 990 Adv I just love a V twin
Many people fit a cheap set of plastics, keep the OE and swap them over before they sell "never been used off road mate"
I use a late 701 green laning - the weight hasn't been an issue - the seat height has
I bought mine a couple of years old but it was already scuffed as the PO used it off road too - which was why I bought it
Only you know whether you'd be better with a lighter / smaller / cheaper bike
I've surprised myself by moving on to a bigger, heavier bike - 990 Adv I just love a V twin
Thanks for the replies guys, it does help.
I had a fully sorted CRF 300 L and did some lanes on that but always thought it was under powered, so I sold it and bought this as it to was fully sorted.
I think over all it's the thought of scuffing it and like you some of you say the hight is a bit of a concern although I've lowered it. Think I may get some Motoz Tractionator Rallz on it and have a go at some light stuff with a mate and see how I get on.
I had a fully sorted CRF 300 L and did some lanes on that but always thought it was under powered, so I sold it and bought this as it to was fully sorted.
I think over all it's the thought of scuffing it and like you some of you say the hight is a bit of a concern although I've lowered it. Think I may get some Motoz Tractionator Rallz on it and have a go at some light stuff with a mate and see how I get on.
as KTMsm said, plenty of guys in the TRF that are 60+. Actually probably most of them 
The 701 is a bit of a beast, more than enough power for off road. Great fun if you want to spray mud all over your mate, not so good when you're trying to take it easy in deeper mud! I picked up my 690 Enduro R for 1500 (albeit needed some work) and it makes for a brilliant greenlane bike. I'm not too worried about dropping it, getting it absolutely filthy etc
The 701 is a bit of a beast, more than enough power for off road. Great fun if you want to spray mud all over your mate, not so good when you're trying to take it easy in deeper mud! I picked up my 690 Enduro R for 1500 (albeit needed some work) and it makes for a brilliant greenlane bike. I'm not too worried about dropping it, getting it absolutely filthy etc
I would say there are a far smaller and lighter bikes IE a freeride if you want to make it easier
One of the guys who is older rides a montessa which looks like a cross between a trail and trials bike
The majority of the trf are late '50s IME
The types of green lane vary massively too from simple grass tracks to hideous rutted ones, rocky steps etc
If you join the trf or even a good local Facebook group, there will be someone who will run a newbie run so you get a gentle introduction
One of the guys who is older rides a montessa which looks like a cross between a trail and trials bike
The majority of the trf are late '50s IME
The types of green lane vary massively too from simple grass tracks to hideous rutted ones, rocky steps etc
If you join the trf or even a good local Facebook group, there will be someone who will run a newbie run so you get a gentle introduction
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