Let’s talk new dual sports

jbonemalone wrote:

Perfect tires for city missions. I did get the highway patrol doubletake as deputy do right passed me this morning. He made a hard u turn...

Perfect tires for city missions. I did get the highway patrol doubletake as deputy do right passed me this morning. He made a hard u turn and comes up to me at the next stoplight. Gave me a hard once over and then says I know there’s something illegal going on here but I don’t have time to figure it out before burning off with his lights on.
Really made my pasta rocket feel more fun on this blacktop moto verse.
These betas really loosen up after a break in period.
Like a whole lot. Runs cooler and way way more peppy.

loftyair wrote:

Is the husq 701 still an option? That's what I want, a big, big bore!

loftyair wrote:

Is the husq 701 still an option? That's what I want, a big, big bore!

nytsmaC wrote:

Yes it is and it’s cheaper than the 350/501.. It’s big and heavy for any technical singletrack though and only marginally better on the street.

Tim507 wrote:

My 2017 701. Had a nicely setup 501, however sold it to my son and got this one used. I added the Rade Garage Fairing Kit...

My 2017 701. Had a nicely setup 501, however sold it to my son and got this one used. I added the Rade Garage Fairing Kit.

pic1 is heading over Lolo Pass to the Hood River area.
pic2 is heading to Washougal.

loftyair wrote:

Is the husq 701 still an option? That's what I want, a big, big bore!

nytsmaC wrote:

Yes it is and it’s cheaper than the 350/501.. It’s big and heavy for any technical singletrack though and only marginally better on the street.

loftyair wrote:

200cc but not much more power than 500?

nytsmaC wrote:

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is...

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is very close.

An uncorked 501 is going to cost you a lot more money than a 701. They both have their pros and cons, all I was saying was the 501 has a huge advantage on tight trails. The 701 has a cheaper entry point, is a little better on pavement (but it’s not like it’s a happy highway cruiser either) and if you want to carry a lot of luggage it’s a clear winner between the two.

I’ve heard of a lot of guys who are happy they switched from a 701 to a 501 due to it’s off road performance.

I wasn’t knocking the 701, I think they’re a really nice bike.

nytsmaC wrote:

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is...

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is very close.

An uncorked 501 is going to cost you a lot more money than a 701. They both have their pros and cons, all I was saying was the 501 has a huge advantage on tight trails. The 701 has a cheaper entry point, is a little better on pavement (but it’s not like it’s a happy highway cruiser either) and if you want to carry a lot of luggage it’s a clear winner between the two.

I’ve heard of a lot of guys who are happy they switched from a 701 to a 501 due to it’s off road performance.

I wasn’t knocking the 701, I think they’re a really nice bike.

loftyair wrote:

Ok, thanks for the reply!

nytsmaC wrote:

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is...

An uncorked 501 is 60hp and 250lbs, the 701 is 75ho and 350lbs. Add a 200lb rider to each and the horsepower to weight ratio is very close.

An uncorked 501 is going to cost you a lot more money than a 701. They both have their pros and cons, all I was saying was the 501 has a huge advantage on tight trails. The 701 has a cheaper entry point, is a little better on pavement (but it’s not like it’s a happy highway cruiser either) and if you want to carry a lot of luggage it’s a clear winner between the two.

I’ve heard of a lot of guys who are happy they switched from a 701 to a 501 due to it’s off road performance.

I wasn’t knocking the 701, I think they’re a really nice bike.

loftyair wrote:

Ok, thanks for the reply!

nytsmaC wrote:

Keep in mind that the 501 is only 38hp stock so I’m not exactly comparing apples to apples. There are some local guys here with really...

Keep in mind that the 501 is only 38hp stock so I’m not exactly comparing apples to apples.

There are some local guys here with really trick rally kitted 701’s, those bikes are real head turners. Seems like the biggest complaint of the 701 is it’s a big single and buzzy on the highway like any other big thumper. If it had a smoother twin and a rally tower, like a smaller more off road oriented 890, it would differentiate itself a lot more from the 350/501’s.

Tim507 wrote:

My 2017 701. Had a nicely setup 501, however sold it to my son and got this one used. I added the Rade Garage Fairing Kit...

My 2017 701. Had a nicely setup 501, however sold it to my son and got this one used. I added the Rade Garage Fairing Kit.

pic1 is heading over Lolo Pass to the Hood River area.
pic2 is heading to Washougal.

loftyair wrote:

How do you feel about power diff between 500 and 700? And weight?

Gordon Lightfoot wrote:

My gig is all about getting more seat time and sort of re-inventing my high school days when we rode everywhere on one bike. Most of...

My gig is all about getting more seat time and sort of re-inventing my high school days when we rode everywhere on one bike. Most of my runs these days are either from the house to the track (20 mins each way) or out to the woods (45 mins). For light duty on surface roads, my 501s is great but, as others have noted, the knobs and a dirt-oriented machine don't adapt so well to highway running. On the other hand, even relatively slower speeds in the city can have a pretty negative impact on the knobbies, as this recent pic of my front 606 illustrates. Bottom line is that in all likelihood the perfect do-it-all bike doesn't (and may never) exist, but living with the quirks isn't so bad given the great overall fun-factor of these machines.

rjg wrote:

It could exist if the two biggest problems are solved. Tires that are good on dirt and street, and a transmission that can adapt to dirt...

It could exist if the two biggest problems are solved. Tires that are good on dirt and street, and a transmission that can adapt to dirt and street (both modes).

CornflakeJackson wrote:

How is the reliability of the current Betas compared to a KTM/Husqvarna? It seems like there were complaints about electrical issues and other various gremlins on...

How is the reliability of the current Betas compared to a KTM/Husqvarna? It seems like there were complaints about electrical issues and other various gremlins on the Betas a few years ago but not sure about the newer bikes. The RR-S models are tempting since they don’t require the same amount of uncorking as the Austrian bikes or the Honda but the reliability is still a question mark for me.