Over the past five-ish years, I’ve had the chance to test-ride a few bikes in the 690/701 dual sport lineup. I really liked the Husqvarna 701 Enduro’s space-age styling, and the KTM 690 Enduro R that I took to Newfoundland in 2022 proved a versatile adventure tourer, with only minor add-ons. Really, it was a bike that could reasonably handle every chore I was likely to use it for, except for one thing: The fuel range wasn’t great. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t as good as I’d want on North America’s remote resource roads. Up north, you can go 250 miles between gas stops, and I could only depend on getting about 150 miles from the small gas tanks on these bikes. That means hauling a clumsy Jerry can or other fuel storage, if you want to push far past civilization, or adding a pricey auxiliary gas tank.

But for a while, there was another option. Around 2020 (depending which market you were in), you could buy the Husqvarna 701 Enduro LR (Long Range). For someone with my ideas of bike-building, it was the perfect machine to start putting together a long-distance touring-friendly dual-sport, combining highway power, off-road capability and range.

Here’s the Husqvarna 701 Enduro in its standard, non-LR form. Photo: Husqvarna

A reliable foundation

The basis of this machine was obviously Husqvarna’s standard 701 Enduro model. This bike was first introduced in 2015 as basically a re-model of the KTM 690 Enduro, since both companies were now under the same ownership. The 690’s aggressive styling and orange paint promised, nay, threatened the public with wheelies and power-slides and other moto-hoonery. The 701’s styling dialed down the aggression just a tad, replacing it with a futuristic Buck Rogers aesthetic.

Some riders loved it, while others preferred the softer-edged suspension on the 690 and didn’t care about the looks. Either way, you were getting the hottest single-cylinder engine on the market. In the 2020 version, that engine was making about 74 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, by far the most powerful production-model thumper ever built. Claimed peak torque was 52 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. Some of that muscle disappeared by the time it reached the rear wheel, thanks to mechanical inefficiencies, but the LC4 engine was the baddest thumper ever built, and very fun on a back road or in the dirt.

And here’s the LR version. You can see the bulkier tanks up front. Photo: Husqvarna

And it wasn’t just dumb muscle; by 2020, the 701 had a new electronics suite added, with lean-sensitive ABS, traction control, multiple ride modes and a quickshifter included. The quickshifter made rowing through the six-speed gearbox less hectic off-road. On-road, the light weight (320 lb dry) combined with the almost-instant torque when using the quickshifter to provide a truly thrilling experience that belied the fact this was only a dual sport, not an expensive hooligan bike.

This is not to say the engine was perfect; some owners have complained of problems with the LC4, including the clutch slave cylinder and other internals. However, I believe that almost all owners have been very happy with their purchase, and if you were to try hot-rodding one of the Japanese thumpers to make the same power, you’d have problems with that platform as well (and you wouldn’t have the quickshifter).

The bike for sale here has been much-modded for long-distance travel. Photo: MZ3ROB

The Long Range model

If you’re easy on the throttle, the latest-generation LC4 platform isn’t too bad on fuel, but like I said earlier, a lot of riders would be happy with more range. Just as I want more fuel capacity for exploring the north, the Euro riders headed down to the Atlas Mountains or the Sahara are also concerned about running out of gas in the middle of nowhere—and since they’re far more likely to be in a true wilderness and off a major road, it’s even more important for those explorers.

Husqvarna must have heard plenty of this kind of talk, because out of nowhere they released the 701 Enduro LR (which obviously stood for Long Range). This bike came with the same engine, same WP XPLOR suspension and same frame (including composite subframe) as the standard enduro. The only difference? A lot more fuel capacity. With lighter fuel tanks integrated into the bodywork, the LR model carried an extra 3.2 gallons of fuel, bringing the total to 6.6 gallons of onboard storage.

Photo: MZ3ROB

The standard 701 model stores its fuel towards the rear of the bike, with a fill cap behind the seat. The LR model had its extra storage mounted up front, where most motorcycles store their gas, with the tank’s lobes mounted lower than you’d find on most bikes, although not as low as the later 790/890 twin-cylinder models. This helped preserve the bike’s handling, although the extra weight wasn’t as bad as you’d think—the larger fuel tanks and pump added about 20 pounds, although doubling the onboard fuel certainly added up to a lot more.

A lot of serious riders were excited when the LR variant came out, as they immediately recognized it was a good basis for a practical dual sport for long-distance riding—almost all the basic stuff that would be challenging or annoying for the DIYer was already done. Unfortunately, Husqvarna only had the bike in its lineup for a short time; a few months after its introduction, it was gone, and we’ve heard nothing about it coming back.

The LR, in its natural habitat! Photo: MZ3ROB

This bike here

Inmate MZ3ROB has this for sale in ADVrider’s Flea Market section, with the following description:

2020 Husqvarna 701 Enduro Long Range
~8300 Miles

1. Nomad ADV Rally Tower w/ 2 USB Power Ports
2. Cyclops Lights
4. LED Sequential Running/Signal Lights
5. Outback Skid Plate with Brake Guard
6. Wings Exhaust w/Carbon Fiber Guards
7. Outback Pannier Racks
8. Barkbuster Storm Wrap Around Guards
9. Foot Pegs
10. Brake Pedal Tip
11. Rear Rack
12. Triple Clamp Left and Right Case Protectors
13. Atlas Cruise Control
14. Rade Garage Air Filter / Storage Kit
15. OEM Heated Grips
16. Fuel Dongle
17. ABS Dongle
18. Berotec RPM/Gear/Temp Gauge
19. Rottweiler SAS Removal Kit
20. KOUBA Lowering Link 1.5″ (stock included)
21. Double Take Mirrors
22. Good Tires
I’m sure I’ve forgotten some things.
I’ll update.

Box of original stock removed parts included.

I have a 350 exc and keep wanting to get back to a sport touring bike is the reason for the sale. This bike is the ultimate BDR etc Adventure bike. I believe only 777 of these were made. Not sure how many in the states.

The asking price is $12,500. The bike is located in Henderson, Nevada, and MZ3ROB will help you with a fly-and-ride deal if needed. See the ad here.