Husqvarna has a history in off-road racing that is longer than many other brands in this test series have even existed. Fourteen Motocross World Championship titles. Twenty-four European Enduro Championships. Eleven Baja 1000 victories. That is the foundation on which the 701 Enduro stands. It is not an adventure motorcycle with enduro styling. It is an enduro with street legality.

For 2026, Husqvarna has comprehensively revised the model: 5 hp more for a total of 79, new electronics, longer service intervals, a new TFT display, and a modified exhaust system. Motorradonline: “Now with 79 hp.” That is the sentence. Everything else follows from it.

The LC4: 79 hp and What Has Changed

LC4. Liquid-Cooled 4-stroke. Single-cylinder. Liquid-cooled. This is the engine Husqvarna has used for years to power its large single-cylinder models. For 2026: 79 hp, 5 more than before. 73 Nm. Ride-by-Wire. New valve timing. New airbox. Modified exhaust system with the catalytic converter relocated into the header. The latter has a practical side benefit: the muffler can now be quickly and easily replaced with an aftermarket unit without complications involving the catalytic converter.

The most important practical feature is the 15,000 km oil-change interval. Valve-clearance checks are required every 30,000 km. Those are exceptionally long intervals for a high-performance single-cylinder enduro engine. 1000PS describes this as an advantage for “travelers looking for a lightweight motorcycle for serious off-road adventures.” That is precise: anyone riding long stretches of the TET on a 701 Enduro does not want to visit a dealer every 5,000 km.

WP XPLOR, 265 mm of Travel, 935 mm Seat Height: The Enduro Suspension

Up front is a WP XPLOR fork with 265 mm of travel, fully adjustable. At the rear is a WP monoshock. The slightly stiffer chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame combines calculated torsional rigidity with longitudinal flexibility. Husqvarna describes the effect as detailed off-road feedback to the rider without compromising steering ability. The fuel tank is integrated into the self-supporting rear subframe, a construction detail that optimizes the center of gravity and weight distribution.

Seat height is 935 mm. That is genuinely tall. 1000PS calls it “a challenge for riders under 1.80 meters.” That is a fair assessment. If you are under 1.75 meters and want to buy the 701 Enduro, a test ride is mandatory, and you should ask the dealer about lowering options. If you are over 1.80 meters, the narrow seat and ergonomics are, according to 1000PS, designed for extended riding both seated and standing. There is a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear, with 90/90-21 and 140/80-18 tires.

2026 Electronics: TFT, Traction Control, Optional Rally Pack

New for 2026 is a 4.2-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity. It replaces the previous LCD and brings the 701 Enduro up to the level of modern competitors. There are multiple riding modes and Ride-by-Wire. Bosch ABS can be switched off for off-road use. Lean-angle-sensitive traction control can also be switched off.

The optional Rally Pack adds Dynamic Slip Adjust. The system automatically regulates permissible rear-wheel slip according to the available traction of the surface. This is the kind of electronics that experienced enduro riders want off-road: not ABS that prevents everything, but a system that permits controlled slip and automatically adapts it. Quickshifter+ is also optional at extra cost.

The First 1000PS Test: Off-Road and On-Road, Assessed Without Sugarcoating

1000PS first tested the 701 Enduro in December 2025. The key findings: “Bearishly strong single-cylinder engine.” Off-road: “Plays to all its strengths.” On the road: “Despite the 21-inch front wheel, playfully agile through the tightest corners.” That is the dual-sport promise delivered. The criticisms: the 935 mm seat height is a challenge. The front brake is “slightly undersized” for hard road use. That is the classic enduro compromise: the brake works well off-road, but for full-force highway braking, more friction area would be preferable. First gear is tall: a compromise on the road, but the right choice off-road.

€12,499 Plus €495 in Additional Charges

The price is €12,499 before €495 in additional charges, for a total of €12,994. In the context of this test series, alternatives are: Kove 450 Rally, €8,888, 42 hp, 145 kg, 305 mm of suspension travel—more specialized. KTM 390 Adventure R, €6,999, 45 hp, 165 kg, 230 mm of suspension travel—lighter and less expensive. Husqvarna 701 Enduro: the most complete dual-sport package, with 79 hp, 265 mm of suspension travel, and a 15,000 km service interval for €12,994. If you want to combine serious off-road riding with serious road use without buying two motorcycles, that is the 701 Enduro’s argument.

Verdict

The Husqvarna 701 Enduro is one of the most convincing dual-sport motorcycles: 79 hp, 73 Nm, 265 mm of WP XPLOR suspension travel, Brembo, switchable Bosch ABS, traction control, TFT display, 15,000 km service interval, and an optional Rally Pack with Dynamic Slip Adjust. 935 mm—for tall riders. €12,994 total. 1000PS: “Bearishly strong single-cylinder.” That says it all.

 

Quick Check

+ 79 hp, LC4 single-cylinder, new for 2026, +5 hp: powerful dual-sport motorcycle.

+ 73 Nm: strong torque for a single-cylinder; 1000PS: “bearishly strong single-cylinder engine.”

+ 15,000 km oil-change interval, new for 2026; 30,000 km valve-clearance check: travel-friendly service intervals.

+ WP XPLOR fork, fully adjustable, 265 mm travel: enduro suspension for serious off-road use.

+ Brembo twin-piston front caliper, 300 mm: quality braking hardware.

+ Switchable Bosch ABS + switchable traction control: full control off-road.

+ Optional Rally Pack with Dynamic Slip Adjust: automatic rear-wheel slip control according to available traction.

+ 4.2-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity, new for 2026.

+ 1000PS first test, December 2025: “On the road, despite the 21-inch front wheel, playfully agile through the tightest corners.”

+ A2 restriction available.

 

– 935 mm seat height: a genuine challenge for riders under 1.80 meters, according to the 1000PS first test.

– Front brake “slightly undersized” for hard road use, according to 1000PS: an off-road compromise on pavement.

– First gear is short: suboptimal on the road, correct off-road.

– Quickshifter+ and Rally Pack cost extra; neither is included in the base price.

– 13-liter fuel tank: approx. 300 km range; fuel-stop planning required for long travel stages.

 

Technical Specifications: Husqvarna 701 Enduro (2026)

Make / Model: Husqvarna 701 Enduro (2026; liquid-cooled LC4 single-cylinder; Dual Sport/Enduro; Category A / A2 restriction available); manufacturer: Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH, Mattighofen, Austria; Pierer Mobility / Bajaj Auto

Engine: LC4; liquid-cooled single-cylinder; 79 hp, new for 2026, +5 hp; 73 Nm; Ride-by-Wire; six-speed; optional Quickshifter+; new valve timing; new airbox; modified exhaust system with catalytic converter relocated into the header; Euro 5

Service, New for 2026: 15,000 km oil-change interval; 30,000 km valve-clearance check

Frame: Chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame; slightly stiffer than predecessor; calculated torsional rigidity + longitudinal flexibility; self-supporting rear subframe with integrated 13-liter fuel tank

Front Suspension: WP XPLOR fork; fully adjustable; 265 mm travel, according to Husqvarna.de; individual sources quote up to 275 mm

Rear Suspension: WP XPLOR monoshock; fully adjustable

Brakes: Brembo twin-piston front caliper, 300 mm disc; Brembo single-piston rear caliper; Bosch ABS, switchable for off-road use; lean-angle-sensitive traction control

Wheels / Tires: 21-inch front / 18-inch rear; 90/90-21 front / 140/80-18 rear

Seat Height / Fuel Tank: 935 mm; 13 liters; 4.21 L/100 km; approx. 300 km range

Electronics: Ride-by-Wire; Bosch ABS, switchable; lean-angle-sensitive TC, switchable; riding modes; 4.2-inch TFT display, new for 2026, with smartphone connectivity

Options: Rally Pack with Dynamic Slip Adjust, automatic rear-wheel slip control according to traction. Quickshifter+, bidirectional, extra cost. Both cost extra.

Stationary Noise: Not published, Tyrol limit 95 dB(A)

Warranty: 4 years, Husqvarna standard

Competition: KTM 690 Enduro R, technical sister model, orange instead of white: €12,944 plus additional charges. Beta RR 480 RS, street-legal: approx. €11,000. Kove 450 Rally: €8,888, rally focus, 145 kg. 701 Enduro: most powerful dual-sport motorcycle in this test series, longest service intervals.

Price in Germany: €12,499 including 19 percent VAT plus €495 in additional charges = approx. €12,994 total, Husqvarna dealer