XTZ660z (+tweaks) V new Husky 701?
 

Looking for a bike for a Pyrenees trip next year, green lane weekends here, etc.

Won't do huge road miles as I will trailer it to places (getting it shipped to Pyrenees) so focus on off road.

Plan was an XTZ660Z with a few grand thrown at it.......but for the same money* I could get a new 701 - would it be THAT much better?

* should add....the chance of the 701 not needing money is remote - it will still need setting up for my tall height/luggage racks/etc

So this sort thing from Nomad:
https://www.nomad-adv.com/husqvarna-701-nomad.html

Or this from Off The Road:
https://www.off-the-road.de/en/About...-TrailDreamer/

I own a Ténéré, never tried the Husky.

The Tenere is a fantastic travel bike out of the box, just add soft luggage (or racks and panniers) and you are ready to go. The downside is the weight, too heavy if you are planning a lot of offroad riding. I wouldn't bother to make all the mods and spend a lot of money on them.

+ Price
- Weight for offroad.

If you are planning to do a lot of offroad the Husky will probably be better, but the price goes higher really quickly (+ 1000-2000€) if you want more wind protection, fuel range, etc. Exactly what the Yamaha has "by default".

+ Better offroad capabilities.
- Serious money

But as your plan is to do offroad and trailer the bike to different places, why don't you stick to the stock Husky without any modification? Or even consider other more offroad oriented and cheaper bikes.

not really sure what else would fit my needs - especially when rocksolid engine reliability is added.... Hence not wanting a smaller KTM, despite how good it would be off-road.

Also, when i say "off road" - I don't mean truly technical terrain, rather gravel tracks and paths. For example, 90% of what I will be doing in the Pyrenees can be covered by a competent 4x4 driver - it's not Redbull stuff :D

Tweaks to the 660 would really just consist of luggage and getting the pegs lower and the bars higher (for my size) (and maybe some crash protection)

Tweaks to the husky would need to consist of the same - plus some for road work perhaps.

In the UK a low mileage 660 is 50% the price of a new husky..... Makes it very tempting to create a superb bike for low money.

Everybody talks about the weight of the 660 - is it underpowered or simply a case of being heavy to use off-road? Because if it is just the technical aspect of a heavy off-road bike, I am not overly bothered..... I'm huge :D and find I can chuck 1200GS and super teneres* about with a lot more ease than normal-sized people. Sure, a KTM 300 is easier to pick up....... but whenever I sit on a big adventure bike I always wish they were a little taller!

*Have ridden the BMW's in tricky stuff in Wales on off road courses and a 1200 Yam accross sections of Africa without any drama....I'm assuming the 660 will feel much lighter than either.

In that case I would go for the Tenere.

Hi Lewis,

I own a XT 660 Tenere and have ridden the TET France this summer.

It has been a lot of fun and you'll be able to tackle a lot of nice off-road paths.

However, it is not the best off-road bike out there and you will have an easier and (probably) more fun time with the 701.

I am 2,00 m / 6'5 tall and sit and stand comfortable on the 660.

But what ever you do, don't lower the pegs!!! This will make it more prone to be hit by a rock!

Better is to adjust your posture accordingly, for example Lyndon Poskitt is 6'4 and he rides a ktm 450 rfr during the Dakar, take note how his posture is on the bike.

https://elitemicro-web.sharepoint.co...nposkitt4.jpeg

Good luck with finding your dream bike. Both bikes you'll enjoy!

Good advice...thats how I ride - bent at the hips. I'll try getting the bars up higher. Problem I have is that, under heavy braking, I "fall" forward against the bars because they are too low down for me to resist against. It gives very unsafe feeling of going over the bars.

Out of interest-how was the French TET? I have heard differing reports about it hence on skipping it entirely and getting the bike shipped through France. But if it is good riding I may do it later next year (possibly getting the bike shipped to the south of France again and riding home on the French TET)

well, for me the biggest problem, as much as I love my tenere is not weight but a bit lack o power for heavy off-road. I have offset this by changing both sprockets which helped a lot for technical stuff.

Anyway for traveling with light to moderate off-road this bike is perfect, and don't need any extra crash protection so don't waste your money. Besides foot pegs, auxiliary lights and luggage racks I didn't add anything. Newer progressive suspension is perfect.

Interesting. I've never missed more power in my Tenere, maybe better suspensions but the power is more than enough. This has probably more to do with my riding style/skills than anything else, I guess. :)

I agree, don't waste money on crash bars, no really needed for this bike.

Power was a worry with the 660 - the bike and me will be over 300KG + luggage.

Going to go sit on a husky this weekend - see what it feels like!

to be fair - this is not a problem with lack of power but with weight to power ratio for this bike but you will notice it only in deep sand and very steep hills.

Hello

Do you mean XTZ660 or XT660Z?
Difference in age, height, weight and price.

If your focus is only offroad, not travelling, go for a small enduro/MX.


sushi

Having owned and liked a 660Z and also ridden a 701 for a week (also in Morocco), from your talk of trailers and dirt roads not highways, go for the 701. It will be a whole lot less tiring to ride.
But try one first.

xr650r
 

You can also try Honda XR650R. Much lighter than 701. Best value for the money and pure joy offroad.