It’s What We Do – adventure motorbike magazine

Adventure Rider Issue #26

• It’s What We Do – adventure motorbike magazine
• East Versys West
• Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled – motorbike magazine, adventure motorcycle publication
• Congregation!
• Back for more
• Bead breakers
• Riding reporters
• SWM Superdual
• NZ 2017 Dusty Butt
• Scrapheap
• Kyrgystan – Adventure Motorbike Tour
• Andy Strapz
• BMW GS Safari Enduro: Cape York – motorbike trip, australian motorcycle tour
• Mapped out with Karen Ramsay
• Fit Out
• Checkout these Great Motorcycle Accessories & Gear!

It’s the end of the year.If you missed my thoughts on the impossible task of credibly naming an adventure bike of the year, please have a look at issue #19.

Still, I do get to sample some exceptional bikes, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, so I’ll stick out my jaw and name one new bike I’ve ridden this year I believe was exceptional.

Remember the criteria I set in 2016:

• Name one bike only. No honourable mentions or hedging of bets with classes or sections
• Chosen from the bikes I’ve ridden this year. There’s lots of great bikes I didn’t ride in 2017
• It’s a personal opinion.The bike which impressed me most in 2017?

“It belted out into the desert in the hands of a not-very-confident rider and demolished the sand and dunes. ”

The Husqvarna 701 Enduro.

I asked more of the Husky than any other bike I rode in 2017, so it’s fair to say it had an opportunity to excel that other review bikes just weren’t offered – I’m talking about the Simpson ride featured in issue #25. That’s undeniable.

But that being the case, the Husky devoured the long bitumen distances and never once seemed to be working hard. Without a single change or adjustment it belted out into the desert in the hands of a not-very-confident rider and demolished the sand and dunes.

It was as though the bike wasn’t even trying. Power delivery was exceptionally smooth and manageable and brakes and handling were beautiful.

On a less obvious level, as I prepped the bike for that ride, I was continually surprised and impressed with the build quality and excellent components on the bike.

So there it is.

My choice for most impressive bike I rode in 2017 is the Husqvarna 701 Enduro. Thanks Husqvarna Australia for the opportunity to experience such an exceptional motorcycle.

I can only imagine what the 2018 models will offer, and I can’t wait to find out.