Enjoying your series! I always buy my dirt bikes in the winter here in Colorado. It is pure torture, but the reason I do it this way is it is great to go through and set up a brand new and unridden bike. It is also a great way to get to intimately know a new ride. I guess I got patient in my old age! The last project was in winter of '19, setting up my '18 300 XC, now the '23 701. The fun thing about the 701 is it is a versatile bike that can truly be what the owner wants. I would love to run full knobbies on my 701, but that would wreck it's street manners, and I have the 300 XC for serious off road. "Streetier" tires or even 17" wheels would be better for canyon carving, but ruin it off road. I plan to add lightweight rim locks and balance the wheels for them so the tire pressure can be lowered when going off road without ripping the valve stems. I figure 16 PSI for this heavy bike, I normally run 12 PSI on the lightweight 300. The lower pressure will help the TKCs or similar 50/50 type tires work quite a bit better off road. I will carry a small pump to get the tires back up to 26 PSI street pressure for the ride home. The TKCs do work quite well on road. It is dry and rocky here in Colorado, time will tell how my plan with the rim locks and 16 PSI works out. I put Cycra Probends and Outback MotorTrek crash bars on mine. Will definitely do the bobbins on the swingarm as they make removing the rear wheel a lot easier with a stand, and I like the crash protection they provide. Thank you for testing that theory! 😆 Running a Yoshimura slip on with spark arrestor. I like that pipe as it is long, so it directs hot exhaust past the left turn signal, and it's cannon like length gives it a nice burly but not obnoxious tone. The slip on, combined with a Rottweiler fueling dongle / O2 sensor delete richens up the part throttle settings and fortifies the bottom end to mid power to the point of being a little ridiculous, even at Colorado's elevation. The power of this bike must be mental at sea level! As it is, with the TC off and with the aid of the quick shifter, doing long wheelies is not a problem! Due to it being winter here, have only street ridden and "urban enduro" ridden mine. Stairs and parking lots with speed bumps and such are great fun. I noticed from your video that the stock suspension looks like it is working really well off road. The quality XPLOR suspension is definitely not sprung and valved too soft, and I like that about it. Like a real dirt bike, one has to hit things with some intention to get the suspension to work, and that is awesome. The 701 and it's KTM and GASGAS sisters are the baddest ass dual sport bikes on the planet. It is early days for me, but as a long time dirt biker and occasional off road racer, I think I am gonna love my 701.
Other viewers correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like you have the Barkbusters swapped left to right 🤔. They should come off the end of the bar and sweep downward, thus protecting the levers, especially if the levers are rotated downward to make them more accessible when standing.
Made me doubt myself then! They are fitted correctly and sweep down as you say. Our Bark Busters are the storm version to the plastic part is a bit bigger, but all correctly fitted. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour well, if you say so. I’ve fitted a lot of Barkbusters to a lot of enduro and off road bikes and I still say you have them swapped left and right. 😉. (Just for fun, check some videos of other bikes with them fitted and see if you don’t notice a difference !)
Thanks Rafal. Its a seriously undersold bike in our opinion. Out performs any adv bike off road, but put some road oriented tyres on and can cut it with the best of them! Aaron KNOX
Sorry for my english. I think you have changed the position of the Barkbuster handgards. Left is on the right and right is on the left. There are not equal. Anyway thanks for the series.
Great bike, I have a 2017 701. Ditch the factory slip on/muffler. It’s extremely heavy and extremely HOT. And makes the bike sound anemic. I added a rear disc guard (which has been tested) and a rear ABS wire protector (very inexpensive) I have done other mods as well for some pretty aggressive off road protection.
Thanks! Yes, it does get pretty hot, but tbh, i like the sound and we're trying to keep it as quiet as possible due to local reputation with walkers and other trail users etc. ABS wire and rear disc guard... good shout! Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Wings end can with their "Quiet Kit" is not much louder than stock, doesn't get hot and weighs much less. Simply re routing the ABS wire under the caliper makes it much less vulnerable.
Nice to see the 701 getting some love, two things i feel worth a mention the R&G tail tidy has a big gap that allows all the dirt to get flung up and covers the rear light wiring connectors and fuel cap area with dirt and road salt, also the frame sliders cause the frames to crack ref many cases of this on the owners club, interested to see what sump guard you go for riding on the rocky lakes trails
Thanks! Yes, noticed that with the tail tidy. To be honest, I was going to cover it with some gaffer tape! :). Ref sump guard, I dont think we'll change it, the stock one doing a pretty great job and we haven't ran out of ground clearance yet and there aren't any marks on the linkage yet.. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Great videos! I almost bought 890 Adventure but you convinced me that I should pick 701 Enduro instead. I am going to struggle with the bike height but well, I have to accept it. Waiting for the episode 4!
Thanks glad you think so. Enjoy your 701, its awesome. Next episode coming soon, but in the mean time we did a cool group test with it recently, check it out - ua-cam.com/video/gP5Zj9WBUgM/v-deo.html. Thanks
@@KnoxArmour thanks, great to see how good 701 performed next to light enduro bikes. This is the perspective I was actually missing as I had only a chance to test 701 on the roads and very light offroad and I know how much fun it gives there. Cheers!
I would even recommend fitting double take mirrors on adventure type road bikes there worth every penny...there now on my Himalayan from last bike..atb guys
Great video and cool outfit (everyone looks better in black)! Do check the links for the Knox stuff; they don't seem to be pointing to the right places.
You have misplaced left and right handguard metal rails. It is designed to go down from the handlebars and then straigh - lowering the position of the plastic plate, covering your lever, while still keeping the plastic plate vertical
My problem with the 701 and the 690 is the weight. It's just too heavy to ride the single tracks well. If it was 285-299 Lbs I think it would be incredible. It needs a 20-30 lb diet. Then make 1st gear shorter for tight trails. And make 6th Gear taller so when you're going 55-75mph it's not Revving so high in the Rpm's...it certainly has more than enough torque for this change. 285-299 LBS, Tighter turning radius, Rekluse Clutch, 1st gear perfect for tight trails, and Top Gear Perfect for Highway or open country straight always... then Add a "Herzeberg Rodeo or 6-Days" type of special addition and you got a buyer and probably 100,000 plus buyers...
Just found your channel. Great videos. Could we get some on board shots with less music. Tossing up between a 690 enduro and a 500exc. 500 probably suit me better as it will mainly do enduro work. But the longer service intervals of the 690/701 is appealing. Cheers
Interested to know what you liked about the Dunlop D908RR.. Don't hear many people talking about them. What made you choose them over say the Michelin Trackers for example? Great review btw
I've had Michelin trackers too, albeit on an Enduro bike. I liked the sharp edges on the D908rr over the trackers which are more rounded. Overall, both great tyres, but I'd say the Michelins are slightly softer and also better on the road. Hope that helps, Aaron KNOX
It has got to be a fantastic bike! I still have an old Yamaha XT 600, I have done over 170k kms on it (bought it second hand, so in total it is over 200k kms on the clock) and wondering what would it be like to have this Husqvarna or something similar! In the meantime I bought the Africa Twin anyway, however I am again thinking of something smaller.....
Hello, Excellent video, You are absolutely right, it is a fantastic motorcycle. Your videos helped me a lot to decide for the 701, I am a consumer of KNOX products, Excellent quality and functionality, Waiting for the 2022 collection. Please let me know if the R&G Aero Crash Protectors are not uncomfortable when you stick your leg out in curves. I have doubts about installing on my 701, do they really work? Thank you so much
Thanks David, so glad you liked the video. The R&G crash protection hasnt got in the way at any time, but it has provided very good protection for the bike... we've crashed it a lot! Aaron KNOX
Thanks Perry, more coming soon. Actually, not great and a bit of a compromise which to be fair I did expect. Like most proper enduro tyres you start to get a speed wobble at about 70mph which isn't great. Although got some plans to improve it. But the off road performance of the tyres is night and day better than TKC80. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Awesome vid, thank you. I’m about to pick my ‘21 701 E up. Interested in your thoughts on the frame protectors vs fitting crash bars upfront? Also I notice you said you are unlikely to change over the sump guard as you haven’t bottomed out. What are your thoughts on how tuff the plastic guard is in the event you do bottom out? Thank you.
Many thanks! Sure crash bars would be awesome too and do a similar if not better job than the frame guards we fitted. The stock plastic sump guard has done a great job for us so far, we have no damage underneath the bike and the ground clearance is great. Although we are not tackling big logs and hard enduro type bolders on the 701... yet ;). Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Thanks, yes I believe the 690 is more or less the same as the 701 Enduro, the rear subframe is a bit different and some minor tweeks, but sure they ride very much the same! I am wearing Forma Adventure boots in this video - www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/354681. They are excellent, I have MX boots too, but they arent waterproof whereas the Forma are fully waterproof and are a bit softer to operate the controls which I like coming from road riding. Hope that helps. Aaron KNOX
Warning:If your 2019 and upwards did not have the upgraded o'ring on the clutch slave cylinder,it will fail at some point.Get it upgraded otherwise you will be stranded.(My 2020 690 has just been replaced under warranty-4700km),cheers.
Just an adjustment. We should have shown it on camera... but there are 2 M10 bolts that come out of the frame which you can adjust to make the steering lock bigger or smaller. Thanks 😀
@@twowheeladventure8731 They are correct, just rechecked them... These are the Storm version of the Bark Busters so the plastic part is a bit bigger, but they are correctly installed. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour the plastics are in the side they are supposed to, however the metal backbones are the ones that are swapped left to right therefore the curve they have is pointing upwards, that bent is supposed to be pointed downwards to allow yo to either grab the bars or take your hands away from the side without hitting the metal backbone, swap the metal backbones but keep the plastics in the side they are, they should fit either way, you will not regret it.
Actually, the stock one has been great so far and the bike has good ground clearance. The linkage has no marks on it yet either, so we're inclined to just keep it as it is. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour The stock skid plate is not too bad until you get stuck on a log or similar and you rock the bike backwards. Then the plate buckles and detaches from push in locators at the back and dangles. Vanasche replacement is very good and protects the linkeage to some extent.
Nice video, I agree iwth some of the comments, chuck the muffler for a lighter, cooler, better aftermarket. Also the bash plate is a joke. I'm taking my 701 in a different direction - My Ultimate Adventure bike ua-cam.com/video/zT6uS2sSnE0/v-deo.html
Thanks Brent. Tbh, we kept the stock muffler for a few reasons, 1- to keep noise down; we are in a national park and want to keep good reputation for bikers on the trails we use - noise is part of that. 2- We're dropping it and it gets scratched up. Would probably change it if we were doing more road based riding. Ref bash plate, may look into something although again, we've taken it on very rough terrain and not found it an issue so far. Love your bike btw, enjoy it! Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Thanks for your reply Aaron, As an FYI, Wings have now come out with a "Silent Kit" for their exhaust which apparently is no louder than the stock exhaust. Benefits include weight savings (I think it's about 2kg less), Nicer sound, and for me, the big one is that it runs Way cooler, so it's not going to burn my luggage (this may not be an issue for you if you are going more offroad).
Enjoying your series! I always buy my dirt bikes in the winter here in Colorado. It is pure torture, but the reason I do it this way is it is great to go through and set up a brand new and unridden bike. It is also a great way to get to intimately know a new ride. I guess I got patient in my old age! The last project was in winter of '19, setting up my '18 300 XC, now the '23 701.
The fun thing about the 701 is it is a versatile bike that can truly be what the owner wants. I would love to run full knobbies on my 701, but that would wreck it's street manners, and I have the 300 XC for serious off road. "Streetier" tires or even 17" wheels would be better for canyon carving, but ruin it off road.
I plan to add lightweight rim locks and balance the wheels for them so the tire pressure can be lowered when going off road without ripping the valve stems. I figure 16 PSI for this heavy bike, I normally run 12 PSI on the lightweight 300. The lower pressure will help the TKCs or similar 50/50 type tires work quite a bit better off road. I will carry a small pump to get the tires back up to 26 PSI street pressure for the ride home. The TKCs do work quite well on road. It is dry and rocky here in Colorado, time will tell how my plan with the rim locks and 16 PSI works out.
I put Cycra Probends and Outback MotorTrek crash bars on mine. Will definitely do the bobbins on the swingarm as they make removing the rear wheel a lot easier with a stand, and I like the crash protection they provide. Thank you for testing that theory! 😆
Running a Yoshimura slip on with spark arrestor. I like that pipe as it is long, so it directs hot exhaust past the left turn signal, and it's cannon like length gives it a nice burly but not obnoxious tone. The slip on, combined with a Rottweiler fueling dongle / O2 sensor delete richens up the part throttle settings and fortifies the bottom end to mid power to the point of being a little ridiculous, even at Colorado's elevation. The power of this bike must be mental at sea level! As it is, with the TC off and with the aid of the quick shifter, doing long wheelies is not a problem!
Due to it being winter here, have only street ridden and "urban enduro" ridden mine. Stairs and parking lots with speed bumps and such are great fun. I noticed from your video that the stock suspension looks like it is working really well off road. The quality XPLOR suspension is definitely not sprung and valved too soft, and I like that about it. Like a real dirt bike, one has to hit things with some intention to get the suspension to work, and that is awesome. The 701 and it's KTM and GASGAS sisters are the baddest ass dual sport bikes on the planet. It is early days for me, but as a long time dirt biker and occasional off road racer, I think I am gonna love my 701.
Other viewers correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like you have the Barkbusters swapped left to right 🤔. They should come off the end of the bar and sweep downward, thus protecting the levers, especially if the levers are rotated downward to make them more accessible when standing.
Made me doubt myself then! They are fitted correctly and sweep down as you say. Our Bark Busters are the storm version to the plastic part is a bit bigger, but all correctly fitted. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour well, if you say so. I’ve fitted a lot of Barkbusters to a lot of enduro and off road bikes and I still say you have them swapped left and right. 😉. (Just for fun, check some videos of other bikes with them fitted and see if you don’t notice a difference !)
@Dan’l 56 Rechecked again and I maybe have got the metal bits back to front. Thanks for the help, will amend! Aaron KNOX 😀
@@KnoxArmour 😉👍
Yeh. Guards are wrong, flip the backbone to the other side
Great series, thank you for making it! It made me want to get 701 even more :) cheers!
Thanks Rafal. Its a seriously undersold bike in our opinion. Out performs any adv bike off road, but put some road oriented tyres on and can cut it with the best of them! Aaron KNOX
Sorry for my english. I think you have changed the position of the Barkbuster handgards. Left is on the right and right is on the left. There are not equal. Anyway thanks for the series.
Yes it was a mistake on my part 🤦♂️😅. Put right now, but worked fine. Thanks Aaron Knox
Great bike, I have a 2017 701.
Ditch the factory slip on/muffler. It’s extremely heavy and extremely HOT. And makes the bike sound anemic.
I added a rear disc guard (which has been tested) and a rear ABS wire protector (very inexpensive) I have done other mods as well for some pretty aggressive off road protection.
Thanks! Yes, it does get pretty hot, but tbh, i like the sound and we're trying to keep it as quiet as possible due to local reputation with walkers and other trail users etc. ABS wire and rear disc guard... good shout! Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Wings end can with their "Quiet Kit" is not much louder than stock, doesn't get hot and weighs much less.
Simply re routing the ABS wire under the caliper makes it much less vulnerable.
701 классный аппарат!!!😊
This looks fun!!
Nice to see the 701 getting some love, two things i feel worth a mention the R&G tail tidy has a big gap that allows all the dirt to get flung up and covers the rear light wiring connectors and fuel cap area with dirt and road salt, also the frame sliders cause the frames to crack ref many cases of this on the owners club, interested to see what sump guard you go for riding on the rocky lakes trails
Thanks! Yes, noticed that with the tail tidy. To be honest, I was going to cover it with some gaffer tape! :). Ref sump guard, I dont think we'll change it, the stock one doing a pretty great job and we haven't ran out of ground clearance yet and there aren't any marks on the linkage yet.. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Great videos! I almost bought 890 Adventure but you convinced me that I should pick 701 Enduro instead. I am going to struggle with the bike height but well, I have to accept it. Waiting for the episode 4!
Thanks glad you think so. Enjoy your 701, its awesome. Next episode coming soon, but in the mean time we did a cool group test with it recently, check it out - ua-cam.com/video/gP5Zj9WBUgM/v-deo.html. Thanks
@@KnoxArmour thanks, great to see how good 701 performed next to light enduro bikes. This is the perspective I was actually missing as I had only a chance to test 701 on the roads and very light offroad and I know how much fun it gives there. Cheers!
Where in the lakes?
I would even recommend fitting double take mirrors on adventure type road bikes there worth every penny...there now on my Himalayan from last bike..atb guys
very helpful👍👍👍 thanks
Great motorcycle 👍🏻 I made a short clip about our 701 a few weeks ago 👌
keep it up please
Will do! All the best, Aaron KNOX
Great video and cool outfit (everyone looks better in black)!
Do check the links for the Knox stuff; they don't seem to be pointing to the right places.
Thanks Paulo, sorry about that, they have been updated now! Aaron KNOX
You have misplaced left and right handguard metal rails. It is designed to go down from the handlebars and then straigh - lowering the position of the plastic plate, covering your lever, while still keeping the plastic plate vertical
My problem with the 701 and the 690 is the weight. It's just too heavy to ride the single tracks well. If it was 285-299 Lbs I think it would be incredible. It needs a 20-30 lb diet.
Then make 1st gear shorter for tight trails. And make 6th Gear taller so when you're going 55-75mph it's not
Revving so high in the Rpm's...it certainly has more than enough torque for this change. 285-299 LBS, Tighter turning radius, Rekluse Clutch, 1st gear perfect for tight trails, and Top Gear Perfect for Highway or open country straight always... then Add a "Herzeberg Rodeo or 6-Days" type of special addition and you got a buyer and probably 100,000 plus buyers...
Episode 4 coming soon?
Hope so! Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Just found your channel. Great videos. Could we get some on board shots with less music.
Tossing up between a 690 enduro and a 500exc. 500 probably suit me better as it will mainly do enduro work. But the longer service intervals of the 690/701 is appealing.
Cheers
Interested to know what you liked about the Dunlop D908RR.. Don't hear many people talking about them. What made you choose them over say the Michelin Trackers for example? Great review btw
I've had Michelin trackers too, albeit on an Enduro bike. I liked the sharp edges on the D908rr over the trackers which are more rounded. Overall, both great tyres, but I'd say the Michelins are slightly softer and also better on the road. Hope that helps, Aaron KNOX
What happened to Episode 4? and what happened to the bike?
It has got to be a fantastic bike! I still have an old Yamaha XT 600, I have done over 170k kms on it (bought it second hand, so in total it is over 200k kms on the clock) and wondering what would it be like to have this Husqvarna or something similar! In the meantime I bought the Africa Twin anyway, however I am again thinking of something smaller.....
Hi, yes 701 Enduro is awesome. Almost as capable as a full enduro bike, but much better off road! Aaron KNOX
Hey good video thanks!
But what about the foldable mirror link in the description? )
Thanks! Sorry, here is link - www.doubletakemirror.com/
Nice review. You should get a stronger rear brake lever, like the Vanasche, or you will soon find out how good that clutch cover is…
Thanks for the tip! All a learning process! Aaron KNOX
Hello, Excellent video, You are absolutely right, it is a fantastic motorcycle. Your videos helped me a lot to decide for the 701, I am a consumer of KNOX products, Excellent quality and functionality, Waiting for the 2022 collection. Please let me know if the R&G Aero Crash Protectors are not uncomfortable when you stick your leg out in curves. I have doubts about installing on my 701, do they really work? Thank you so much
Thanks David, so glad you liked the video. The R&G crash protection hasnt got in the way at any time, but it has provided very good protection for the bike... we've crashed it a lot! Aaron KNOX
You sure your handguards are the right way round
Love this series on the 701! How did the new tyres perform on the road compared to the OE?
Thanks Perry, more coming soon. Actually, not great and a bit of a compromise which to be fair I did expect. Like most proper enduro tyres you start to get a speed wobble at about 70mph which isn't great. Although got some plans to improve it. But the off road performance of the tyres is night and day better than TKC80. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Awesome vid, thank you. I’m about to pick my ‘21 701 E up. Interested in your thoughts on the frame protectors vs fitting crash bars upfront? Also I notice you said you are unlikely to change over the sump guard as you haven’t bottomed out. What are your thoughts on how tuff the plastic guard is in the event you do bottom out? Thank you.
Many thanks! Sure crash bars would be awesome too and do a similar if not better job than the frame guards we fitted. The stock plastic sump guard has done a great job for us so far, we have no damage underneath the bike and the ground clearance is great. Although we are not tackling big logs and hard enduro type bolders on the 701... yet ;). Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Awesome video. I own a 2020 690 so this video is of great help to me. I’m hoping to buy the Know urbane range in future. Which boots are you wearing?
Thanks, yes I believe the 690 is more or less the same as the 701 Enduro, the rear subframe is a bit different and some minor tweeks, but sure they ride very much the same!
I am wearing Forma Adventure boots in this video - www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/354681. They are excellent, I have MX boots too, but they arent waterproof whereas the Forma are fully waterproof and are a bit softer to operate the controls which I like coming from road riding. Hope that helps. Aaron KNOX
What size was the 908 rr tires. Dunlop saying that they won't fit on Husqvarna 701. Confused
140/80/18. Fits fine. Thanks
Thank you . All the websites are offering 150 , 90 , 18 I guess I have to order that from Dunlop . thanks again
So no rad guards ? Really?
Warning:If your 2019 and upwards did not have the upgraded o'ring on the clutch slave cylinder,it will fail at some point.Get it upgraded otherwise you will be stranded.(My 2020 690 has just been replaced under warranty-4700km),cheers.
Agree, we had to change ours too! Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour It's my understanding that the MY21 has fixed the slave cylinder o'ring issue (at last). Was this not the case with yours?
What are the turn signals on this bike where can i find them
They are the stock ones. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
Do you need to purchase any thing to increase the turning radius, or is it just an adjustment to the stock setup?
Just an adjustment. We should have shown it on camera... but there are 2 M10 bolts that come out of the frame which you can adjust to make the steering lock bigger or smaller. Thanks 😀
@@KnoxArmour awesome, thanks!
What's the name of your moto boots ? They looks nice in black.
They are Forma Adventure style boots. Not quite a protective as MX, but more feel and waterproof. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
The handguards look awkward. The metal white Husqvarna ones are the ones to go.
Ah but you don't know what's going on in the next instalment :)
@@KnoxArmour The hand guards are on the wrong side you need to swap the back bones over then they be right.
@@twowheeladventure8731 Yep ! 😆 I just commented on this before reading your comment 👍!
@@twowheeladventure8731 They are correct, just rechecked them... These are the Storm version of the Bark Busters so the plastic part is a bit bigger, but they are correctly installed. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour the plastics are in the side they are supposed to, however the metal backbones are the ones that are swapped left to right therefore the curve they have is pointing upwards, that bent is supposed to be pointed downwards to allow yo to either grab the bars or take your hands away from the side without hitting the metal backbone, swap the metal backbones but keep the plastics in the side they are, they should fit either way, you will not regret it.
Which paddock stand do you recommend?
Hi! We are actually using the R&G racing paddock stands. You can find these here - www.rg-racing.com/browseType/Paddock_Stand. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
What about skid plate?
Actually, the stock one has been great so far and the bike has good ground clearance. The linkage has no marks on it yet either, so we're inclined to just keep it as it is. Thanks, Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour The stock skid plate is not too bad until you get stuck on a log or similar and you rock the bike backwards. Then the plate buckles and detaches from push in locators at the back and dangles. Vanasche replacement is very good and protects the linkeage to some extent.
Can i scren shot
Nice video, I agree iwth some of the comments, chuck the muffler for a lighter, cooler, better aftermarket. Also the bash plate is a joke. I'm taking my 701 in a different direction - My Ultimate Adventure bike ua-cam.com/video/zT6uS2sSnE0/v-deo.html
Thanks Brent. Tbh, we kept the stock muffler for a few reasons, 1- to keep noise down; we are in a national park and want to keep good reputation for bikers on the trails we use - noise is part of that. 2- We're dropping it and it gets scratched up. Would probably change it if we were doing more road based riding. Ref bash plate, may look into something although again, we've taken it on very rough terrain and not found it an issue so far. Love your bike btw, enjoy it! Aaron KNOX
@@KnoxArmour Thanks for your reply Aaron, As an FYI, Wings have now come out with a "Silent Kit" for their exhaust which apparently is no louder than the stock exhaust. Benefits include weight savings (I think it's about 2kg less), Nicer sound, and for me, the big one is that it runs Way cooler, so it's not going to burn my luggage (this may not be an issue for you if you are going more offroad).