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One of the Definitive Hooligan Motorcycles Gains a Unique New Mode for Even More Riding Fun

Husqvarna just hacked ABS braking to unlock (controlled) corner-sliding shenanigans.

Rear section of a motorcycle featuring a yellow and white seat, a large silver exhaust pipe, and a black rear fender with a red reflector. The rear tire is partially visible below. The background is a solid dark blue.Husqvarna
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By Gray Van Dyke

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When it comes to pure fun factor, few types of motorcycles can compare to a supermoto. Between their low weight and torquey engines, they’re easy to flick around and even easier to wheelie.

Of course, ‘sumos’ are essentially loosely adapted dirt bikes shod with street-going rubber and dressed in the bare necessities for road legality. In other words, it should come as no surprise that they’re ideal hooligan machines.

Despite their humble beginnings, however, supermotos are anything but simple. Nowadays, they incorporate a variety of advanced electronic aids to help you keep things rubber-side down.

A person wearing a blue and white helmet, yellow and black Husqvarna riding gear, and white boots is riding a yellow and white Husqvarna motorcycle on a paved road with a blurred background of greenery and distant hills.
Husqvarna’s 701 Supermoto was already a premier fun machine, and this update makes its slide-ready fun more accessible.
Husqvarna

Just take Husqvarna’s 701 Supermoto, for instance. For 2026, the brand has managed to give its class-leading single-cylinder a tech overhaul that unlocks more control than ever. 

Letting things slide

Most motorcycle manufacturers equipping their bikes with ABS in 2025 will include some provisions for adjustment, be it through a simple on/off option or various ride profiles that affect how the system reacts based on the terrain. 

Husqvarna’s new Supermoto+ setting builds on the concept, offering riders a mode that works by sensing the lean angle of the bike when going through sharp turns, disengaging ABS on the rear wheel for a sweet slide but keeping it active on the front for full control. 

A person wearing a black and yellow helmet, black jacket, and yellow motocross boots is riding a yellow and white Husqvarna motorcycle on a curved road with blurred greenery in the background. The motorcycle has white handguards and a prominent front fender.
Supermotos take the thrill of a dirt bike to the street, and the 701 is a case in point.
Husqvarna

If you’ve ever seen accomplished supermoto riders back it into a corner, you can appreciate the appeal of such an addition. In combination with the 701’s traction control system, the ABS will allow you to whip the rear end out (to a degree) without letting you overcook it.  

And that’s not all — beyond the added tech, Husqvarna also updated its 701 Supermoto with fresh bodywork, a refined LC4 engine, improved suspension and a new TFT dash.

The bike was already one of the definitive fun machines on the market, so the Swedish manufacturer is just running up the score now.

A person wearing a blue and gray long-sleeve shirt, gray pants, yellow and black boots, and a blue and white helmet with goggles is sitting on a white and yellow off-road motorcycle with knobby tires. The motorcycle has a large black bag attached to the rear. The scene is outdoors on a dirt path with bushes on either side, and the sun is low in the sky, creating a warm backlight.
Husqvarna hasn’t forgotten about its off-road-minded 701 Enduro.
Husqvarna

An off-road accompaniment

What’s more, Husqvarna also overhauled the 701 Enduro for 2026. In keeping with its road-going counterpart, the bike learns a neat new trick for next year, too.

It’s called ‘Dynamic Slip Adjust,’ and, because the 701 Enduro is a dual sport motorcycle rather than a supermoto like its sibling, it’s aimed instead at off-road performance. 

By lowering the Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) when additional spin is needed, it can increase rear wheel slip for improved traction over muddy or steep terrain. 

A person wearing a black helmet, goggles, a gray and navy jacket, and yellow and white boots is riding a yellow and white off-road motorcycle on a dirt path. The motorcycle has knobby tires and is equipped with black saddlebags and a rolled-up black bag on the rear. Dust is being kicked up from the rear tire as the rider leans into a turn.
In theory, Dynamic Slip Control lets you get the rear end out just enough before things really start to go sideways.
Husqvarna

As such, even if a rider is maxed out on their electronic assistance, the system is smart enough to know when to adjust settings without cutting engine power. Then, once traction is regained, it will revert torque and wheel slip levels back to their respective mode defaults.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of fighting traction control off-road, you’ll appreciate the added nuance. With simpler systems, choosing the appropriate settings for the terrain can mean the difference between staying upright and going over the handlebars.

Pricing and availability

If you’d like to learn more about the 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro, you can check them out on the Husqvarna website. According to the brand, retail will be unchanged for 2026, meaning prices will continue to start at $12,999.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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