BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ HUSQVARNA/701
Model report · 2005–2025

HUSQVARNA 701

690cc Petrol Class 2
#2516 of 5428 overall #15 of 43 HUSQVARNAs #1580 of 2788 other bikes
84.9%
first-time pass rate
7.6%
failed outright
6,201
median miles at test
582
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-3.6pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2019–2025

The 701's first-time pass rate has held steady since 2019 (84.3% → 83.6%).

80%85%91%2019: 84.3% pass (83 tests)2020: 81.6% pass (76 tests)2021: 85.6% pass (104 tests)2022: 83.1% pass (89 tests)2023: 88.9% pass (90 tests)2024: 85.9% pass (71 tests)2025: 83.6% pass (67 tests)20192025

What fails on a 701

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
lamps and reflectors
45 50 3.1×
Identification of the vehicle
11 12.2 8.2×
suspension
10 11.1 2.1×
brakes
9 10 0.2×
tyres
6 6.7 1.3×
audible warning (Horn)
4 4.4 3.8×
structure and attachments
3 3.3 0.8×
steering
2 2.2 0.4×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the 701 beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the 701.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the 701

More HUSQVARNA models

other HUSQVARNA bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
HUSQVARNA FE 80.5% pass · 2,136 tests
HUSQVARNA TE 79.5% pass · 2,058 tests
HUSQVARNA SM610S 78.0% pass · 1,583 tests
HUSQVARNA TE250 74.9% pass · 1,442 tests
HUSQVARNA TE610E 75.2% pass · 1,180 tests
HUSQVARNA TE450 74.0% pass · 1,136 tests

See all HUSQVARNA models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Best year to buy used: 2017 (91.1% pass). Weakest: 2016 (83.9%).

82%88%93%2016: 83.9% pass (490 tests)2017: 91.1% pass (56 tests)20162017

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

HUSQVARNA 701 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the HUSQVARNA 701 reliable?

The HUSQVARNA 701 is about average for its class: 84.9% of its 582 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2516 of 5428 models.

What does a 701 fail its MOT on most?

lamps and reflectors — 50% of all defects recorded against failed 701 tests.

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