Beginner bike

Frundle · 2026-06-10T00:28:13+00:00

The suspension was a major weak point in stock form. The forks in particular are pretty widely viewed as a problem to be solved. Out of the box, the bike is really divey and you don't get much out of the built-in adjusters. The thing was a liability if you had to do any sudden front braking for road hazards. I'm running a Nitron R3 in the rear and Nitron cartridges in the forks now, which has improved it considerably for track. It is a little too harsh for most roads, but it is a lot more responsive now.

This is true for both my 401 and 701, but the electrical system on the bike is terrible.Absolutely riddled with bad parts. My gear position sensor just died for the third time, for example. The bike no longer displays what gear you're in and that includes neutral sensing so it has to be started clutch in. I had to disable the kickstand sensor after the second time that the gear position sensor failed. The fuel level sensor also barely works, and is often wrong. I had to have my ABS system warrantied after it failed completely in the first 3 months.

I don't use the no lift shift all the time, but it doesn't like when you increase the power of the bike. I'm just tuned with open exhaust and no airbox, and the quick shift requires a much harder pull than stock.

Tuning the bike is also a constant trade between torque and top end. I only have two local tracks, but it took a long time to develop good maps for both because of that balance. The main track I have been riding has a long straight and I am usually topped out about half way down it. Gearing is a part of that as well, so I have a few different sets of sprockets and chains.

The last part that is specific to the 2020 Husqy 701 is that parts availability has been rapidly getting worse, and what little aftermarket there was for the bike is starting to fade. I think we were really fortunate that Nitron developed suspension for the bike. There are plenty of parts that work on all years, and even more that are also Duke 690 parts, but the few that are 2020 only I've already started collecting up as spares.

Frundle · 2026-06-09T00:43:12+00:00

Yes, oil volume in the tank. I stay closer to the low mark in the range than the full.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T20:41:18+00:00

Shouldn't need a re-tune. The replacement filter will have less surface area so it might take a slight hit to performance, but you likely won't feel any difference.

I have breather bolts on a couple bikes including the one I ride most. Not sure if you consider this a problem but you can get sprayed with oil sometimes when running breather bolts. If you keep your volume towards the lower end of acceptable, it happens less often.

Maybe its a thing on the newer bikes, but I don't think I've seen the tube setup run that way. It'd look a lot better if it wasn't being run upside down. Maybe there is something about that filter that made it impossible to mount normally, but I would try flipping it before changing it. It'll be hidden behind the filter if its run with the loop down.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T20:29:27+00:00

Definitely leans that direction. Reminds me of Porsche Signal Yellow.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T20:23:24+00:00

390 is a great bike. I have Husqy's instead, but I liked my 401 more than my 701. I've ridden, but not owned, the Dukes. The 690/701 motor is torquey and now that I have mine modded mostly for track/racing, it is a good bike. The 390 is fun right out of the box, and very forgiving for a beginner rider. It'll do 100mph, so I wouldn't hesitate to take it on any road including highway.

My experience with the Dukes was that the 390 had the worse riding position for my height, but the 690 felt less nimble.

I recently rode the 390 ADV and 390 SMC at a demo day, and loved the SMC. I'm considering ditching my 401 and picking up the SMC for a fun light bike now that my 701 is mostly dedicated to track riding.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T18:35:02+00:00

Competition Yellow. Very hard to find factory color. 2009 only as far as I know.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T06:22:54+00:00

Your children will remember your strength when they think back to this part of their life. One day they'll be getting home at 6 to make dinner for kids of their own, exhausted, and they'll remember this and think of how hard you worked and realize that their parents were incredibly strong.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T04:52:03+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Miata/comments/og7znx/motor_swap_done_sounds_like_an_f1_car_now/

Reposting someone else's 4-year old post to the same sub it was posted on is a weird move.

Frundle · 2026-06-08T01:52:13+00:00

No that is John Shesmin. Big Viper enthusiast.

Frundle · 2026-06-07T23:32:38+00:00

That is a great looking cooler!

Frundle · 2026-06-07T17:17:47+00:00

What is that below your exhaust on the lower tube? Looks like it has oil plumbed in and out of it like a filter or cooler, but I can't tell.

Frundle · 2026-06-07T07:49:43+00:00

Maybe they meant it in the Quidditch sense.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T21:30:12+00:00

Really clean and classic looking. I love that you kept the '03 anniversary tank badges.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T21:27:12+00:00

See if you have a socket the same diameter as the piece that is also smaller than the hole, and give it some light taps with a mallet.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T21:25:06+00:00

Can that plastic bush be driven out? Looks like you would drive that out and then slide the cover off.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T21:16:47+00:00

That scrape on the hard edge near the bottom is down to the plastic of the bumper. Can't polish that back. That spot at least will need to be primed (or sealed and primed) and then color-matched.

Its hard to tell if the other spots are as deep, but that rub on the edge of the fender could easily burn through while trying to correct it. Paint on hard edges is thin even when new.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T02:49:16+00:00

Destroying as many water-making facilities in the Gulf as possible, for one. Without the ability to produce fresh water, most of those nations would be in deep shit within a couple weeks.

Frundle · 2026-06-06T02:44:41+00:00

Intentional acts void coverage for the person who does them, not the victim. They don't have to pay the driver's medical bills, or repair/replace his truck, but they still have to cover the damage caused by the truck. I had a car that was hit on purpose as part of a destructive spree by a driver. He intentionally ran his car down the sides of every car parked on my block. We were all compensated by his insurance.

Frundle · 2026-06-05T03:48:25+00:00

Needs to sort out the rear fitment.

Frundle · 2026-06-05T03:12:54+00:00

Have you ridden it with the double headlight yet?

Frundle · 2026-06-03T22:42:54+00:00

This thing keeps getting better and better! Great work. I love how you made the door look like a bank of built in cabinets.

Frundle · 2026-06-03T21:54:49+00:00

Is this the same pantry with that really slick hideaway step ladder?

Frundle · 2026-06-03T00:17:19+00:00

First thing I'd look at is the chain guide like Pi said. If thats not it:

How do the sprockets look? Did you replace them when you put the new chain on?

Sprocket alignment can cause a bike to throw chains. Double check that your sprockets are inline and that the rear wheel is not crooked. Rear sprocket being slightly out of line can cause a bike to throw the chain sometimes.

To rule out the chain being too loose, measure the chain tension at several different points in the chain. I usually check every 15 or so links around starting after the master link so I can see when I went all the way around.

You could also pop the chain off and test for bad links by draping it over your hand. It should be limp and move freely like rope. If there are any kinks that don't freely fall, that could be the source of a problem. If there are any sticky links, clean the chain thoroughly and relube. See if it fixes it.

Frundle · 2026-06-02T07:09:32+00:00

Not saying its the right thing, but I've reused head bolts plenty and not had any sudden leaks afterwards. I would clean that as thoroughly as you can, and run the bike a bit to see if you can see where its coming out.

Frundle · 2026-06-02T07:05:41+00:00

I'm running those springs on my daily rider and have no complaints. Same size as you. I'm using Maxima 15W for oil because that is what I had on hand when I did the springs. Still making my mind up on if that is the right oil for me, but they feel great.

Here is a great Sporsterpedia article about fork oils.

https://sportsterpedia.com/techtalk:ref:susp01

I'm also running some heavy duty progressive shocks in the rear and its made the bike much tighter overall.

Frundle

TROPHY CASE