Husqvarna SMR511 - road legal but ready to race

Husqvarna’s new SMR511 is the now BMW-owned firm’s most radical track-ready supermoto to date. At just 118kg it’s radically light, hughly impractical, and, for a fairly basic single-cylinder, eye-wateringly pricey, too, at £7299.

It’s race bike origins are visible everywhere – the only instruments you get are digital speedo, trip meter and hard-to-read lights. There’s one light for main beam, one for indicators and a low-fuel light (which you’ll quickly become familiar with, as the tiny 8.5-litre underseat tank gives a range of just 60 miles.)

In the same vein, the seat is thin and uncomfortably hard and there’s nowhere to hide from wind.

In short, everything is harsh, minimal and extreme, with little concession to creature comforts. But you know what? Despite all the complaints and in spite of the high price tag, I love this little supermoto. When it works, it works and works well. In fact it’s amazing.

Read the full review in this week’s (25 May) copy of MCN, on sale now.

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