Source: Bike Bound
Classy Hooligan: Husky 701 SM by ASE Custom Motorcycles…
When the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto launched in 2014, it was the most powerful production thumper ever built, boasting 74 horsepower and 54 pound-feet of torque from the liquid-cooled 690cc SOHC KTM-designed engine — seriously stout numbers for a 319-pound machine. The twin spark plug ignition featured staggered timing for optimal combustion, and the ride-by-wire throttle had three response modes: Soft, Standard, and Advanced.
The boffins at MCN spent a year with a 701 SM and absolutely loved the grin-inducing character of this overgrown supermotard:
“In such a tall, light package it’ll wheelie off the throttle in first and second gear, bound eagerly out of mid-speed corners and hit a datalogged 121mph top speed. On-the-road performance is identical to Yamaha’s twin-cylinder MT-07 – remarkable for a bike with one piston.” –MCN
Recently, we heard from Andy Steward of the UK’s ASE Custom Motorcycles — a man who spent more than a decade doing design and project management for Jaguar / Land Rover before opening his own workshop in the West Midlands. Andy doesn’t just build bikes, he rides the hell out of them, and he has a particular love for the mind-blowing physical, mental, and technical challenge of hard enduro:
“I love to ride and have been fortunate enough to compete in some of the world’s toughest extreme enduro motorcycle events such as Red Bull Romaniacs and The Nutbuster Hard Enduro in New Zealand.”
The bike you see here began life as a first-year 701 Supermoto, and the London-based owner had a good grip on what he wanted from the customization:
“Reliable use as a city commuter, weekend adventurer, and being capable of carrying a pillion comfortably (including grab handles). Key styling features such as a tubular rear frame, aluminium fuel tank, and Alcantara seat cover were also a priority.”
The bespoke rear steel subframe is a work of art, incorporating grab-rails for the pillion rider which can be swapped for a rear luggage rack, and there’s also a provision for a frame slider — again swappable, this time for a billet aluminum plaque.
Andy replaced the standard airbox with a DNA pod filter to create more space for the bespoke aluminum fuel tank, which was created in free space out of 20 separate pieces, welded and linished to appear seamless.
“Why so complicated? I really wanted to make it appear to be floating. A carefully thought out mounting strategy allowed us to achieve this whilst being able to safely mechanically isolate and dampen it from the surrounding framework.”
The OEM seat base was modified and a custom saddle sculpted from new foam for increased rider / pillion comfort, complete with a bit of a “speed hump” for extra support when the pilot uncorks the big single — which itself has been tuned for 25-30% more power than standard!
The new seat was trimmed in charcoal Alcantara with yellow stitching, and other highlights include a carbon fiber exhaust heat-shield, custom battery covers, rear LED indicators with internal wiring, and a bespoke livery of gloss black, day-glow yellow, and brushed aluminum:
“It pays homage to the older Husqvarna scramblers of the 70s which had the aluminium ‘window’ in the paintwork.”
Nicknamed “Archy” after the gangster played by Mark Strong in Guy Ritchie’s film RocknRolla, this classy hooligan was showcased at the annual Bike Shed Show at London’s Tobacco Docks…though it’s just as home on the street and circuit. Says Andy:
“Our customer has certainly used it in anger on the track and when the chance comes back round again he has promised me a blast — honest!!”
With more than 80 horsepower now available from the 690cc single, this Husky is one of hell a weapon — we hope you get some track time on it, Andy! Below, we talk to the man himself for the full rundown on the build, and credit goes to Mitch Brown (@24sevenphotography) for the shots of this stunning supermoto. Enjoy!
Husqvarna 701 SM Custom: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
My name is Andy Steward, founder of UK-based ASE Custom Motorcycles. I have always had a passion for anything with wheels. I was brought up playing with cars and bikes, taking any opportunity to ride, tinker with, maintain and improve them.
After completing a degree in Motorsport Engineering & Design in South Wales, I began my working career performing several design and project management roles over an 11-year period for the vehicle brand Jaguar Land Rover situated in the West Midlands, UK. After a little break from the day job to travel and work overseas, I decided to take a leap of faith and be self-employed, setting up my own bike building and customising business in the same area.
Art of the Possible: Virago XV920 “Alpha” by ASE Custom Motorcycles
Alongside working on bikes, I love to ride and have been fortunate enough to compete in some of the world’s toughest extreme enduro motorcycle events such as Redbull Romaniacs and The Nutbuster Hard Enduro in New Zealand. Keen for adventure, I continue to travel extensively on two wheels both on and off road and invite any new and exciting opportunity.
Thanks to my prior design experience, extensive automotive knowledge in design for manufacturing, and practical approach, I felt this put me in a strong position in the fundamental groundworks of the business — to provide a start to finish service to my customers. I have set up my workshop to capitalise on this; providing design, building, fabrication and restoration services in-house. Six years in as a full-time business and we are proud to provide an ever-improving service to our very special private clients, building dream rides and frequently involved with some well-known motorcycle manufacturers by fabricating some key components and complete builds for show concepts, prototype and development bikes.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Beginning with a 2014 Husqvarna 701 supermoto, the bike arrived with us in pretty much standard form cosmetically with a Dynojet power commander fitted, freeing up a few HP — which has since been re-visited. Other than a good valet to clean off some London commuting grime, the basis was great to get straight to the custom work.
• Why was this bike built?
This bike was commissioned by a client (and now friend) based in London. He had a fairly good idea of what he wanted from the build and provided a useful “one-pager” detailing these key features.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The initial mood-board design brief specified the reliable use as a city commuter, weekend adventurer, and being capable of carrying a pillion comfortably (including grab handles). Key styling features such as a tubular rear frame, aluminium fuel tank, and Alcantara seat cover were also a priority. Obviously, the concepts evolved as we went along and it was always a balance of where we were going with the style of the bike whilst still maintaining the practicality, reliability, and style.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Where do we start… The first step was to create a bespoke rear steel subframe to tie into the style of the existing front frame (replacing a composite plastic fuel tank/frame). We continued with the asymmetry of the standard bike and maintained the seating position and standard exhaust pipe and silencer.
We added removable grab-rails (swappable with a back rack for those weekend adventures) and incorporated a provision to secure a frame slider on the right hand side (swappable to the billet aluminium plaque pictured when not on the track).
The architecture of the 701 also had the battery, fuse/relay box situated in this subframe assembly. We knew that creating the aluminium fuel tank would not have capacity for as much fuel as standard, so to get some available volume back we removed the standard airbox (located above the engine) and replaced it with a DNA pod filter allowing us to relocate the electrical assembly into this space.
The fuel tank was a real challenge as we had to design and fabricate it to fit up underneath the new frame which effectively meant modelling it in free space, section by section — more on this later!
The hand-crafted aluminium features were carried over to the radiator side cowls and rear fender, which were hand shaped on an English wheel to both show off the trellis frame beneath but add some curvature to the overall design.
The seat base was modified from standard to suit the new design of the bike and new seat foam was sculpted to meet the brief for more comfort for rider and pillion. We covered this in charcoal grey Alcantara with contrast yellow stitching to tie into the other highlights on the bike. Panels towards the front of the frame to cover the battery installation and a heatshield for the exhaust were made from carbon fibre to tie into the existing carbon parts on the bike.
The rear LED indicators were fitted within the frame rails with the wiring routed internally to maintain the minimalist integration to the design.
Finally the personalised livery of gloss black, brushed aluminium, and day-glow yellow was derived to show off the handcrafted aluminium panels beneath whilst providing some striking highlights and some personalised numbers. It also pays homage to the older Husqvarna scramblers of the 70s which had the aluminium “window” in the paintwork.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Well our client has described it as a “Classy hooligan” which I think is pretty apt. So he has ended up calling it “Archy”, like the gangster from Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
Putting the DNA cone filter on and giving it a tune has unleashed approximately 25-30% from standard on a bike that was a whole lot of fun to start with!
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
I certainly had a big grin on my face during the “shake-down” road miles and our customer has certainly used it in anger on the track and when the chance comes back round again he has promised me a blast — honest!!
When we re-trimmed the seat we incorporated a bit of a speed hump — partly to allow some more pillion and rider comfort and also to give some support when cracking it wide open, that works a treat!
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I would say the most complicated and labour-intensive part of the build was the fuel tank. As previously mentioned, creating the separate panels in free space made it extremely complicated. It may not be clear to see from the pictures, but it is made up from about 20 separate pieces of aluminium painstakingly shaped to tie into each bend of the framework above it. The majority of these welds were then linished off to make a seamless structure, with the exception of some “feature welds” where appropriate.
CNC flanges were incorporated into the sheet material to maintain all of the existing functionality of mounting the fuel pump, sender, gauge, breather, and filler neck. Why so complicated? I really wanted to make it appear to be floating. A carefully thought out mounting strategy allowed us to achieve this whilst being able to safely mechanically isolate and dampen it from the surrounding framework. In the end we only lost about 1.5 litres of useable fuel capacity thanks to the relocation of some key components previously mentioned, maintaining real-world useability.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
The customer really, it was a fantastic opportunity to build a killer ride. Also, the team at the Bike Shed for having it on display at “The Bike Shed Show 2022” in London’s iconic Tobacco Dock.
Follow the Builder
Website: www.asecustommotorcycles.co.uk
Instagram: @asecustommotorcycles
Facebook: @asecustommotorcycles
Photo credit: Mitch Brown (@24sevenphotography)”}]]
