Pierer Mobility, the parent company behind KTM and Husqvarna, bought the Spanish motorcycle brand GasGas in 2019.
After first focusing on pure off-road, and this year's victory in the Dakar rally, trial and E-bike models, it is now time consummate on this win and introduction for street motorcycles.
What is at KTM 690 and at Husqvarna 701, becomes the 700 series at GasGas. With the ES 700 and SM 700, GASGAS is now taking its first real steps into the street-legal motorcycle market.
Don't call the ES 700 an enduro because GASGAS itself catalogs this motorcycle as a 'travel motorcycle'. But given its studded tires, we dare to label it as a travel enduro.
It makes sense that the ES 700 with its tubular steel frame and thick single-cylinder engine is very familiar, because this is exactly the same motorcycle as the KTM 690 Enduro R.
The specs are therefore almost exactly the same, although GASGAS does specify a slightly higher weight of 147.5 kg compared to 146 kg for the KTM. So the difference is in the red bodywork of the ES 700.
So we are presented with the well-known LC4 mono with a WP Apex suspension package, minimalist dashboard with two adjustable modes and above all very little weight for a lot of fun. Brembo brakes and a hydraulic slip clutch complete the fun package.
The SM 700 is a red variation on the KTM SMC-R 690 theme. The SM 700 is also slightly heavier than its Austrian cousin.
Don't call the SM 700 "enduro" on supermoto tires, though. GASGAS mounts a different line of WP components on the SM 700.
Just as is the case on the ES 700, the front fork is adjustable in terms of compression and rebound damping and you can also adjust the spring preload on the rear shock absorber.