2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 | First Ride
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- Husqvarna’s Norden 901 builds on KTM’s 890 Adventure platform with more style and comfort. Is this the best ADV yet from Austria?
It’s difficult to review Husqvarna’s motorcycles without talking about the KTM models from which they are derived-for this motorcycle, evolved is a better descriptor-and even more difficult to not make comparisons. This is because Husqvarna, as the second adopted child of KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, is a play to maximize profitability; Husky has less overhead and fewer operating costs because it has been absorbed by the machine that is KTM. And until now, most of Husqvarna’s street offerings have been heavily styled riffs on tried-and-true orange platforms, riffs that have missed the mark in one way or the other. Don’t get it wrong; they’re still excellent machines, but not better than what you could have if you chose orange over white. After two days in the Azores on the 2022 Norden 901, we can say that has changed.
Let’s usher the orange elephant out of the room in quick order. The Norden 901 is built on the same chassis and engine platform as KTM’s 890 Adventure and 890 Adventure R. Engine capacity, tuning, and performance are identical, as are the frame and subframe. Yet it’s the differences that make the Norden 901 the most compelling ADV to roll out of Mattighofen.
When the Concept 901 was released at EICMA 2019, the buzz was immediate and palpable. The insectoid fascia and knife-edge angles of the KTMs were replaced with smooth modern lines that still evoked rally in a neo-retro sort of way. Two years later, the production model hasn’t been diluted by regulations or cost-cutting measures and looks nearly identical to the concept. The design is entirely Husqvarna; a round LED headlight sits high above the front wheel, flanked by integrated fog lights and a steeply angled windscreen. The black, white, and yellow bodywork has broader shoulders and hindquarters. The overall look is refined and subtle in many aspects, yet substantial at the same time.
Also substantial is the Norden 901′s LC8c engine. Displacing 899cc, the liquid-cooled parallel twin puts out a claimed 105 hp at 8,000 rpm and 73 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. On the CW dyno, the same engine in the 890 Adventure R produced 86.5 hp at 8,350 rpm and 58.1 pound-feet at 6,850 rpm, measured at the rear wheel. It’s an excellent powerplant for adventure riding, rowdy and powerful when called for but usable and controllable when the need arises. Torque comes on strong at around 3,000 rpm and jumps the Norden forward with authority when asked; the rush of power sweeps you through to the 9,000-rpm redline. Throttle response is immediate but not jerky, and it’s easy to feel how much you are feeding the rear through the ride-by-wire throttle.
Ride modes tailor that power delivery even further to suit your ride or conditions. Three settings, Street, Rain, and Offroad, are equipped standard; an optional mode called Explorer is available at a price. Rain mode cuts the horsepower to 80, mutes throttle response, and sets the lean-sensitive traction control to maximum. Street throttle response is sharper, and gives the Norden full horsepower with just a touch of slip from the lean-sensitive traction control under full throttle. Offroad provides the most aggressive throttle response and allows for rear wheelspin in the dirt. It also removes the lean-sensitive ABS function and turns off the ABS to the rear wheel.
Each standard mode does its job well, but the optional Explorer mode gets the most out of the Norden’s rider aids. This mode allows riders to select between nine levels of rear tire spin or slip via the up/down button on the thumb pad on the left side of the handlebar. Throttle response can also be selected based on the Street, Rain, and Offroad settings. The ABS settings also get locked to this mode, a great help for those who habitually forget to change ABS modes after turning the ignition key. After the first few hours on the bike I used the Explorer mode exclusively, as it’s flexible and adjustable on the fly.
And with the highly changeable weather on the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago, the ability to change rear-wheel slip levels quickly and easily is extremely useful. Our ride consisted of winding mountain roads, often wet, with green moss growing in the center and on the edges of the lane, slick as icy cobblestones; and dirt roads soaked with the remnants of Tropical Storm Wanda. Traction varied along a range from tacky dirt to grippy asphalt. It was much easier to add or subtract TC with a single tap while riding rather than navigating menus for mode selection.
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This is the most sensible thing I've ever heard on a bike review. "We're not racing adventure bikes here". Why do nearly all other bike reviewers sum up adventure bikes in the same way they would a sports bike.
don't get me wrong, I still like to race an ADV from time to time:
www.cycleworld.com/story/bikes/28000-ktm-790-adventure-r-project/
@@cycleworld ohh that project bike there is the stuff that dreams are made of
Would be interesting to see a comparison between this the KTM and the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. All 900's , which is the true Unicorn.
I'm completely OBSESSED! with this bike.
I like the over the road / long haul capabilities of the bigger cc bikes as well.. the Versatility if you will.
Great review and thanks for showing the LCD display well👍🏼 Deposit down for me and I was going to put a deposit on an 890 AR but one word rang wedding bells and that was “comfort” the very thing the 890 AR ‘ain’t😠
Yes, the 790/890 remembers the modes when you switch it on/off, (so I guess the Norden will do the same, makes sense), just ABS off will reset to ABS on - because here in Europe a bike without ABS over 250cc is not legal any longer.
Thanks for the review. Your work is very helpful. I get my full licence in Victoria, Australia in 1 year and three months.
Great review, short and sweet
Nice review. If you have it in optional explorer mode, does it remember your setting when you turn off the key? I believe ktm remembers the rally mode. Important if your doing most of your traveling in the dirt. I really hate having an offroad adv bike always switch back to road mode.
It does.
Hope you enjoyed my island riding the Norden.
Great review. 😉
It's got a funky look and thats a good thing!
Excellent review. Great info shared in the video.
Wow. From out of nowhere with storied name. A looker with ideal ergonomics & performance. A “ Goldilocks Zone “ design. A compelling choice in a crowded field.
can we have a Svartpilen 901 now? With TFT screen?
Great review, but just one comment from my side: ergonomics are a very personal matter. I am a relatively short guy and not too heavy guy (1.71m and 85kg in gear), so both the seat and the screen will feel differently for me, than for a long and/or heavy rider. I have hardly ever problems with motorcycle seats, for sure not if I am wearing bicycle pants inside my motorcycle pants. It's more a too tight knee angle that causes me problems on long trips and I had road bikes where I used a high seat to get some relieve!
Wind turbulences on the head are also very much depending on the rider length, the windscreen and the helmet. Using an "adventure style" helmet with a shield makes thing worse. For me most the times the problem is then, that I am getting the turbulences caused by the upper windscreen edge right into my face. Taller riders will not have this effect, their head sticks out in the laminar air flow above.
So I think everybody really needs to test for him/herself.
exactly. Even the 890advR is too short for me. Norden would be like riding in the fetal position.
An adjustable seat? What? Nutssss
Nice bike thanks for the video and take care
How'd it compare to the preproduction Tuareg you rode a few months back?
Looks great
Your riding position has alot to do with why you cant get the bike to transition from side to side, or your belly. Either way, loved the review.
Excellent review, Justin! I've been following Lyndon's filming and social media of the Norden launch, but this was the first full "review" I've seen from a magazine/website. You make some great points - i.e., how much bike do we really *need*, and have we convinced ourselves that we need more than we really do? This would apply to engine, suspension, tech, etc. The Norden seems like a real sweet spot. But, perhaps, not quite enough for me to give up my 990 Adventure R....... Yet!
I loved my 990 Adventure, and only got rid of it because it finally developed so many issue with the electronics that it was worth more in parts than to fix all of the problems. Now I love the 1090 Adventure R at least as much as the 990 (and in some ways more!), but I can't help but wonder whether the Norden might be the ultimate bike for me. I'll have to ride it before I can make that determination.
@@paultannahill5043 here's a 790 R vs 950 comparison we did in 2020. Might answer some questions, and it might make choosing more difficult.
www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/ktm-790-adventure-r-vs-950-adventure/
Why do they charge you to unlock the explorer mode???
Can you turn off all rider adds so there is full power , straight off . No wheel slip intervention ifso how , an as said while it stay in this mode after key off . That will make my decision .
how is this compared to africa twin ? they are exact the same price !
Thanks, sounds like a good performer. Given KTM's reliability reputation, though, I’ll pass.
Nice husq,can't give up me 1090R
My main question is, when it bottoms out is it a hard thunk like my F800gs or like it has air bumps like my FE350s? (Cough cough 48mm Xplorer suspension)
The suspension is awesome. Same as 890advR just 20mm less. It doesn't 'clack.'
It is a hard thunk from the shock when it bottoms.
@@montaego the 890 R has 48mm Xplor fork and Xplor shock, both fully adjustable. The Norden suspension is 43mm Apex fork and Apex shock. The shock only has rebound and compression adjustments.
So it doesn’t work like the 48mm Xplorer suspension… bummer.
So they basically made the norden what the standard 790 adv should be Great.
Can you still explore on it if you don’t pay for explorer mode ??
Yes. And you can have adventures on bikes that aren't ADV bikes, too!
I really hope they address the #1 known weakness of the KTM Adventure bikes: the fuel pump. I have heard that many people swap out the fuel pump as soon as they get the bike - or even have their dealer do it before taking delivery. It is becoming the equivalent of the KLR650 "doohickey" issue, and that's not cool.
Super 🏆🎖️👍🇵🇰
What's the price point...?
That would depend on where you are in the world. In the USA, MSRP is $13,999 USD.
@@hungwasson1399 Close to 15.000Euros in Germany.
you are trying so hard to make it sound like it is a good bike...
Austria? Sweden bro..
No. Austria. Mattighofen to be exact. Bro.
Claimed 450 pounds no fuel? ehhh....I’ll take the 701 LR instead.
You are comparing apples & oranges.
@@paultannahill5043 for sure but I dont care, they do the exact same jobs.
@@ridewherever yes, and they do those jobs differently. It’s all about personal preference, best gained by riding both. 👍🏼
@@PaulTannahill hell ya man, I cant wait to test the Norden. Maybe it will feel diff than the T7 - I’ve tested that for 8 hours straight and it was just a bit too heavy. So when I learned the weight of the Norden I was like ehhhh. But it might carry/feel lower. The 701 is still my top pick so far.
It don't have no color or how fast is 9 seconds in a quarter mile
It's a cool bike, but it can't match my KLR
Personally. I’d rather have the 890R.
Lucky for you, the KTM 890 Adventure R will continue to be produced! Be ready to race. 😉
When I see a bike with that level of electronic gadgets, I immediately lose interest as I know there are going to be gremlins that will pop up in the middle of nowhere and leave you stranded.
Do you have a lot of experience with this?
From CHINA you mean, not Austria.
Husqvarna is a Swedish company. When you buy IKEA, are you buying the best assembleble furniture from China? Hmmm, I guess so. Never mind.
That is one fugly Bike 👎👎
Sorry but you can keep all those rider aids🤢My 950 Super Enduro R Has throttle and brakes keep it simple🤙🇨🇦