Norden arrives: Husqvarna 901 adventurer set for on and off-road exploration from 2022

After almost two years of spy shots, and video teasers Husqvarna have finally lifted the covers off their hotly anticipated Norden 901 adventure bike.

Based on the pre-existing KTM 890 Adventure range, the Norden is distinguished from its Austrian siblings by its typically-Husky futuristic bodywork, complete with cyclops LED headlight.

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Said to be ergonomically designed to work with the rider’s body, the smooth plastics wrap tightly around a KTM-derived 889cc parallel twin engine – producing a claimed 103.6bhp and 73.8lb.ft, as well as acting as a stressed member within the steel chassis.

This frame itself also comes from its orange siblings, with a slightly more aggressive rake and trail for faster changes of direction.

Also shared with the standard 890 are the WP Apex forks and shock, however there’s now more adjustment and 20mm extra travel in the front end and 15mm extra at the back for a little more composure on the rough stuff.

There’s also 30mm of adjustment in the handlebars and the foot peg rubbers can be removed for more grip off-road. A two-piece seat climbs between 854mm and 874mm and gets thinner towards the tank to help riders reach to the floor.

Also keeping the bike in check are a myriad of lean sensitive electronic aids – made possible by a six axis IMU. This includes cornering ABS on the J.Juan brakes and anti-wheelie – with nine-stage traction control unlocked when the bike is placed in the optional ‘Explorer’ mode. It can also be deactivated completely if you fancy.

• Related: KTM 890 Adventure R long-term test

Flicking to the off-road ABS setting allows you to lock up the rear wheel, and removes lean sensitivity at the front end for greater precision on loose surfaces. This is further helped by the rugged Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, which hug a pair of spoked tubeless rims.

On top of this, Husqvarna have also thrown in cruise control, an up and down quickshifter and three standard riding modes. Engine braking control also works with the slipper clutch for better precision on aggressive downshifts and deceleration.

Helping operate these systems is a 5in TFT display, which can also be connected to your mobile via the Ride Husqvarna Motorcycles App for turn-by-turn navigation.

There’s no word on pricing yet, but we’d expect it to sit between £12,000 and £12,500.

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Norden 901 nearly here: Husqvarna put through its paces by rally legend Cyril Despres

First published on 17 August 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

As the Husqvarna marketing machine gets into full swing, the brand have released their latest video of the new Norden 901; this time we see it tearing around the volcanic plains of Iceland.

There are two bikes in the video being piloted by some very handy riders: one is five-time Dakar rally winner Cyril Despres, the other is extreme explorer Mike Horn, who has also raced the Dakar on four wheels.

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As well as amazing views of Iceland, what the video really shows us is just how capable the new bike will be (especially in the right hands). So far all we’ve been able to garner from the bike is what it’s like to ride on the road, when MCN bagged an exclusive first ride last year.

At the time we said: “it offers a slightly softer – luxurious, even – more real- world alternative to the sportier 890 Adventure R. It’s subtly more welcoming, especially as you sit more in the bike than on it, so you feel more part of the bike and can ride it more intuitively.”

But now having seen it do the business off-road, it’s clear that it’s just as capable as its orange counterpart. Concentrating on the bike, it’s clear that these machines are one step closer to production, quite possibly even full production spec, and that very little has changed between these and the first prototypes we saw two years ago.

The biggest change, other than the paint finish, is that the two-part split dash has gone in favour of a more conventional TFT – albeit not the one from the 890 Adventure, with Husky instead opting for the 5in full colour unit from the 1290 Super Duke R.

It’s no real surprise to see a few items carry over from the 890 accessories catalogue, including the Akrapovic pipe.

We’re expecting Husqvarna to unveil two versions of the Norden – a more off-road and adventure focused version with a high mudguard, longer-travel suspension and dual sport tyres as well as a more touring focused model with shorter suspension, comfier seat, larger screen and road-biased tyres.

There’s been no official word from Husqvarna on the release of the new bike but we’d expect it to be unveiled in the Autumn and to be in dealers for Spring 2022.

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Husqvarna Norden 901 creeps closer: New bike spotted testing in two different guises

First published on 01 April 2021 by Jordan Gibbons

New spyshots have emerged showing the upcoming Husqvarna Norden 901 in an almost production-ready state during road testing.

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• KTM 890 Adventure bike review
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We’ve known about the attractive new Norden 901 since it was first unveiled by Husqvarna in 2019 but it was always assumed there would be just one model. However, these new spyshots suggest there will be two models: an off-road focused machine and an on-road focused variant, just like the KTM 890 models it shares DNA with.

If you’re not familiar with Husky’s current modus operandum, they take the bare bones of a model from sister company KTM’s range and they give it their own blue and white twist. They’ve done it with the smaller capacity Vitpilen and Svartpilens, so now their attention has turned to the bigger bikes in the company’s range.

The Norden 901 is based on the new KTM 890 Adventure, sharing the same engine, mainframe, suspension, wheels and fuel tanks. Husqvarna have then added different bodywork, and likely tweaked many of the settings under the slightly retro looking fairings.

What we can also now see in the new spyshots is the dash. Interestingly, Husky have opted not to fit the dash from the 890, instead fitting the 5in full colour TFT dash from the KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

  

The switchgear, however, appears to be the same as used on the 890 Adventure. Sadly, the funky split dash we saw on the concept, which shared a screen with a smartphone, appears to have fallen by the production wayside.

Until now we’ve only seen models with the low front mudguard and road orientated tyres, as seen on the 890 Adventure.

However, in these pictures you can clearly see the high mudguard and off-road tyres from the 890 Adventure R fitted. There are also two different types of pannier rack fitted, suggesting there will be both hard and soft luggage available from the outset.

There’s been no word from Husqvarna since they confirmed the 901 was going into production but we expect the finished bike to be unveiled later this year and to arrive in dealers by early 2022.

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New Norden 901 review: Husqvarna let us take their adventure prototype for a spin

First published on January 13, 2021 by Alan Cathcart

Husqvarna first revealed the Norden 901 concept in November 2019 to huge acclaim but other than a confirmation it was going into production, virtually nothing has been heard about it since.

Now, however, MCN can confirm the bike will be fully unveiled later this year as a 2022 model and what’s more, Husqvarna even let us take a spin on the prototype. Read on for the Norden 901 prototype review…

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• KTM 890 Adventure bike review
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First things first – you might be wondering why there are no pictures of the prototype being ridden. Well we weren’t allowed to be photographed on the well-worn test bike but there was precious little visual difference between it and the concept version shown a little over a year ago. So how does it stack up?

After half a day riding the first early prototype it’s clear that the 901 promises to be a different take on Adventure Touring than the KTM model it shares its engine with. It offers a slightly softer – luxurious, even – more real- world alternative to the sportier 890 Adventure R.

It’s subtly more welcoming, especially as you sit more in the bike than on it, so you feel part of the bike and can ride it very intuitively. Though we only rode it on-road it had quite extensive suspension travel at each end, a 21in front wheel and 18in rear, and the electronics include Bosch cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, and a range of riding modes including an off-road setting.

But as an hour-long dust-up on challenging roads winding their way through the hills of Upper Austria proved, the Norden is a seriously capable tarmac tool that gives nothing away in terms of handling to more street-focused rivals, while also doubtless being just as capable off-road, thanks to the broad range of power from that torquey yet eager-revving 889cc version of KTM’s LC8c motor.

And it should be a great long-distance machine too, because of the cosier riding position – though like everyone else we’ll have to wait until the production version is launched as a 2022 model one year from now to find out. Definitely worth waiting for, though!

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From concept to quarry crusher – Husqvarna Norden 901 confirmed!

First published on December 13, 2019 by Ben Clarke

Husqvarna have confirmed that the striking Norden 901 will be coming to a showroom near you soon by adding it to their production bike line-up for 2021.

The historic off-road brand, now part of the Austrian KTM group, say they were overwhelmed by the response to their concept machine at the Eicma show in Milan and interest reached fever pitch at Motorcycle Live despite the bike not even being on show.

A Husqvarna spokesman said: “We were blown away by the response. It has definitely sped things up with the project.”