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Pricey Ryan Adams,
Simply needed to drop a fast notice to say thanks that your trip plans completely shat in your likelihood to match Husqvarna’s all-new entry into the Middleweight Journey Touring class, the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901. I understand how you have been trying ahead to touring to the Azores to pattern what could be a game-changer for the Swedish-turned-Austrian model, which has skilled a outstanding renaissance below the wing of PIERER Mobility AG.
Frankly, dude, aside from not having to endure pissing-down rain on the primary day, you missed out.
Now, I do know you may suppose, like a number of ADV hardcores, that the Norden 901 is only a gussied-up model of the KTM 890 Journey R you sampled again in February, however it simply ain’t so. Husqvarna has arguably taken the Katoom’s primary structure and hyper-refined it with, dare I say, a gentlemanly character. Because of this, the Norden feels fairly completely different out of your beloved 890 Journey R. It’s an ADV machine that ought to attraction to a extra numerous crowd than the KTM. It isn’t the final word hard-edged off-road steed. The Norden 901 can chew the identical grime as its KTM cousin, simply not in the identical means. It favors a barely much less frenetic tempo off-road, whereas providing higher consolation throughout lengthy stints on the freeway. In accordance with Husky officers, that was the objective from the beginning.
What’s the identical?
After all, the Norden 901 and the 890 Journey R share a number of the identical expertise. Sure, the Norden 901 packs the identical 889cc parallel-twin engine in the identical chrome-moly metal body because the 890 Journey R. Its engine is tuned identically to the KTM, which produced 92.5 hp at 8,300 rpm and 64.1 lb-ft. at 7,100 rpm. Comparability to the KTM is inevitable, however recover from it.
Moreover, you already know the magic of the Norden’s motor. Clean as silk and oozing torque all over the place besides perhaps on the very high of the rev vary, the Norden can virtually assist you to transfer a mountain, not to mention negotiate its curves and inclines. Its dynamic and responsive Dell Orto throttle our bodies and EMS mean you can dial up the exact quantity of energy for almost any impediment in your means. You may virtually lug the engine low sufficient to rely the cadence of each firing stroke, or you possibly can scream it very near the rev limiter. It merely produces no matter thrust you want. Magnificent!
Like I mentioned earlier than, Ryan, the primary of our two days of driving the Azorian island of San Miguel was an actual soak-fest. At first, I believed it will suck having to information the 498-lb (totally fueled) Norden 901 alongside the island’s slim and curvy roads. Topped with moist asphalt, and worse – the snottiest of slick cobblestones I’ve ever skilled, these surfaces positively put the Norden 901’s plethora of rider-aid electronics to the check. Accessible via Norden’s glorious new 5-inch TFT show (not the 7-incher discovered on the KTM 1290 Journey as some surmised), the package deal contains three commonplace driving modes (Road, Rain, Off-Street). There’s additionally an non-compulsory Explorer mode should you actually wish to get jiggy with it within the outback. As well as, the Husky is provided with the identical switchable Bosch Cornering ABS which makes use of Road and Off-Street modes and the useful Cornering Motorbike Traction Management (MTC) with 9 ranges of intervention (plus off) at your fingertips.
With traction at a premium, I performed round with the Norden’s electronics and finally discovered bliss in Off-Street mode with the MTC set at 3 (9 is the very best degree of intervention) and turning off the rear ABS. Explorer would’ve been the suitable name in moist, cheesy circumstances, however rear wheelspin was only a bit an excessive amount of within the slick circumstances. Conversely, Road mode curtailed the thrust slightly an excessive amount of. And Rain mode? It’d as properly be referred to as Ice mode as a result of it freezes the Norden’s peak energy supply at 82 horsepower. I merely don’t see the place a reliable rider would wish that a lot intervention, however it’s there should you do want it. Coaching wheels aren’t included…however the level is…you possibly can dial in a sensible energy setting for any circumstances you encounter by yourself journey. The Norden all the time has your again.
And what’s completely different?
Alas, my pricey Ryan, there are componentry variations that separate the Norden 901 from its KTM counterpart the place it involves final off-road mastery. The obvious of those is the suspension. Husqvarna opted to suit the Norden with a 43 mm WP APEX fork quite than the WP XPLOR-USD, 48 mm fork on the 890 Journey R. It’s a totally adjustable separate-function fork, housing the compression damping within the left leg and the rebound damping in the suitable. That mentioned, the APEX’s 8.8 in. (220 mm) of journey is a full 0.8 in. (20 mm) shorter than the EXPLOR’s 240 mm. Likewise, the Norden’s WP monoshock isn’t almost as trick because the 890 Journey R’s. It’s nonetheless a direct-link system, however with no PDS or piggyback reservoir and no compression adjustability both. Nevertheless, Norden’s shock does get a useful preload adjuster knob. I’m informed the ’21 890 Journey R didn’t have that, however I suppose we’ll see what occurs in 2022, huh?
Husky officers informed me they have been prepared to sacrifice a little bit of off-road prowess for an added measure of on-road consolation on the Norden. True sufficient, the Norden delivers a luxurious and supple trip on asphalt, concrete, or cobblestone. My check bike was slightly jouncy with the inventory settings, however that was rapidly cured with a one-click improve in compression up entrance and two further clicks of rebound entrance and rear. With that, the following 200 miles have been managed and comfy, irrespective of how bumpy the serpentine ribbon that lay forward.
It was slightly completely different matter when the pavement ended, nonetheless. The Norden will be dialed in to deal with some tough nation, however that 20 mm lack of journey is most noticeable whenever you push the tempo. It’s not troublesome to blow via the journey should you occur to hike the massive Norden into the air, right here or there. Mentioned landings often lead to bottomed-out suspension entrance and rear, however nothing extra. The Norden’s chassis maintains its composure, so that you don’t have to fret about being thrown right into a headshake situation. Nonetheless, that suspension clank is a well mannered reminder to dial again your aggression slightly bit.
Whether or not you do otherwise you don’t, although, the Norden 901 chassis is unflappable. It steers flippantly and gives glorious suggestions over no matter terrain you select. It doesn’t really feel too lengthy or too quick, and it locations its poundage properly sufficient that the one time you’re feeling such as you’re on an enormous bike is simply earlier than you set free the clutch. Even sliding the rear finish is not any massive deal so long as you aren’t making use of a number of whiskey throttle. The Norden is as predictable and pleasant as your grandma’s rocking chair.
The Norden 901 additionally will get a completely completely different rotationally molded gasoline tank within the curiosity of putting the go-juice in a extra Cg-friendly location and to raised complement that oh-so-sexy Norden bodywork. The result’s a tank that’s wider on the high and tucked in on the backside for a slimmer profile. C’mon, Ryan. Can you actually say you’ve ever seen a KTM that appears this good? The change prices some capability, however the Norden 901 can in all probability make do with just a bit over 5 gallons in comparison with the KTM’s 5.3. Husqvarna says you’ll nonetheless recover from 248 miles of vary between fill-ups. God is aware of that the Norden 901 can nonetheless maintain out longer than you possibly can earlier than you begin craving your favourite gas-station beef jerky. I also needs to point out that the gasoline cell performs an element within the Norden’s glorious ergos, giving the bike a quite slim-waisted really feel.
However essentially the most crucial half, the one that actually separates the Husqvarna Norden 901 from the KTM 890 Journey R, is the seat. If the Norden’s two-step adjustable saddle have been the one distinction between the 2 fashions, you’d in all probability swear you have been driving two completely different bikes. Husqvarna fiddled with various densities of froth till they received the one that will make the infant bear shed a tear. It’s excellent! Slim sufficient to supply a tremendously slim really feel on the Norden’s waist when seated or standing, it tapers into a large, virtually tractor pan-like profile that means that you can scooch again and luxuriate in a calming trip all day lengthy. It simply goes to indicate that the Mattighofen crew does possess the expertise to engineer a seat that doesn’t make you’re feeling such as you’re sitting on a sharp-edged 2 by 4.
The Norden’s braking parts are by J. Juan. Lest you decry the dearth of Brembos, know that these Spanish-made brakes are a part of the Brembo group, so there’s little room to doubt their high quality. Up entrance, four-piston, radially mounted brake calipers and two 320 mm brake discs apply loads of whoa in live performance with a 260 mm brake disc actuated by a two-piston floating caliper. Really feel and suggestions are glorious at each ends, and you’ll dial in energy to your liking by merely experimenting with the obtainable ABS settings. Straightforward peasy.
What wants to alter?
Was there something I didn’t like concerning the Norden 901? Yeah, as a matter of reality, there was. I can admire that the Husky comes commonplace with the Straightforward-Shift perform, affording the flexibility to bang upshifts and downshifts with out disengaging its smooth-and-precise Energy Help Slipper Clutch (PASC). The issue I had wasn’t with the system’s performance however quite the Norden 901’s shifter. Until you could have boots with little or no plastic and/or a good measure of ankle articulation, you’ll in all probability discover the shift lever arm to be too quick and its location too low. With my Alpinestars Tech 5s I had a hell of a time getting comfy, constant upshifts, and I hit quite a lot of false neutrals alongside the route. In any other case, the shifts have been peanut-butter {smooth} after I received them proper, and even when I shifted too early, the Norden 901 motor all the time made sufficient torque to take up the slack.
And there’s one change I’d make if I actually needed to try to get the Norden 901 on a barely extra degree taking part in subject with the KTM 890 Journey R: tires. If I knew that my adventures would come with a number of grime, I’d take off the Norden’s Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs and swap them with a set of Continental TKC 80s. The Contis are nonetheless the gold commonplace in Journey bike tires, and the off-road grip they supply can be a greater match for the Norden’s energy, notably when cornering.
After that, it will simply be a matter of accessorizing the Norden to my liking. Thankfully, Husqvarna is already providing a bunch of cool add-ons, akin to a taller windscreen, Touratech aluminum facet circumstances and high case, or Husqvarna delicate circumstances. There’s additionally a suspension reducing package that drops the seat top one other 22 mm with out affecting the Norden’s driving dynamics; heated seats; heated grips; and an Akrapovič titanium muffler that shaves weight and doesn’t require any ECU tuning.
Husqvarna can be creating a Experience Husqvarna Bikes app that allows you to join a smartphone to the Norden 901 through Bluetooth. The app offers you full management over incoming calls, audio taking part in, and gives turn-by-turn navigation seen via the TFT show. Operation is through the handlebar-mounted menu swap.
What’s the underside line?
At $13,999, the Husqvarna Norden 901 is ready to hit the bottom as a fairly priced machine that checks all of the containers for all however essentially the most dirt-crazed riders. It might not eclipse the 890 Journey R when the going will get actually tough, however it greater than makes up for that with superior consolation over the lengthy haul. In actual fact, it would simply be the perfect all-around ADV bike available on the market in 2022. Time will inform.
| 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 Specs | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $13,999 |
| Engine Sort | 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled with water/oil warmth exchanger |
| Bore x Stroke | 90.7 mm x 68.8 mm |
| Displacement | 889cc |
| Horsepower | 105 hp at 8000 rpm (claimed) |
| Torque | 63.8 lb-ft at 6800 rpm (claimed) |
| Engine Administration | Bosch EMS with RBW |
| Lubrication | Compelled oil lubrication with 2 oil pumps |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Clutch | PASC anti-hopping clutch, mechanically operated |
| Starter | Electrical starter |
| Chain | 520 X-Ring |
| Body | Chromium-Molybdenum-Metal body utilizing the engine as harassed factor, powder-coated |
| Entrance Suspension | Absolutely-adjustable WP APEX-USD, Ø 43 mm, 8.7 inches of journey |
| Rear Suspension | Preload- and rebound-adjustable WP XPLOR monoshock, 8.5 inches of journey |
| Entrance Brake | J. Juan twin 320 mm discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers |
| Rear Brake | J. Juan 260 mm disc with two-piston floating caliper |
| Entrance Wheel | 21 x 2.15 wire-spoked wheel |
| Rear Wheel | 18 x 4.00 wire-spoked wheel |
| Entrance Tire | 90/90-21 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| Rear Tire | 150/70-18 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| ABS | Bosch 9.1 MP (incl. Cornering-ABS and off-road mode, disengageable rear) |
| Rake | 26.3° |
| Wheelbase | 60.2 inches |
| Seat Top | 33.6 inches/34.4 inches |
| Gas Capability | 5.02 gallons |
| Dry Weight | 449.7 kilos (claimed with no gasoline in tank) |
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