Husqvarna Norden901 Test Ride Review | Tough and Gentle Adventures for Adults with a Scandinavian Spirit.

The first adventure machine from Husqvarna, a famous offshore company

I would like to report on my participation in a test ride of the Norden901 for the media. The Norden901 is Husqvarna's first adventure model. Husqvarna is one of the oldest motorcycle brands in the world, originating from Scandinavian Sweden, and has a glorious history in off-road racing, mainly motocross and enduro. In recent years, the company has been steadily making strides in the adventure segment. The Norden901 is a brand-new model that Husqvarna has been waiting for.

Specs are the same as KTM890 Adventure

Norden means "north" in its native Sweden. The Scandinavian design is quiet but strong-willed, with its subdued monotone, bright yellow coloring, and rounded headlights with a retro look.

It is based on the KTM 890 Adventure. In rough terms, it could be said that both motorcycles are twins, sharing the same engine and chassis, with the exterior finished with the original. However, if you look closely at the details, you can see the difference in character. The same front and rear WP suspension are used, but the stroke is intermediate between the 890 and the 890R with enhanced off-road performance (220 mm front/215 mm rear), and the STD tires are the mildly blocked Scorpion Rally STR. The seat height is also low at 854mm, and the seat shape is a front-rear separate type that allows a pillion to sit comfortably, indicating that this is a touring model that aims for a good balance between on- and off-road riding.

Ride quality is basically gentle and comfortable

The engine is a liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder LC8c (KTM's designation) with a 75-degree phase crank that brings out a racy V-twin-like pulse and traction performance. The maximum output of 105ps is a specification shared by all 890 models, and the engine has punchy low- and mid-range torque and blows smoothly up to high rpm.

On-road driving was first tested, and even in 3rd or 4th gear, the 200 kg lightweight vehicle accelerated rapidly with a single accelerator pedal stroke. The suspension is soft to the touch, and the long legs smooth out the bumps on the rough asphalt road surface. The almost vertical screen, full cowl-like body shape, and full-scale grip guards provide good wind protection. Although not tested this time, it should be comfortable for high-speed touring.

Compared to the KTM, the overall feeling is softer and gentler, allowing the rider to ride comfortably on the winding roads of Hakone without being rushed. As mentioned above, the specs are almost the same, but perhaps it is the subdued coloring and design that makes us feel this way.

Fully equipped with an electric system to enjoy flexible riding.

Handling is nimble but stable, with the generosity typical of 21-inch spoke wheels on the front. The Scorpion Rally STR also had plenty of ground contact, and despite the freezing temperature of 3°C, it provided a secure grip from the start. The low seat provides good foot grounding for this genre of vehicle, and the large steering angle makes it easy to make U-turns. It should be easy to ride this motorcycle as if it were a middle-class tourer with a slightly taller stature.

Incidentally, like the 890 Adventure, it is also fully equipped with electronic controls: 4 riding modes (street, rain, off-road, *optional for Explorer), ABS and Traction Control for cornering, quick shifter, cruise control, MSR (embrace adjustment), and more. It can be safely driven in any place, either sprightly or leisurely. Recent sports models, whether on or off the road, are equipped with electric packs as standard equipment, so in this sense, the performance difference is disappearing. In the end, it will probably come down to preference for appearance and atmosphere, as well as brand image.

It feels like it's in your hands, and a walk on the mountain path is the most fun you can have.

Next, I also tried off-roading. The course was specially built on a mountain slope, and although compact, it had an interesting and varied layout with slight ups and downs, grass, wet soil, and a section that crossed a shallow pond. It was fun to ride along the course as if we were taking a walk, carefully completing each section one by one. In addition to the good pickup of the engine, which gives the driver a direct feeling of acceleration, and the feeling of traction on the dirt road, the advantages of the lightweight and slim chassis of the Norden901 were fully utilized here as well.

I first started riding with the motorcycle set to off-road mode, where the power delivery is milder while the degree of intervention of ABS and Traction Control is reduced, making it easier to control the motorcycle on slippery surfaces. The driver can change the direction of the motorcycle with step work, and then open the accelerator pedal and let the suspension and electric control do the rest. The front brake allows the rider to stop even on slippery surfaces, and the tail can be easily swept at will, not quite on the level of a 250cc trail motorcycle, but confident enough to tackle sections that would be intimidating on a huge over-liter adventure motorcycle.

If you are confident in your skills, you can ride harder.

For those who want to go a little further off the beaten path, I recommend the "Explorer" mode. With 3 levels of throttle response and 9 levels of traction control to choose from, you can (and should) be able to drive as aggressively as in the promo video if you have the skill. I set the throttle to "Rally," the strongest, and the traction control to "5," the middle level, and set the ABS to "Off-Road," which disables only the rear wheels, and it worked perfectly. I like that I can easily change the Traction Control level with the left hand switch while riding according to the road surface. Even on slippery road surfaces, I was able to use my instantaneous force to get over bumps with a short riding start.

It is all-around usable and just barely within reach. It is a reliable partner that can be enjoyed on any road, from city riding to long tours including winding roads and forest roads. It is a motorcycle that suits the sophisticated adult rider.

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