2023 Husqvarna Norden 901

Adventure in its core

• GEOMETRY: Wherever you plan to go or wherever your inner north navigation takes you, the chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame is designed for distance – able to take the load and deliver day-long comfort. By using the engine as a stressed member, the frame can be light and compact. Engineered to deliver precise feedback with agility and light-handling through the tightest bends, it provides stability and comfort over distance and superior offroad ability on the less-travelled tracks. Although it is compact and light, the frame is as tough as any challenge you give it, carrying luggage, a passenger or both anywhere from the street to the most remote trail. The geometry of the Norden 901 was developed to create a world class travel motorcycle for every voyage of discovery. Seat height is manageable for every adventurer thanks to an angled rear shock. The ergonomics place you towards the front wheel for better feel and grip on all surfaces.
• BODYWORK: Your Norden 901 makes you want to explore further, whether on the daily commute or a month-long tour. Form follows function in the motorcycle’s bodywork, echoing the style and single-minded effectiveness of Husqvarna Motorcycles Rally machines. From every angle, the Norden 901 signals endless exploration capability. The only thing to do is get onboard and ride. Also ready to take you further along the most rewarding trails is the fuel tank with its 248+ mile range – you set the destination. With its Dakar Rally style and slimline ergonomics, it has a low center of gravity for neutral handling and a manageable seat height while maintaining good ground clearance. Motorsports tough, the fuel tank can resist hard knocks offroad, so there’s no fear of being stranded. The lower sections of the tank also protect you from road and trail dirt and spray.
• OFFROAD WHEELS: You are well prepared for all circumstances with the Norden 901’s 21 in front and 18 in rear wheels, which will take you from tarmac to rough trails. You can have every confidence in the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires – grippy on the road and able to find traction on the trail. The wire-spoked, tubeless design of the wheels makes them light for easy handling, flexible for comfort and there is less risk of a flat tire holding you up and losing you precious riding time. The large diameter of the wheels makes rolling over rougher surfaces easy.
• SUBFRAME: Whether you're carrying hard luggage, bags and panniers, a pillion or both, the Norden 901 can be loaded your way whether the journey is for business or pleasure. The steel trellis subframe at the rear of the motorcycle is compact, lightweight yet strong enough to carry a passenger and luggage under all conditions when exploring the paved road and beyond.
• LED LIGHTS: Day. Night. Mist or fog. LED lights and fog lights illuminate the way on the Norden 901. Inspired by the lights used on Husqvarna Factory Racing's rally machines, the front cowl features an integrated LED headlight and standard fog lights, which are neatly designed with a slim profile for enhanced aerodynamics that assure stability at higher speeds. A daytime running light encircles the headlight ensuring the Norden 901 is clearly visible at all times. LED indicators deliver clear signals to other road users when navigating through urban environments.
• WINDSHIELD: An optional higher screen offers improved wind and weather protection and reduced turbulence around the head and neck area, especially for taller riders. It gives neck and shoulder muscles an easier time when you have a lot of distance to cover, making those long journeys a far more comfortable prospect.

Find your way north

• MADE FOR THE PURPOSE: "In the north, you have to be able to adapt quickly to the environment, something the Norden was able to do effortlessly as we crossed multiple terrains." Mike Horn. Mike Horn is a professional explorer with unique experience of the world. He has climbed the planet's highest mountains without oxygen, explored the North Pole on foot and sailed around the world 27 times. Those are just a few of the extreme adventures he is internationally renowned for. Together with five-times Dakar Rally winner, Cyril Despres, Mike was tasked with testing the Norden 901 in Iceland's challenging landscape.
• MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCES: "[The Norden] is a good tool to get you and your friends to the best places quickly, it is capable of crossing rivers, going over rocks, and going slow with control where you need to. There is plenty of power to use in a straight line too." Cyril Despres. With five Dakar Rally wins to his credit, Cyril Despres knows how to handle a motorcycle in every environment and understands the design and ergonomic solutions that contribute most to managing long days in the saddle. Cyril found the motorcycle capable of bringing a vast range of experiences into just a few days of riding.
• OUTSIDE OF DAILY BUSINESS: "Choose an adventure bike that is suitable for you as an individual. For me, in my current situation, the Norden 901 is the perfect motorcycle." Lyndon Poskitt. By profession, Lyndon Poskitt is a highly qualified aerospace engineer, but he is more widely and better known for his intercontinental 2-wheel adventures. For Lyndon, riding to work on a motorcycle was an escape from the business of everyday life. But then, on a much needed 2-wheel sabbatical, Lyndon instantly knew that this was where he belonged, as he says, "exchanging stress for freedom". Now, having travelled almost the entire world on a single-cylinder machine, Lyndon jumps up to a more powerful, smoother twin as an ambassador for the Norden 901.

State of the art componentry

• RIDE MODES: For 2023 the Norden 901 features updated ride modes. Each of the selectable ride modes - Street, Rain, Offroad, as well as the optional Explorer Mode - instantly engage the best combination of rider aids. Throttle response, traction control level, and peak power are all set-up differently within each mode. Street mode gives a direct throttle response with traction control settings to suit paved surfaces while Road ABS is also engaged. This mode is smooth enough for less experienced riders or when travelling with a pillion, yet dynamic enough to provide usable torque through twisting mountain roads and valleys. Rain mode has a very controllable throttle response with reduced peak power with traction control activated at much lower revs to enhance the riding experience in challenging conditions. The Offroad mode has a smooth throttle response and allows wheel spin before traction control is activated. This mode is designed for the more experienced rider as it is not lean angle sensitive and prevents the anti-wheelie function from engaging. Additionally, Offroad mode automatically adjusts the ABS settings to suit the terrain. The optional Explorer mode gives full control over all functions, allowing riders to create a personalized riding mode based on personal preferences and skill level.
• EASY SHIFT: You can apply your full attention to mastering the terrain in challenging environments with the help of Easy Shift, which allows you to make seamless up and down shifts of the 6-speed gearbox without using the clutch. A sensor detects when you actuate the gear lever and instructs the ECU to match engine parameters for a fuss-free gear change at any RPM or engine load. The Easy Shift system means shorter shift times and a smoother ride because there is no need to close the throttle and operate the clutch to change gear. As well as improving rear wheel traction, Easy Shift lets you maintain control by keeping full grip of the handlebars.
• CRUISE CONTROL: When you find yourself on long, clear stretches of road you can set the cruise control from the handlebar-mounted switches and focus for a moment on the landscape ahead of you. This is why you travel, for those blissful moments when you feel part of the environment around you. Cruise control is also a useful feature when you don’t want to risk creeping over speed limits. Also for your riding ease, the Norden 901 features a height adjustable two-piece seat with exceptional grip and comfort in all conditions, and an aluminum tapered handlebar with six mounting positions providing an adjustment range of 30 mm (front to rear) for customizable ergonomics.
• OFFROAD ABS: Offroad braking requires a specific technique, different to braking on the open road. The Offroad mode within the sophisticated Bosch ABS system is designed to enhance mixed terrain adventures. When selected, the ABS on the rear brake is disabled while activation on the front brake is reduced. In addition, the lean angle sensor no longer forms part of the system's calculations. This setting permits the rear wheel to break loose, allowing sharper cornering as the rear wheel can be locked on entry to tight corners and also when under acceleration when exiting turns. With a less intrusive front brake ABS, riders can feel the terrain and brake later and harder to enjoy true offroad riding. Designed to boost confidence in every riding situation, Offroad mode extends and refines the capabilities of the Bosch ABS system to suit the conditions on every adventure.
• MTC: You want rider aids that assist rather than restrict, ensuring you always remain in control. Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) is lean angle sensitive and offers seamless interventions. When the system detects that the rear wheel is turning at the wrong speed for the riding situation, throttle input is reduced until the correct level of rear wheel slippage for the selected ride mode and current angle of lean is reached. In optional 'Explorer' mode, you can control the level of MTC intervention with 9 levels of slip adjust. When front wheel lift is detected, the system reduces the throttle by small increments for a more constant acceleration. As your ambition and experience grow you can, if desired, switch off the traction control to drift the rear and lift the front wheel at will.
• RIDE BY WIRE: A ride-by-wire electronically controlled throttle control means perfect power delivery and ensures the engine responds instantly when you need it. No matter what the weather or temperature, it acts in conjunction with sensors on the motorcycle to tell the engine management system exactly what is required. It also means there is no throttle cable to maintain and adjust.

Trustworthy equipment

• SUSPENSION: Control and comfort rank high on your list of demands from the Norden 901. With 220 mm of travel, the WP APEX 43 mm upside-down front forks deliver next-level performance and comfort in every environment, whether that means taut handling on tarmac or smoothing the way offroad. You can quickly and easily vary the ride characteristics to suit your own preference and varying conditions thanks to the adjustability of the compression and rebound damping of the forks. Likewise, the WP APEX rear shock offers a generous 215 mm of travel and is adjustable for rebound damping and spring preload to cater for the roads you ride and the loads you carry. Adjusting the settings is quick and easy, so that when conditions change, you can set the suspension to match them. With comfort and control from compliant suspension, there are less limits to the distance your travels take you.
• ENGINE: Every twist of the ride-by-wire throttle delivers just the right amount of power you require to reach new horizons. A pair of balancer shafts in the 889 cc, double overhead cam, liquid cooled, parallel twin engine increase comfort and reduce vibration, adding to your riding pleasure. The engine has plentiful power, with a maximum output at 8,000 rpm and peak torque at 6,500 rpm. This, combined with finesse and manageability, make the engine capable of delivering everything you demand of it, wherever you want to go. Long service intervals of 15,000 km and low fuel consumption make the Norden 901’s engine even better suited to the tasks you set for it.
• BRAKES: To excel on the road and on unmade surfaces, the Norden 901 needs brakes with both power and control. You can rely on the Bosch ABS controlled system to confidently deliver rapid and precise stopping in a range of surfaces and conditions. The Husqvarna branded J.Juan brake system brings MotoGP derived technology to the Norden 901. The four-piston, radial front calipers act on two Ø 320 mm floating brake discs to give you exceptional feel and feedback at the lever. The rear brake has a Ø 260 mm disc and a two-piston floating caliper. The pistons in the rear caliper have isolation plates to maintain heat stability so the brake doesn’t get stressed when you tackle long downhill sections on the trail. The Bosch ABS system can be deactivated at the rear wheel for advanced riders.
• STEERING DAMPER: The steering damper aids stability while riding on harsh street surfaces or when sudden bumps are encountered, while still allowing for easy handlebar control when riding offroad. Additionally, the frame has provision to allow the fitment of a high-performance adjustable off-road steering damper.
• CLUTCH: You will be quick to realize the benefits of the PASC (power assist slipper clutch), which maximizes rear wheel grip under full acceleration and prevents rear wheel instability and hopping when downshifting quickly or braking hard into a turn. You will also find it easier to operate because as you open the throttle, the hand effort required on the clutch when changing gear is reduced. Less fatigue means more riding pleasure for longer.
• GEARBOX: The Norden 901 features a 6-speed sequential gearbox with a ratio to suit every condition from walking pace to flying highway speeds. Quick and precise gear changing is ensured thanks to a short shift lever travel, light spring action and, when required, the assistance of the standard Easy Shift quickshifter. The teeth of the 4th, 5th and 6th gears have been glass bead blasted to provide exceptional reliability.