The Husqvarna recently introduced the all-new Norden 901, a mid-size adventure bike which is the brand's first step towards engaging a larger audience.
I was given the opportunity to review this bike by Welly, Sungai Buloh which is the authorised dealer of Norden 901 for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The first thing that caught my eye about this bike was the tastefully placed Husqvarna branding in black over dark grey, complemented with the yellow and white accents.
This colour scheme is definitely eye-catching and adds character to the bike.
The bike comes with a non-adjustable off-road windshield that has a round front light and two round signal lights that can be mistaken for fog lights.
Riders’ fingers on the clutch and accelerator are protected by hard plastic hand guards supported by metal braces.
Meanwhile, the tank and the engine are protected by aluminium panels strong enough to resist impacts.
This is sturdy design is perfect for any keen off-road riding enthusiast.
The black saddle is firm and wide enough for my rear end to move around.
The saddle is also long enough for a pillion to have a comfortable long-distance ride.
I took the bike to Malacca and the twisty trunk roads of Ulu Yam, Selangor.
This bike is definitely at home on the highways and back roads.
Its 899cc engine with 103hp and 100Nm of torque is taken straight from the KTM 890 Adventure.
For readers’ information, KTM owns Husqvarna.
Every time I twist the throttle, power is delivered gently yet in a nice aggressive way.
There are no surprises or sudden surges of power.
Mated to a six-speed transmission, power delivery to the wheel is smooth at any rev range.
While I was clocking beyond the approved speed limit, there were no vibrations on the bike.
At one point I pushed the rpm to the red line and still could not feel any stress on the engine.
When I dropped from the red line to lower revs, the engine was still happily spinning away.
Every time I upshift or downshift the transmission, I did not hear any gear clunk noises.
The upright sitting position on this bike is spot on with the handlebars and the footpegs placed in the right places.
The Norden 901 comes with four riding modes of Street, Rain, Off-Road and the optional Explorer mode which was not available on my test bike.
Like all other adventure bikes, the throttle response changes according to the riding mode selected.
I was able to change the traction control level and peak power to my needs but I did not get the opportunity to ride this bike off-road.
However, the Husqvarna staff informed me that the Off-Road mode shuts down ABS and traction control, allowing some unobstructed free play at the rear wheel while off-road.
I was blown away by this bike's performance on the highway where it handled all sorts of corners with panache. T
The smooth and spirited engine along with a flawless clutch also makes the Norden 901 ideal for touring purposes.
After 15 minutes on the corners on the way to Ulu Yam, I realised that the chassis is simply remarkable.
Every time I take any corners, the bike offers undeniable stability that gives me the confidence that I can knee the tarmac, which I did not.
I was taking turn after turn like a GP rider without any hesitation and this was possible because of the flawless suspension system that comes with the bike.
I managed to take the bike onto an abandoned rubber estate which gave me a good idea of how this bike could have fared off-road.
The ride on the estate was fun and manageable due to the WP suspensions on the bike.
The front fork comes with 220mm wheel travel, and the rear offers 215mm travel.
The suspension travel settings are decent for a comfortable ride.
On a few occasions, I was bottoming the fork and yet my ride was comfortable.
Every time the suspension takes the beating, the suspension rebounds well.
The Norden 901's brakes are good and instantaneous without being abrupt.
I do not need to squeeze the brake lever hard every time I wanted to stop the machine, in fact, three fingers are good enough,
The front wheel is equipped with two 320mm discs with four-piston radial callipers and the rear is fitted with a single 260mm disc with a two-piston floating calliper.
The Norden 901, priced at RM98,900, is a versatile adventure motorcycle that is well-suited for both road and off-road use.
SPECIFICATIONS
Husqvarna Norden 901
Engine: 889cc, liquid-cooled, parallel twin
Maximum power: 105hp at 8,000rpm
Maximum torque: 100Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front 43mm fully-adjustable WP Apex forks; rear adjustable WP Apex monoshock
Brakes: Front 2X320mm discs with four-piston radial callipers; rear single 260mm disc with two-piston floating calliper
Fuel capacity: 19 litres
Wet weight: 223kg
Price: RM98,900 (without registration, road tax and insurance)
