Husqvarna ADV
Since becoming part of the Pierer Industrie Group in 2013 - after six years under BMW ownership - Husqvarna's model range has been exclusively made of single-cylinder machines, but the new Norden 901 changes all that by adopting the engine and chassis from the KTM 890 Adventure.
The Husqvarna road-bike recipe in the Pierer era is familiar; take an existing KTM and transform it with neo-retro styling. The Svartipilen and Vitpilen models have already proved it's a concept that works, spreading across a variety of sizes, but with the Norden the company is entering a new market altogether. Not only by using the LC8c parallel twin engine, but by adding a fairing to the mix to create an adventure bike that draws on 1980s and 90s Paris-Dakar influences.
Norden 901
Since the bike is KTM 890 Adventure-derived, the key specs are identical. Those include the 889 cc capacity, 105 hp and 73.8 lb-ft peaks and the use of WP suspension front and rear. The frame is straight from the Adventure, too, but there are changes to make the Husqvarna a different proposition.
The WP Apex suspension, for instance, has longer travel than the KTM 890 Adventure, with 220 mm stroke at the front and 215 mm movement at the back. In comparison, the 890 Adventure has 200 mm movement at each end, although the more hardcore 890 Adventure R's WP Xplor suspension is longer still, with 240 mm travel. The wheels are identical to the KTM, measuring 21" at the front, 18" rear and fitted with Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres. The brakes are from J.Juan, like the KTM's, but bear Husqvarna branding.
Like the KTM, the Norden's fuel tank is split into two sections, low down either side of the engine, connected to a single filler in the conventional spot, but the Husqvarna's tank is a new moulding to suit its styling. That gives a slightly smaller capacity, although at 19 litres it should still have plenty of range.
As befits the Norden's adventure bike style, the seat is adjustable to either 'high' or 'low' positions, and the bars can be shifted forwards and back by 30 mm to tailor the riding position. Riding modes include Street, Off-Road and Rain as standard, and there's an option fourth 'Explorer' mode that can be dealer-installed as a software update. A 5" TFT display controls it all, as well as the cornering ABS and traction control, which has nine settings. An up/down quickshifter is standard.
