Husqvarna Norden 901
Ride a Husky and you’re riding something that little bit different, that little bit classier… but just don’t expect a life-changing experience
Purple Moose Brewery in Porthmadog use a round logo on their beer pump clips and the one for their delicious Snowdonia Ale features a yellow circle. It reminds me of the headlight shape and Husqvarna-brand banana flashes on the Norden, which I take as fine reason for us to enjoy a pint (though as a Champion Beer of Britain its consumption is surely mandatory). Sat outside in late evening light and supping as we discuss the day’s ride, we all agree we’re attracted by the Husky’s fresh aesthetics. But it’s not quite meeting our expectations. ‘I really want to like the Norden because it looks different,’ says Nathan, with an increasingly perplexed expression replacing his usual childish grin. ‘But I don’t know what it is about it. Something’s sort of not-quite.’ Reluctantly I have to admit that I know where he’s coming from. There’s nothing about the 901 that’s a deal-breaker, but at the same time the £12,349 bike doesn’t do or offer anything to truly highlight itself. It just feels like it’s missing that vital extra... something.
The number on the side is a tad misleading as the Norden 901 is effectively a KTM 890 Adventure. This is no bad thing. The Austrian firm know plenty about building motorbikes that excel in dirty conditions, can scurry around effectively on tarmac (they’ve won races in Moto3, Moto2 and Motogp), and crucially are big on rider involvement and enjoyment. The only thing that might put us off an 890 is the shouty, aggressive styling, slight plasticky feel and fondness for Outspan which is, of course, why we’ve brought the Husky along instead: it’s basically somewhere between a regular 890 Adventure and more dirt-focused Adventure R, but wrapped in just-different-enough clothes and with a more grown-up air. It’s classier.
It rides with all the vim, engagement and abilities of the donor bikes. ‘The Norden steers nicely and immediately feels chuckable,’ says Nathan after carving up out of Ffestiniog to the Cwm Cynfal viewpoint. ‘Jump on and off you go. It doesn’t give a sense of grunt low down, which is surprising given that it’s 899cc, makes 104bhp – thirty more than the Yamaha – and has 25% more torque than the Guzzi. You’ve got to rev it, but when you do it really goes.’ This high-rev eagerness gives the Husky a cheekiness and inspires fruity progress, and with the supple damping from its long-travel WP suspension I’m sure I detect the whiff of the brilliant old KTM 950 Adventure. Which is no bad thing at all. However, despite its clearly fine dynamic the 901 doesn’t steer as crisply as the Aprilia, match the mid-corner confidence of the Ducati or look after your bum as lovingly as the Guzzbox. And while the V-twin’s output is entertaining, it’s not as rounded and accessible as the Yamaha or Ducati. There’s nothing wrong with the 901, it just doesn’t really stand out as better.
It’s the same deal with practicality and usability. The seat’s comfy and places you more ‘in’ the bike than the Triumph, which helps your connection and sense of control. It does 60mpg (yes, sixty). Screen, mirrors, switches, dash and electronics (swiped from KTM, of course)
‘Basically a KTM Adventure with a more grown-up air. It’s classier’
are decent… but all this is overshadowed ever-so-slightly by parts and performance of some of the others. This unfortunately means you notice other things, like the way the V-twin buzzes and tingles on a motorway. Pop the seat in the higher of its two positions (essential when your riding buddy has a snow-topped head) and the yellow flash on the seat is misaligned with the one on the fuel tank – and once you’ve noticed you can’t un-see it. The Husky also appears designed for use in the snowy areas it’s named after (Norden means ‘The North’ in Swedish), as Nathan discovers filtering on a chocker M6 in 30-degree weather: ‘It gets incredibly hot. In traffic you can’t get away from it, the fans blow the heat right into your crotch. I thought I was going to get burnt legs.’ We’re not being down on the Norden. It’s a very good motorcycle with many desirable features. Yet after a 500-mile round trip it’s not tugging heartstrings. Maybe it feels a bit too KTM, rather than offering something alternative like its looks promise. Perhaps without the superb Desertx stealing its thunder we’d have been wooed. Or it could be that our roasted limbs are affecting objectivity. The Husky is as great to ride as the KTMS that it’s derived from and holds its own in this company. And given that how a bike looks is a vital factor for many of us, maybe its funky face and restraint are reason enough to buy. Would we choose the Norden over an 890 Adventure? Definitely. But we’d also rather spend less on the Yamaha or Aprilia, and would do all we could to find the extra for the Ducati.