Two years after the concept bike was presented to the public, the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 is here. It shows itself to be an all-terrain adventure touring machine. Although it shares parts with different KTM 890 Adventure variants, let’s start from scratch with the new north.
- The power comes from an 889cc DOHC parallel twin. The 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 is decidedly over-square and resists the temptation to be a high-revving one. The max torque of 74 ft-lbs comes at a manageable 6500 rpm, with the 100-horsepower peak checking in at 8000 rpm. Forged camshafts, SLC-coated rocker arms, inlet and outlet valves made of steel, hydraulic timing chain tensioner, two oil pumps, a crankshaft with plain bearings, forged three-ring bridge box pistons (each operated with two oil nozzles), and a knock sensor in the cylinder head. The gap between service intervals exceeds 9,000 miles.
- Three driving modes are standard, with an optional Explorer mode. With ride-by-wire technology and an IMU, the street and off-road modes optimize performance and the electronic aids to reflect usage. Compared to off-road mode, street mode offers sharper throttle response and more aggressive traction control. Off-road mode smooths the power, while the driver enables wheelie and steering with the rear. The cornering-aware function of the traction control is also a pure street function. The rain mode lowers the power output, slows down the throttle response and offers maximum traction control. Explorer mode gives the driver the ability to change the various mode settings at will – it’s a software upgrade. Cruise control is standard.
- Traction control for deceleration is handled in different ways on the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901. The ABS can only be switched between standard and off-road mode for the front wheel. In Street ABS mode, the Bosch 9.1 MP ABS system knows that you are inclined and reacts accordingly. There is a slip clutch for downshifting, which is supplemented by a curve-going traction control. If you downshift too quickly to correct the slipping clutch, the electronic traction control will continuously reduce the power to prevent skidding or bouncing. The traction control also intervenes on the road if the front wheel leaves the ground, which slows down acceleration. For those who don’t like traction control, it can be turned off and the slip clutch will act on its own.
- In addition to a slipper function, the clutch also has a pulling aid.
- The use of the coupling is minimized thanks to a standard quickshifter. The six-speed gearbox has a short lever travel for shifting and accelerates gear changes. The top three gears are glass bead blasted to increase durability.
- Juan brakes work with the Bosch ABS. Although the calipers bear the Husqvarna logo, they are J.Juan units with the double front calipers mounted radially. In case you missed it, Brembo bought the Barcelona-based one J. Juan in April for 70 million euros (approx. 85 million US dollars).
- The lattice frame of the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 uses Chromoly tubes for increased strength, reduced weight and optimized flex. The frame brings the rider forward on the chassis to put more weight on the front wheel; the frame is kept short (from front to back) so that a longer swing arm can be used to promote traction. A non-adjustable steering damper increases stability. The frame is powder-coated in black so that it also looks good for longer in the field.
- Aggressive big-block Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires on a 21/18-inch wheel combination demonstrate the north’s off-road orientation. Husqvarna didn’t get cheap out here or worry about tire longevity – these Pirellis are good rubber if you’re going off-road. If you want to stick with your north on the sidewalk, put on a street-facing tire before leaving the dealership. Someone will be happy to buy your Rally STRs.
- WP takes care of the suspension. Apex units are used on both ends of the motorcycle. The cantilever damper is not supported by the linkage and does not offer progressive damping. The spring preload is adjustable via a three-pin button, and only the rebound damping is adjustable – bring a Torx driver for the hexagon socket head. The fork is an open cartridge design with compression and rebound dampers in separate fork tubes. Aluminum triple trees hold the WP Apex fork in place. Although the damping on the fork is fully adjustable, the spring preload is fixed. The suspension travel is 8.7 inches at the front and 8.5 inches at the rear.
- Ergonomics can be adapted to the driver. There are six positions for mounting the aluminum tapered handlebar with an adjustment range of almost 1.2 inches. The ribbed seat can be installed in one of two positions – 6 or 34.4 inches off the floor. The aluminum footpegs have removable rubber inserts – leave them in for vibration dampening on the road and remove them for better grip in the off-road boat. In addition, the rubber inserts raise the footrest position a little higher – another way of adjusting the driver’s triangle. A rear brake lever tip with two positions is a nice touch – one is suitable for street boots while the other has room for off-road boots. If you plan to ride in cold weather, heated seats are optional.
- The full-length ADV fairing on the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 contains multiple functions. You will immediately notice the LED lighting and the standard fog lights. There is a 12 volt plug to power a GPS device. The 5-inch TFT dashboard connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and the Ride Husqvarna Motorcycles app, but only if you get the optional connectivity unit, which adds turn-by-turn navigation and interfaces for phone calls and music . Although the fairing looks bulky, a Husqvarna insider describes the body as “slim” and offers “easy movement and exceptional ergonomics for all rider sizes”. The fairing has spoilers that improve stability at high speeds.
- Feel free to explore at least 200 miles between visits to a gas station. The tank even holds five gallons, and Husqvarna claims a maximum range of 248 miles.
- There will be important accessories for the north. Touratech cases and top cases show the way. There’s also a titanium Akrapovič muffler (replaces the stainless steel unit), lowering kids (lowers the seat height by almost an inch), soft luggage, heated handles, and a larger windshield.
- The 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 has an MSRP of $ 13,999 and will be available in the US in November. Competitors include the BMW F 850 GS Adventure ($ 14,399), Honda Africa Twin ($ 13,545), KTM 890 Adventure R. ($ 14,199), Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT ($ 14,799) and Triumph Tiger 900 rally ($ 15,400). Check out our assessment of the north over the next few weeks.
Location photography by Rudi Schedl
2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 specifications
ENGINE
- Type: parallel twin
- Displacement: 889cc
- Bore x stroke: 90.7 x 68.8 mm
- Maximum power: 100 hp at 8000 rpm
- Maximum torque: 74 ft-lbs @ 6500 rpm
- Compression ratio: 13.5: 1
- Valve train: DOHC, 8 valves
- Refueling: Dell’Orto with 46 mm throttle body
- Lubrication: semi-dry sump pressure lubrication with 2 oil pumps
- Transmission: 6-speed with quickshifter
- Clutch: PASC Assist and Slipper clutch
- Final drive: 520 X-ring chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Chromoly steel tube with a loaded engine and chromoly grid subframe
Handlebar: tapered aluminum - Front suspension; Travel: Fully adjustable WP Apex 43 mm inverted open cartridge fork; 8.7 in
- Rear suspension; Spring travel: No linkage, adjustable via spring preload and rebound damping, WP Apex damper; 8.5 in
- Wheels: wire spokes with tubeless aluminum rims
- Front wheel: 2.50 x 21
- Rear wheel: 4.50 x 18
- Tires: Pirelli Scorpio rally STR
- Front tire: 90/90 x 21
- Rear tire: 150/70 x 18
- Front brakes: 320mm discs with radially mounted 4-piston J.Juan calipers
- Rear brake: 260 mm disc with floating J.Juan 2-piston brake caliper
- ABS: Bosch 9.1 MP cornering street and off-road
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 59.5 inches
- Rake: 25.8 degrees
- Seat height: 33.6 or 34.4 inches
- Ground clearance: 9.9 inches
- Fuel capacity: 5.0 gallons
- Empty weight: 480 pounds
2022 Husqvarna North 901 Price: $ 13,999 MSRP
2022 Husqvarna North 901 Photo Gallery
Comments are closed.