Ready to Take on the World

It has been a decade since Pierer Mobility, who own KTM, snapped up Husqvarna from BMW. Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength, last year launching the Norden 901, a first step into the ultra-competitive adventure market, and now the Norden 901 Expedition

- Adam Child 'Chad'

OBVIOUSLY, THE NORDEN shared its key components (including its LC8 parallel twin engine) and design with KTM's 890 Adventure and was slotted in between the road-biased 890 Adventure and the seriously competent dirt-focused Adventure R. Now Husqvarna have introduced the Norden Expedition, which is positioned closer to the R.

Engine performance remains the same but the Expedition is ready to take on the world. It gets a longer-travel WP suspension, similar to the R model's for greater off-road ability. There is a new screen, heavy-duty bash-plate, a heated seat and grips, plus a pair of soft panniers and a centre stand. A GPS mounting bracket hints at more adventurous ambitions while the "Explorer" riding mode, which is an option on the stock Norden, comes as standard on the Expedition.

This Expedition slots itself between KTM's 890 Adventure and Adventure R

Further evidence of its intended focus came in the shape of the test route laid on by Husqvarna for the Expedition's press launch. The venue was South Africa and the ride a genuine 500-kilometre-plus adventure, 80 per cent of it off-road into the wilderness. Conditions varied from fast and dusty trails to deep sand and water crossings. We even loaded the soft bags, ready for a night's camping (with zebras for neighbours).

The LC8 motor is carried over, unchanged, to the Norden 901 Expedition. That means the same 105 hp at 8,000 rpm as the stock Norden (and the KTM 890 Adventure and Adventure R) with the same peak torque of 100 Nm arriving at 6,500 rpm. The Expedition does get the additional Explorer riding mode as standard (it is an extra-cost option on the base machine) alongside Rain, Street, and Offroad settings. The standard Norden's up-and-down "Easy Shift" quick-shifter is also carried over to the Expedition, offering clutch-less changes in both directions through the six-speed 'box.