  ADV News  Watch Husqvarna's Norden 901 Get Tested in the Land of Fire & Ice
Watch Husqvarna's Norden 901 Get Tested in the Land of Fire & Ice
Two big names in adventure get a dream ride on the much-anticipated Norden 901.
Well it looks like Husqvarna has their marketing engine in full swing now promoting their long-awaited 901 Norden. Just a few weeks ago, the Swedish-born brand started dropping episodes of a video series about the Norden's origins and Husqvarna's journey to develop its first adventure touring motorcycle. Now we get to see something more action oriented in this latest short film featuring the bike being put through its paces in its final stages of testing. And we can't imagine a more fitting place for the brand to showcase its new travel enduro than the Nordic landscapes of Iceland.
The film features two big names in Adventure, although from completely different disciplines: five-time Dakar Rally motorcycle champion Cyril Despres and extreme explorer Mike Horn. The duo have developed a close friendship over the years and also raced together on four wheels in Dakar. What could be a more exciting buddy trip than exploring the land of fire and ice while testing one of the most-anticipated adventure motorcycles.
Along with stunning scenes of vast glaciers, black sand beaches and bubbling lava, we get to see some of our first glimpses of the Norden 901 in action. The way the bike easily navigates through the rugged terrain can be attributed to the fact that it's heavily based on the capable KTM 890 Adventure chassis and powerplant. Having been given a proven platform to start with, KTM's sister company has been able to focus on finding other areas of refinement, aesthetic details and feature development to make this a truly unique machine.
This latest prototype, which appears to be in production form, looks almost unchanged from the original concept that was introduced nearly two years ago. Yet it does feature a new livery. The original 901 had a striking black and grey paint scheme while the Nordens featured in the film use more-traditional white and blue Husqvarna graphics. Details have not been released yet on whether this will be the final look of the bike or whether there will be multiple color options to come. All we know is that with its neo-retro styling and silhouette reminiscent of the KTM 990 Adventure, it looks stunning in any color.
As the two riders travel through awe-inspiring landscapes, discovering a new country and a new motorcycle, the scenes are overlaid with inspiring words from South African-born adventurer Mike Horn whose feats include a solo journey around the equator and a trip to the North Pole during winter, in permanent darkness, both of which were non-motorized.
"That is traveling. It's not only seeing places but basically seeing through your heart. And your heart loves those experiences that you will remember until you die…. And if you don't have those experiences, you haven't lived life," says Mike.
The film closes on the theme of how the end of every expedition or adventure is an opportunity to look forward to something new. The insertion of that subtle message seems to have been purposeful, as it mirrors exactly what we are all going through as we 'look forward' to the release of the Norden 901.
No release date has been announced yet, but all this promotional activity is a sure sign that an official unveiling is imminent and the Norden will be heading to a dealer showroom floor very soon. So grab your popcorn and enjoy a little tease before the main course arrives.
Author: Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20's and 30's he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob's never-ending quest to discover what's around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Mexico, North Africa, Europe, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.
 6 Comments Tags: Cyril Despres, Husqvarna, Mike Horn, Norden 901
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6 thoughts on "Watch Husqvarna's Norden 901 Get Tested in the Land of Fire & Ice"
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Patriot159 on August 11, 2021 at 11:01 pm said:
Once you cut through the advert hype it is KTM890 Adventure that looks different. That will matter to some though.
Martin Breakwell on August 12, 2021 at 12:04 am said:
It obviously doesn`t come with a centre stand then!
Carlos on August 12, 2021 at 2:45 am said:
Despres?!?!!! No thanks.
Not-My-First-Husky on August 12, 2021 at 10:12 pm said:
White plastics and contrasting logos/names omg – pew! – police bike looks of the 1290 – well thats made it look all cheap and nasty. Yuk. A real pity because the prototype looked more conservative in dark grey and with subdued logos. G.Kiska ugly stick attack at the 11th hour. Interesting idea to try to piggy back off of Mike Horns following, peeps who probably don't know how ride a bike? Do they have a wind tunnel yet at Mattighoffen?
Robert on August 18, 2021 at 4:56 am said:
I recently subscribed to Consumer Reports and found that KTM/Husqvarna does not even make it into the top ten brands for reliability (based on a 4 year survey). Surprisingly Harley Davidson is 5th, right behind the Japanese. BMW only ranks 8th.