Husqvarna added another member of its Travel motorcycle range for 2023. The Norden 901 Expedition is joining the Norden 901 Enduro, 701 Enduro, and Norden 901 bikes. The core of the bike is unchanged, but the Expedition has an upgraded suspension and a variety of standard accessories. This bike can be taken on any adventure from the showroom floor. It was designed to enhance the Norden’s off-highway capability and to provide comfort features that make the ride more enjoyable.
Suspension and Chassis
The Expedition’s suspension sets it apart from its standard counterpart by the most. The Expedition’s front and rear WPXplor units are more off-road friendly. At the front, the base model’s WP Apex 43 (43mm stanchion) fork is swapped for the Xplor 48 fork with much larger 48mm stanchions. The Apex fork is capable of compression and rebound. However, the Xplor provides preload. The rear Apex shock can be swapped out for the Xplor shock. The standard Apex shock has rebound damping and preload. The Xplor unit can be adjusted with preload, compression, high- and low speed rebound damping.
Travel increases from the Apex’s 8.7 inches at the front and 8.5 inches at the rear, to 9.4 inches at each end on the Expedition. This in turn has increased the Expedition’s ground clearance 0.7 inch to 10.6, while also increasing the wheelbase slightly from 59.5 to 60.1 inches.
The Norden 901 Expedition’s chromoly-steel frame uses the engine as a stressed part. Rake is set at 25.8° with 4.2 inches trail. A swingarm made of die-cast aluminum and equipped with a PDS shock linkless is located back. Spoked 21×2.5-inch front and 18×4.5-inch back wheels are tubeless. They are mounted with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR front and rear tires in 90/90-21, 150/70-18 sizes.
The mechanical details of this braking system include J.Juan (a Brembo Sub-brand) radial mount four-piston disc calipers with 320mm discs up front, and a twin-piston disc and 260mm disc out back. The ABS system can be read about below.
The aluminum triple clamps have six mounting points, and provide 30mm front-to rear adjustment for the tapered aluminium handlebar. To help riders find their ideal height, the two-piece seats offer two levels of height. The claimed heights of the seat are 34.4 inches at the lowest position and 35.2 inches at the highest setting.
Accessories
The suspension is the most important addition in terms of performance-oriented features, but the range of accessories and creature comforts that are included helps distinguish the models. Some of the items that are aimed at extending the rider’s comfort over long distances include standard heated grips and rider seat, and a much taller Touring windshield to provide better protection from the wind and rain. Another key addition, that you usually don’t know you need until it’s too late, is a centerstand that greatly simplifies chain maintenance and changing tires or helping when fixing a flat (get a plug kit!). With the new burly suspension, you’ll want better engine protection, so a heavy-duty aluminum skid plate is included as well.
You can’t go far without luggage, so the Expedition comes with a set of soft bags and all the necessary mounting hardware already installed. The claimed combined capacity is 36 liters. The luggage mounts don’t appear to be compatible with Husqvarna’s other luggage options, so if you want more capacity or hard bags, you’d need to purchase another mounting system to do so.
Another key addition is the Connectivity Unit (optional on the base Norden), which allows you to connect your smartphone via Bluetooth to the motorcycle, which in turn allows you to utilize the bike’s TFT display via the Ride Husqvarna app to access turn-by-turn navigation and manage phone calls and music.
Engine
The Expedition’s power unit has the exact same engine as the base Norden. It’s the same 889cc LC8c parallel twin that also powers KTM’s 890 Adventure and 890 Adventure R. The liquid-cooled DOHC eight-valve engine produces a claimed 105 hp at 8,000 rpm and 74 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. Refer to the last KTM 890 Adventure R that we tested. Cycle World The dyno produced 86.5 hp at 8,320 RPM and 58.1 Lb.-ft. at 6,870 at the rear. Lightweight assembled camshafts are used to actuate the intake and exhaust valves. The vibration is reduced by a pair of balance shafts, one in between the camshafts, and another in front of it. Service intervals are approximately 9,500 miles. A pair of 46mm Dell’Orto throttle bodies are operated by ride-by-wire control.
A PASC (power assist slideper clutch) sends power to the rear wheel through the six speed transmission. It also comes with an Easy Shift quickshifter, which allows for clutchless up and downshifts.
Electronics
The Husky’s brain is a Bosch engine management system with ride-by-wire throttle control. The system offers four modes: Street, Rain and Offroad. The last mode can be customized by the rider to adjust traction control and throttle response, peak power output, peak-power output, ABS preferences, and other settings. Cornering MTC has nine levels for intervention for rear-wheel slip and is lean-angle sensitive. Depending on the selected mode, the MTC provides wheelie controls. Motor Slip Regulation works with the slipper-clutch to manage engine-braking electronically.
Cruise control, which is standard on all Expeditions, is another great feature that the ride-bywire system offers.
Bosch’s 9.1 MP Cornering ABS system utilizes an IMU to determine the bike’s lean angle and intervene accordingly when switched to the standard mode. Offroad mode turns ABS off to the rear wheels so that it can be locked completely. However, the lean-sensitive function will turn off and ABS intervention will be reduced.
The Expedition is equipped with all LED lighting, including the large round headlight and pair of integrated fog lamps. Meanwhile, the slim front and rear turn signals are minimal and hidden out of sight.
Conclusion
Depending on the terrain and where you are going to ride, the Expedition version offers many more features. For $1,300 more, the Expedition model of the Norden is $15,799 and includes the Xplor suspension and luggage. We’ll be riding the new bike in just a few weeks time in South Africa, so look for the First Ride Review in mid-March.
2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition Specs
| MSRP: | $15,799 |
|---|---|
| Engine: | Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin, 4 valves/cyl |
| Displacement: | 889cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 90.7 x 88.1mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13.5:1 |
| Transmission/Final Drive: | 6-speed chain |
| Claimed Horsepower: | 105.0 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
| Claimed Torque: | 74.0 lb.-ft @ 6,500 rpm |
| Fuel System | EFI, twin 46mm Dell’Orto throttle bodies |
| Clutch: | Slipper clutch cable-operated PASC slipper |
| Ignition/Engine Management: | Bosch EMS w/RBW |
| Frame: | Chromoly-steel |
| Front suspension: | WP Xplor 48mm Xplor inverted fork, fully adjustable 9.4 in. travel |
| Rear Suspension | WP Xplor shock with PDS, fully adjustable, 9.4in. travel |
| Front Brake | Radial-mount 4-piston, 320mm disc with Bosch ABS |
| Rear brake: | 2-piston caliper, 240mm disc w/ Bosch ABS |
| Wheels, Front/Rear: | Tubeless aluminum spoked rims; 21×2.5 in. / 18×4.5 in. |
| Tires, Front/Rear: | Pirelli Scorpion Rally ST; 90/90-21/150/70-18 |
| Rake/Trail: | 25.8°/4.2 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 60.1 in. |
| Ground Clearance: | 10.6 in. |
| Seat Height: | 34.4–35.3 in. |
| Capacity for Fuel: | 5.0 gal. |
| Claimed Dry Weight | 473 lb. |
| Contact: | husqvarna-motorcycles.com |
