By: Sean Hendley
Pics: Deon van der Linde
A few days ago, Husky SA offered us the 2025 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition. It’s a machine that I have ridden a lot in its previous iterations both on tarmac and rocky off-road terrain with equal confidence in places like E.T. as well as Lesotho following The Roof Of Africa – so our potholed Gauteng roads are simply no challenge. This time,our ride took in and around the mountains of the Magaliesberg, half of which was on off-road tracks. As a bigger rider at two metres tall, weighing 115 kg I have always enjoyed the ergo’s of the Norden 901 Expedition.
When I attended the bike’s launch in March 2023, the Norden 901 Expeditions ergonomics impressed me, especially when standing during technical sections. Husqvarna’s team of people in white coats has clearly paid attention to rider comfort, offering a tall, spacious cockpit that accommodates larger riders with ease. The seat height is adjustable, and it allowed me to find a comfortable stance whether seated or standing. Which is crucial on the mountain trails where agility and control are paramount. The wide handlebars provide excellent leverage and feedback, enabling confident handling over uneven terrain.
On the tarmac, the Norden 901 performs like a really decent road bike with a refined chassis that makes mountain passes and sweeping corners a big jol. The excellent weight distribution and balanced suspension setup has me pushing hard through fast sweeping bends every time I ride this machine. During the launch back in 2023 I happened to glance at the speedo through a direction change along a mountain pass and it showed a speed of way north of 200 kmh whilst cranked over to the right in a sweep. The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, combined with the WP suspension, soak up the bumps and lumps, which made for a planted ride through the very blustery Highvelds winter afternoon, a hectic wind which blew in a makulu cold front.
For 2025, the electronics package has been somewhat upgraded, and the adjustable slip control system which is part of the Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), now offers ten settings that you can tweak on the fly. Being able to quickly flick a switch if you feel the rear coming around too much or too quickly, whether you are going flat out or baby-sitting the power, adjustment on slicker surfaces is something riders will enjoy.
Head off into the dirt, and the Norden 901 really starts to shine. On well-maintained gravel roads, its handling is predictably excellent, steady, stable, and responsive. The bike’s 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear has it gliding over loose stones and gravel without fuss. The WP suspension soaks up impacts smoothly, even with my 115 kg mass on board. The offroad riding position feels natural, especially when standing, giving me the confidence to tackle less predictable, more challenging terrain. The new 2025 upgrades also include an improved semi-active suspension that allows the bike to adapt even better to varying surfaces and loads, I loved it.
For more technical sections, like rocky mountain trails and rock-crawling obstacles, the Norden 901 proved capable but a bit cumbersome. Hey, that is not what it was built for – go get a 300 2T bike for that. Its handling is really excellent on anything from good to not-so-good gravel and even rock strewn rutted trails, but the technical rock gardens do require a bit more finesse and muscle. In the hands of a far fitter and more competent riders than me, I have witnessed these bikes do some really insane climbs. Thanks to the updated electronics, the traction control and ABS systems can be fine-tuned to suit any off-road scenario, giving you confidence in all conditions, so take the time to learn the various modes and settings and they will compensate where talent lacks.
Husqvarna has really raised the bar with the 2025 Norden 901 Expedition, especially with the tech suite. The upgraded TFT display now offers a more customisable interface, including integrated navigation support and connectivity to smartphone apps. The new adjustable slip control and cruise control add to rider comfort and safety, allowing you to focus on the trail rather than constant throttle management. The TFT dashboard is crisp and intuitive, displaying all vital information and customizable settings at a glance. There is also a handy new USB-C port for charging, perfectly placed for easy access and use. Husqvarna has upgraded the engine management system, resulting in smoother throttle response and enhanced fuel efficiency. Additionally, the Norden 901 Expedition is equipped with a revised exhaust system to allow the parallel-twin engine to breathe more freely while meeting EURO 5+ regulations.
Despite the flippen chilly harsh winds, the bike maintained its stability, and the heated grips and a windscreen that deflected the worst of the icy blasts kept me fairly comfortable in less than ideal riding conditions. The electronic aids worked seamlessly, with me adjusting things like slip and traction control as needed in the varied conditions. I appreciated how intuitive and accessible all the systems are, giving me full control at my fingertips with barely a thought.
The 2025 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition is undoubtedly a capable, versatile, and well-equipped adventure bike that excels both on road and off road. For me though, its party piece is the ergonomics and its rideability. Even though it is primarily based on the same platform as the KTM 890, I personally have a lean towards the Norden 901 Expedition. It is just better suited to my size and riding style because I can stand comfortably when negotiating the really technical stuff or when my butt gets a bit tired from sitting. Wind protection is great without hampering my view of the trail ahead and I can really misbehave when the tarmac gets all twisty through the mountains.
And then there is the styling…. C’mon, have you ever seen anything that pretty? Mostly, I think I like the styling because it breaks the slanted angular eyes mold and the aggressive modern styling. It rides flippen well in the rough dirt. It’s great on the long open road, (dirt or tar), and is serious fun in the twisty’s, especially when you blow by an unsuspecting tupperware torpedo cranked over in a sweep.
