By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW F 900 GS (K81) vs Husqvarna Norden 901 (MY2022)
BMW F 900 GS vs Husqvarna Norden 901: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
At the turn-in of a broken-up bend, the BMW F 900 GS holds its line and doesn't make you fight for it. The Husqvarna Norden 901 tips in eagerly and keeps weaving.
So which one do you buy?
The F 900 GS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: F 900 GS
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the F 900 GS. Put it down to a sportier chassis. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Real off-road capability
A touch ahead: F 900 GS
Off the pavement, the F 900 GS asks a bit less of you. The gap won't matter much on easy gravel.
The Norden 901 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Narrow edge: Norden 901
The Norden 901 is slightly easier to live with on a long day. Most of that is more range per tank.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value's a wash
Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money. The small price gap doesn't tip the scales toward one over the other.
What makes each one tick
F 900 GS
From the first mile, the F 900 GS puts a wide bar and every control right where your hands go looking. The twin revs freely up top and doesn't catch you out at corner exit, but a buzz runs into the bars and pegs at every rpm. Gravel's another matter: even at an easy pace, every bump goes straight through the stock suspension. The exhaust rumbles deep.
Nils rode the F 900 GS in Portugal in 2024, and in the Canary Islands in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
Norden 901
Corner after corner, all day long, the Norden 901 keeps its playful streak. Looks wide and substantial from the side. Astride it, the low-slung tank keeps the bike slim, and it's easy to shuffle around at walking pace. There's a thick shove of torque behind the throttle in the middle of the revs. The seat outlasts a punishing trip.
Nils rode the Norden 901 in 2021, and in the Pyrenees and the US Southwest in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Norden 901 has the lower seat: 33.6 in (854 mm) vs 34.3 in (870 mm).
- The Norden 901 makes more peak torque: 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) vs 69 lb-ft (93 Nm).
- The Norden 901 has the larger fuel tank: 5.0 US gal (19 L) vs 3.8 US gal (14.5 L).
Which one for the way you ride
There's no real gap on commuting and running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
F 900 GS
Strengths
- Planted on rough tarmac
- Easy to live with daily
- Controls fall right to hand
- Livelier than the Adventure version
- Genuine off-road capability
Trade-offs
- Stock suspension folds off-road
- Enduro Pro Package near-mandatory
- Buzzy across the rev range
- Tall seat height limits accessibility
- Expensive when configured with packages
Norden 901
Strengths
- Engine that reads your mood
- Quicker than it looks
- Took relentless abuse without flinching
- Comfortable across brutal days
- Electronics that earn their keep
Trade-offs
- Stock suspension too soft for sport pace
- Calf heat at low speed
- Rough when cold
- Fixed windscreen requires tools to swap
- J.Juan brakes lack initial bite
Known problems to check before you buy
F 900 GS
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Norden 901
- Side stand bracket cracks Owners have reported cracks forming around the side stand mounting bracket, particularly on bikes used with luggage or in off-road conditions.
- Camshaft and timing chain wear on early LC8c engines Some early LC8c-engined bikes (shared with KTM 790/890 platform) have shown premature camshaft and timing chain wear, occasionally addressed under warranty with updated parts.
- TFT display readability in direct sunlight The 5-inch TFT can be difficult to read in bright direct sunlight, particularly when wearing polarised sunglasses.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 2-year-old F 900 GS with a 2-year-old Norden 901.
- F 900 GS
- about $12,000
- Norden 901
- about $11,100
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 105 hp (77 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear travel
- 8.5 in (215 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| F 900 GS | Norden 901 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.3 in (870 mm) | 33.6 in (854 mm) |
| Wet weight | 483 lb (219 kg) | 481 lb (218 kg) |
| F 900 GS | Norden 901 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 895 cc | 889 cc |
| Peak power at | 8,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,750 rpm | 6,500 rpm |
| F 900 GS | Norden 901 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km | 51 mpg (US) / 4.6 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 5.0 US gal (19 L) |
| F 900 GS | Norden 901 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 305 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 150/70-18 |
| Wheelbase | 62.7 in (1593 mm) | 59.2 in (1504 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in (250 mm) | 9.9 in (252 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.1 in (230 mm) | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| F 900 GS | Norden 901 | |
|---|---|---|
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
