By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
Husqvarna Norden 901 (MY2022) vs Norden 901 Expedition (MY2023)
Feed the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 into a string of turns on rough ground and it's playful, weaving right through. The Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition's suspension doesn't flinch at rocks.
So which one do you buy?
The Norden 901 Expedition has the edge if…
Real off-road capability
Inches ahead: Norden 901 Expedition
Off the pavement, the Norden 901 Expedition asks a bit less of you. That comes from more suspension adjustment. The gap won't matter much on easy gravel.
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: Norden 901 Expedition
The Norden 901 Expedition nudges ahead once the miles pile up. Still, it's a narrow gap.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: Norden 901 Expedition
On a twisty road, the Norden 901 Expedition edges ahead. The reason: better suspension. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The 2022 Norden 901 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
2022 Norden 901
The low-mounted tank keeps the Norden 901 slim between the knees, and walking-pace maneuvering doesn't become a wrestle. From the first bends, the bar drops it into each corner willingly, with an eagerness that hasn't faded by the end of a long day. At a sport pace on pavement, the soft stock damping lets the fork wash wide and the shock squat over every bump. The seat shrugs off punishing trips.
Nils rode the 2022 Norden 901 in 2021, and in the Pyrenees and the US Southwest in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
Norden 901 Expedition
Loose, broken trail is where the Expedition settles in, its long-travel WP Xplor legs and stout skid plate taking the mess. There's smooth, usable pull from the twin as soon as the throttle cracks open at low rpm. The twin stays tractable on Kane Creek's technical climbs, and it's just as calm cruising the highway. The padded seat swallows marathon days.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2022 Norden 901 has the lower seat: 33.6 in (854 mm) vs 34.4 in (875 mm).
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Norden 901 Expedition, option on the 2022 Norden 901.
- Navigation: standard on the Norden 901 Expedition, option on the 2022 Norden 901.
Which one for the way you ride
Look at commuting and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2022 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
Norden 901 Expedition
What owners say
Strengths
- All-day comfort and spacious ergonomics
- Excellent off-road capability right out of the box
- Strong value for a travel-ready ADV
- Torquey and tractable engine
Known problems to check before you buy
2022 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.
Norden 901 Expedition
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 3-year-old 2022 Norden 901 with a 3-year-old Norden 901 Expedition.
- 2022 Norden 901
- about $10,500
- Norden 901 Expedition
- about $12,800
At three years old in the US market, the 2022 Norden 901 sits around $10,500 while the Norden 901 Expedition runs about $12,800. That's a $2,300 gap between the two. These are estimates from earlier records, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 889 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 105 hp (77 kW)
- Torque
- 74 lb-ft (100 Nm)
- Fuel capacity
- 5.0 US gal (19 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear tire
- 150/70-18
Where the spec sheets split
| 2022 Norden 901 | Norden 901 Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.6 in (854 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Dry weight | 450 lb (204 kg) | 492 lb (223 kg) |
| 2022 Norden 901 | Norden 901 Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 9.9 in (252 mm) | 10.6 in (270 mm) |
| Front travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.5 in (215 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2022 Norden 901 | Norden 901 Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| Navigation | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Luggage System | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
