Watch: Husqvarna North 901 Prototype Driving Material released for the first time
Title: Watch: Husqvarna North 901 Prototype Driving Material released for the first time
Sourced From: advwisdom.com/a/watch-husqvarna-north-901-prototype-driving-material-released-for-the-first-time/
Published Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2021 16:37:53 +0000
The adventure bike world has been waiting eagerly for the release of the Husqvarna North 901 for some time. But if this latest video from the manufacturer has anything to say, we won’t have to wait long.
In the breathtaking surroundings of Iceland, it shows two prototypes of the Norden 901 that are being put through their paces by adventurer Mike Horn and multiple Dakar rally winner Cyril Despres.
A short film that caused a stir in the ABR offices, and we are eagerly awaiting the day when we can swing our legs over the new adventure bike ourselves.
What does that tell us about the bike?
The four-minute video begins with a glimpse of the gorgeous landscape the duo is driving through, punctuated by glaciers, thundering waterfalls, and rugged mountains, before the journey begins.
Equipped with soft luggage, the two of them set off from the north on flowing gravel roads and curved asphalt and only stop at wild camps in places where you have to look for flights faster than you can say: “A ticket to Iceland, please.”
We already know the new bike will be heavily based on the KTM 890 Adventure (KTM owns Husqvarna), including using the same 889cc engine found in the Austrian machine, and we can expect many more further components are shared. Another tell-tale sign is the low saddlebag-style fuel tanks that look like they were plucked straight out of the 890.
The good news is that they are designed to help provide the same low center of gravity and great balance of the KTM machine that makes it so comfortable to ride. The even better news is that Husqvarna added its own styling to the bike, including a bigger fairing and a distinctive round headlight that makes it far more pleasing to the eye than the 890 Adventure.
Adventure travel
When Husqvarna first introduced the Norden 901 concept in 2019, it said its goal was to develop a bike that offers the perfect balance between off-road performance and touring ability. The video action clearly shows their skill in the dirt, but only time and a test drive will tell if they’ve hit the touring part of the equation.
The fact that the bikes ridden in the video didn’t look far from stock models means that under normal circumstances (i.e. before COVID) we would expect a full reveal of the Norden 901 in the fall, followed by a press launch in the spring. However, we live in unusual times, so we will keep a close eye on what’s going on at Husqvarna and let you know of any news as soon as we hear it.
See the Husqvarna Norden 901 prototype in action
Check out the full video below and don’t forget to subscribe to the ABR Bulletin on the right hand side of this page for weekly updates on the world of Adventure Biking straight to your inbox:
