Working at ZA Bikers has its perks. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to ride hundreds of motorcycles, from razor-sharp superbikes to retro classics, adventure bikes and everything in between. Every now and then, though, a motorcycle comes along that leaves more than just a good first impression. It plants a dangerous little seed in the back of your mind, the kind that has you opening your banking app and convincing yourself that buying another bike is somehow a sensible decision.
The problem is, I don’t really have a favourite category of motorcycle. I love naked bikes, race replicas, sports tourers, motards, modern classics and just about anything with two wheels. But as I’ve crept ever closer to the big three-zero, I’ve found myself gravitating towards adventure bikes. Predictable? Maybe. Looking back, perhaps it’s because I spent so much of my childhood on the back of my dad’s Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin. I earned my motorcycle licence on that bike at 18, rode it to school and even commuted to my first job on it for a while. Either way, adventure bikes have always encouraged me to take the long way home, turn onto that dirt road I’ve always ignored and disappear for a few days with little more than a backpack strapped to my back.
Luckily, our garage at home already covered a few of the other bases. Meredith and I have bikes that satisfy the naked bike itch and others that scratch the sports bike nostalgia. What was missing was something capable of genuine travel, a bike that could comfortably carry “Mer” on a weekend away, while still being light and capable enough to disappear into the mountains with my dad and a few mates when the opportunity presented itself.
The Search Begins
So, the shopping list began… The criteria were fairly straightforward. I wanted a middleweight adventure bike with enough performance to keep me entertained, genuine off-road ability, decent two-up comfort, cruise control, tubeless spoked wheels, a 21-inch front wheel, good suspension travel, respectable ground clearance and enough fuel range to make long-distance touring easy. Buying new was also important this time around. Having mostly bought pre-owned motorcycles, I wanted to treat myself to something new.
With a budget hovering around the R200,000 mark, stretching to around R250,000 if necessary, there was no shortage of options in November last year. The shortlist included Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE, BMW’s F 900 GS Enduro, Honda’s Africa Twin, KTM’s 890 Adventure, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 and, of course, Husqvarna’s Norden 901. A few others briefly joined the conversation but never really stayed on for long.
Eventually, it came down to just two motorcycles: the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and the Husqvarna Norden 901.
Both ticked almost every box, but they approached adventure riding from completely different angles. The V-Strom is brilliantly balanced, practical and exceptional value for money. I spent some time riding the V-Strom in Botswana a few years back, and had a very memorable ride to Kubu Island on the Makgadikgadi salt pans, where I rode both muddy pan, hard compact dry river bed and also the sand track going back. It really did impress me, and with a good set of Michelin Anakee Wild tyres, it felt like I could comfortably get everywhere I needed to go without breaking too much of a sweat. If logic alone were making the decision, the Suzuki probably should have won.
Unfortunately for logic, motorcycles rarely work that way, and the Norden had been living rent-free in my head ever since I attended the launch back in 2021 at Monate Lodge in the Waterberg. Since then, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with both the standard base model Norden and the Expedition model. From the local launch to adventure rides with my dad in Mpumalanga, and even Meredith and I spent time on a Norden during our honeymoon exploring the Cape Winelands, every ride simply reinforced the feeling that this was my kind of motorcycle. Sometimes you don’t choose the bike. The bike chooses you.
Living with the Norden
Eight thousand kilometres later, I can confidently say it was the right decision.
Going back to my original criteria, the Norden delivered on almost everything I wanted. The only real omission was a centre stand, which was quickly added after purchase and the lack of Pirelli Scorpion STRs, which I have really grown fond of as an adventure tyre.
Everything else was already there: fully adjustable WP suspension with 220 mm of travel, an impressive 252 mm of ground clearance, tubeless spoked wheels, integrated crash protection, built-in spot lights, clever tool storage under the two quick-release rear fairings, cruise control, genuinely comfortable seats, excellent fuel range (400 km plus) and one of the most entertaining parallel-twin engines I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding.
Then there’s the styling… Beauty is subjective, but the Norden has always looked like nothing else on the road. From the first concept sketches through to the production bike, I loved its slightly quirky, rally-inspired design and graphics kit. Maybe it’s my appreciation for vehicles that don’t quite follow convention, but the Norden has personality in abundance.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, was the value. Let me explain! Late last year, dealers were offering brand-new old-stock Nordens (2023) for under R180,000, around 60k less than the current model Norden at the time. Considering what the bike offers, that was almost impossible to ignore. A quick phone call to Luke at Fast.KTM secured me one before the remaining stock disappeared, and after a bittersweet goodbye to my 60th Anniversary Yamaha XSR900, the Norden moved into the garage.
Naturally, buying into anything under the KTM umbrella raised a few eyebrows. The well-publicised financial uncertainty and camshaft issues were fresh in everyone’s minds, and I’d be lying if I said they didn’t make me think twice.
Fortunately, KTM has worked hard to restore confidence through recalls, warranty support and extending coverage on many of their motorcycles. Combined with my own positive experiences owning KTMs over the years, I felt comfortable making the leap. Besides, the Norden may wear a more sophisticated Scandinavian suit, but underneath it still carries that unmistakable Austrian sense of adventure.
Most of the changes I’ve made have simply been personal touches rather than fixing problems. Husqvarna’s technical accessories catalogue is enormous, making it dangerously easy to spend money. Just do yourself a favour, click the link above and have a look for yourself, it’s impressive. So far, I’ve added the factory centre stand, radiator guard, exhaust protector, GPS bracket and a few other practical additions, while there’s still a Rally seat, luggage system, pre-filter kit and a handful of other accessories quietly sitting on the wish list that I’m hungering for.
Outside of the OEM catalogue, I swapped the standard silencer for a Yoshimura RS-4 slip-on, courtesy of Sparx Distributing. I deliberately kept the catalytic converter intact, avoiding unnecessary ECU tuning and preserving the bike’s warranty.
The result is exactly what I was hoping for. The LC8c now has a deeper, richer soundtrack without becoming obnoxious, while the longer motocross-inspired profile of the RS-4 suits the Norden’s styling perfectly. Yoshimura developed the RS-4 specifically to complement the KTM/Husqvarna 790, 890 Adventure and 901 Norden, claiming gains of 5.5% in peak horsepower and 4.7% in peak torque. While I haven’t had the bike on a dyno to verify those figures, the engine certainly feels as eager and responsive as ever. Like most premium aftermarket exhausts, quality comes at a price of roughly 23k, but between the beautiful welds, carbon detailing, Yoshimura-branded exhaust spring rubbers and mid-pipe heat shield, the overall finish is one of those upgrades that feels as good every time you look at it, as it does every time you ride.
The Adventure Is Just Beginning
So, with the honeymoon period well and truly behind me, would I make the same decision again? Without hesitation!
If anything, the last 8,000 kilometres have only confirmed that I bought the right motorcycle for the kind of riding I do. It has already taken me on several trips this year, one up to Drakensberg for the KTM Adventure rally, out to Clarence, Kaapsehoop, and countless solo escapes whenever life has needed a brief pause. More importantly, it feels like the beginning rather than the end.
There are still gravel passes to discover, camping trips to plan, border crossings to tick off and plenty of tasteful modifications I’d like to make along the way. The goal isn’t to transform the Norden into something it isn’t, but rather to personalise it while staying true to the bike’s original ethos.
So, stay tuned. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more of the Norden’s adventures, the modifications I make along the way, and, perhaps most importantly, what long-term ownership is really like.
