KIWI RIDER 01 2020 VOL1 | Page 18

HUSQVARNA NORDEN 901 While we don’t have confirmation that we’ll actually be seeing Husqvarna’s take on the adventure game this year, WE’VE GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED WE WILL! With Husqvarna quickly announcing the Norden 901 would be going into full production after its stellar debut at the 2019 EICMA show, we would expect that things will be moving very quickly at the Matthigofen factory in Austria to meet demand. Based around the LC8c parallel-twin of the new KTM 890 Duke R, the Norden 901 gives fans of KTM’s technical prowess a more pleasing on the eye option to the very capable 790 Adventure R – Husqvarna, of course, being a sister brand to KTM these days. With its large circular LED headlight, fairings reminiscent of KTM’s much- loved 990 Adventure and brilliant WP suspension Husqvarna are sure to have a winner on their hands here. Will it outshine its Orange-clad cousins? We’re absolutely fizzing to find out! 2020 KTM 890 DUKE R While it was no surprise that KTM would inevitably inject the middleweight Duke with some high- performance R style, the announcement that the 790 was growing into an 890 designation sure was! Filling in the gaps left on the 790 Duke, the new 890 Duke R gets an LC8c parallel twin with an increase in both bore and stroke to bring capacity up to a true 890cc along with a corresponding boost in power to 121hp and 99Nm of torque. 18 KIWI RIDER Another big upgrade is in the suspension department where KTM has finally given riders the fully adjustable suspension they’ve been asking for since the debut of the 790 Duke. KTM has also tweaked the rider ergonomics to give the bike a racier feel. Compared to the base 790 Duke, the new 890 Duke R looks set to really live up to KTM’s famous “Ready to Race” mantra.