Review: 2023 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition—An Explorer in South Africa

Expedition implies a long journey. It’s curiosity put into action. The pursuit of wonder, mystery, and the unknown. It’s something that comes naturally to motorcyclists. That’s part of the magic of riding, right?

Husqvarna thinks so, too. Just over a year after releasing the Norden 901, the company has now introduced the bike’s latest travel-oriented version, the 2023 Norden 901 Expedition. Based on a platform that has proven itself worthy among the most competitive ADV machines, the Expedition model aims to make long-distance travel a little more comfortable.

And who were the lucky first to embark on a grand expedition aboard the new bike? None other than legendary five-time Dakar champion Cyril Despres and extreme adventurer Mike Horn. Together, the two set off across Mongolia last year to see if the Norden 901 Expedition lives up to its name.

Our Own Expedition

I met up with Cyril and Mike in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Having never been to the continent, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Would we encounter lions? I wasn’t sure, but I was ready for the adventure.

We woke early and were told to “pack what we needed” for an overnight camping trip. I threw a couple of essentials into a small tote bag that took up half the space of a single saddlebag. I’m used to packing light, but this seemed unusually so. Surely we would be provided with tents and a sleeping bag?