Thanks for showing the Expedition - that's a huge bargain for everything it includes! Reliability - for me, I accept the slightly lower relative reliability of European brands (compared to Japanese) because I prioritize the fun factor of bikes like the 890, 901, Tuareg and others. Everyone has to make the decision that is right for them and how/where they ride. If I was setting out for very long travels, I would choose a Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Suzuki, no doubt about it.
First of all, I'm honored that you found your way to this video and my channel, Ian! You make a lot of sense here and I very much agree with what you're saying. I've been following you for a long time and there's always at least a few comments from people about reliability and bike choice. Perhaps this could make for a very interesting video topic? Slightly less reliability for an increased fun factor - makes total sense. The adventure bike that has put the biggest grin on my face is the Tuareg 660, easily. But my personal adv bike is a T7 (along with an fe350 for enduro riding). All the best!
So if you could only afford to have one motorcycle, it would be a Japanese motorcycle for reliability. I want to ride my bike, not be breaking down or going out to the garage to start a trip and it wont start. I gave the Austrian company a chance to prove their products are reliable and the 901 failed miserably, shame as it was a fun bike, but a bike you cant ride or rely on is no longer a fun bike to own.
Reliability is a HUGE factor but also remember just get out there and ride with what you have. I completed a 12,000km trip across Australia on my 8yr old Aprilia and had some problems that changed the trip but in the end I completed my dream trip making memories for life with stories to tell.
I love that message my friend - ride what you have. Easy to get caught up in the details of which bike is the best or most reliable, what matters the most is actually using it, right?
Indeed. Owned a Honda NX250 for 12 years. Back in the days that you could buy a cheap meal in Hungary and Germany had that lovely wall rode that thing through entire Europe and beyond. Mostly 90 kph. And i loved every km'ter it took me futher ahead. Over two weeks i get my new Expedition. Lost quite a lot of money on my 2022 901. Husqvarna did not do a decent job with that. The shock is very very bad. And a lot of other aspects of the bike also. I can understand why a lot of 2022 901 owners feel that they have been ripped of. The route that Husqvarna choose to do is really not ok. Setting a bike out on the market that has been hold back in certain options. So that they can make money out of that. A lot of 2022 901 buyers have been led out in the cold. And that is a rotten thing to do.
@@JohannesDalenMC Hmmm maybe a topic for a future video on your channel. Its a great time to be alive as a motorcyclist with so many bikes to choose from but sometimes the perfect bike is already staring at us in our garage.
My wife and I have owned 14 bikes. 5x BMW, 3x KTM, 2x Triumph, 2x Kawi, 1x Suzuki, 1x Honda. All had some sort of “reliability” issue. KTM more than the rest, but it’s only marginally more, and nothing even close to being catastrophic. The problem is that I just love the KTMs. Fun as hell. Innovative, high performance designs. To me, the ~10% worse “reliability” of the KTMs is far outpaced by how much I love their bikes.
Thanks a lot for sharing Jaron! Many viewers here seem to agree with you, giving away some of that reliability for the latest tech and highest performance. Ride safe, both you and your wife 😊
I think you bang in the money with the reliability. My 890R has been bullet proof. I've absolutely beat onit and ridden it exactly as KTM designed it to be and I've had 0 issues. Keep ontop of your maintenance and you won't have any issues. My Yamaha has had 1x recall and 2x warranty repairs. 🤷♂️ the 901 Exspedition will be my next bike 100%
You’re becoming an appreciated motorbike reviewer on RU-vid because of your honest opinions and the natural way you are transmitting your points of view. Congratulations! And the bike… damn, I love this bike, the concept, the brand and the styling!
I am looking at the Husky Norden 901 Expedition very seriously. I have ridden a long time and reliability is a big deal to me. Especially with a travel/adventure bike. I agree with your comments regarding the responsibilities of the owner. Not checking things like hoses, clamps and connectors regularly is just lazy and asking for trouble. I ride by myself a lot and I have been stranded alone out in the middle of nowhere. I ride with that in mind. I know the KTM lineup and have been on most of them. I may pull the trigger on this bike. It seems to tick all the boxes for me. One concern is availability of aftermarket accessories and the dealer network, parts availability and overall dealer experience.
I have a T7, no issues. I know that bike will get me home. I also have KTM 690. Not going to list the issues, but they are many. I have 3 friends all have KTMs, 890 and one 790. The 790 cam failed on just 10,000ks. KTM would not cover any costs because it was outside of warranty but is a know issue with the 790. Both 890 had the same top end issue, cam related I think, but many other problems. These were covered by KTM. I rode a KTM 890 for the first time yesterday. And wow, it was good - just the weight of the bike for one, being down low. But I will stick with the T7 for now.
I think the expedition is awesome! I will be keeping my standard 901 though. I love my Norden and it has 22k miles. I have only had one issue that had to be fixed by a dealer, and that was the immobilizer and that was covered under warranty. It was super stress free and if that stopped me from buying this bike I would be quite sad. I just dropped my bike off at my dealer to get the valves done, as it was due at 19k miles. I will be transparent in saying that lately in the past few weeks as I have gone over the 19K miles for the valve check my bike has started to have a poor idle and dying in traffic. However it starts every single time and the bike acts like nothing ever happened. I expect the exhaust valves have very little clearance as I they are very much due or something related to overdue maintenance. And that is literally it. For me, this bike is absolutely rock solid. Later this year I am doing a big trip from Florida to the PNW. I have full faith in my machine to carry me there and all the way back. I was always skeptical of KTM due to what you always here, but honestly my experience has me thinking that when it's time for a new bike I will go KTM/Husky. Sorry for the long post, I just felt I could contribute!
I bought the 901 and I did have an antifreeze leak. Tightening the clamp did not fix the issue! Replacing the narrow band clamp with a common, here in the states, off the shelf wide band clamp took care of the problem. My cruise control quit working late in the season and I haven't dealt with that yet. Otherwise, I love the bike. It's so fun it should probably be illegal.
The 901 Expedition is a screaming deal for a big segment of ADV riders that appreciate performance and top shelf suspension. The ride and capability is what you came for and this bike delivers. The handsome styling will age well.
Great video! I really enjoy your channel. I have a 2014 KTM 1190R that I purchased new. I put over 88,000km on it so far and the only issue was a rear brake light pressure switch. Its been rock solid and taken me all over the USA. I've had great luck with the Austrian bikes! Hope spring comes soon for you. Its starting to warm up here in northern New York and the snow is melting. Cheers!
Thank you and happy to to hear your KTM has been rock solid. As you can read in the comments, it’s really a hit or miss it seems. When the snow melts, ride safe and enjoy your bike 😊
My 22 890 ADV R had a small oil leak from factory… from a small cut in an o-ring and the other was the main seal on drive sprocket. Issue definitely … dealer fixed it immediately no problem. I check my bike before and after every ride and maintain religiously. That said, I have had four other bikes… Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda. They ALL had issues big and small.. from leaks to blown engines. It’s a mechanical thing and things break. I love the 890 and am having a blast. I don’t worry about it any more than any other bikes I’ve ever owned… just pick the bike you love and go ride!!!
Interesting review, look forward to seeing the new 901. I agree the shock blowing out, too new, should never have happened, but with all manufacturing, these things can happen, if the manufacturer warranties the part, as they should, who cares. The hose clamp being loose, is not a dealer issue, not their responsibility to check on a PDI, it is a factory quality control issue, sometimes a clamp manufacturing issue, not related to the bike manufacturer, lately, in the marine industry use a lot of clamps, thousands per year, the quality is getting worse, but it's all we have to work with. I just bought a new Vespa, with a similar leak, nothing worth making an issue with, just tighten the clamp and move on. While I agree it should never happen, it does, and we should expect the dealer to address the issue, but if its and easy access hose clamp, why not just tighten the clamp and get back to riding. I just looked at a new zero-mile Yamaha T700 yesterday, had an oil leak on the showroom floor on the right side engine case, sometimes even bikes with the greatest claimed reliability can have issues.
I love this new version. If the current Norden already had this suspension I would own it by now. Looking forward to seeing this in person in my country.
You are right people tend to exaggerate when it comes to KTM and especially Husky, every bike in the world has some type of issues. Some get reported some don’t. Just like you said I always check and maintain my bike by myself and keep it in perfect order always. So small things like houses which need tightening are just a part of service and maintenance procedures 😊. If you can’t do it by yourself maybe don’t complain.
This year is my year for a new adventure bike. I was all about the Tenere 700. But I live in the PNW right on the US/CA border at 4,000'el. Winters are long here, and it never gets hot. Every morning and evening in the summer is cool (or cold). When the World Raid was announced, I said, there's my bike. Alas none for the US at this time. So when I started looking at all the upgrades I wanted (heated seat, handle grips, upgraded windshield, center stand, upgraded suspension, etc.) I was almost to a Triumph 900RP, without all the work to get there. Then the Norden 901 Expedition came to be. It had everything I want in my next bike with it being a little closer aligned to the Tenere than to the Triumph in terms of dirt/paved ratio/ability. Deposit in. Bike delivery in June. Excited!
@@JohannesDalenMC I'm closing in on my first service mark. To me the Expedition is the best bike I personally have ever ridden. On road it is so smooth and powerful and takes curvy, paved mountain roads like it's tracking in a slot. Off road I was surprised at how well balanced it feels considering its size. Holes, ledges and large rocks I slam into no longer make me wince like on other bikes. The WP Explor suspension doesn't blink. I'm 6', 1" in my socks (almost 6', 3" in my boots), so the height is not an issue for me. Regarding reliability: Many of the folks I read who are complaining about the reliability don't even own a KTM/Norden. They read a couple of dozens posts and formed their opinion on that alone. (fact) Husqvarna sold 34,737 motorcycles in the first half of 2022, meaning they have sold well over 150,000 motorcycles in the last few years. If one were to count every single post on KTM/Norden reliability issues on the web, they might total a couple of hundred. That means there are many tens of thousands of happy KTM/Norden owners who have never experienced a manufacturing/design issue with their bikes. But then we don't hear from them.
I can only comment on my experience with my ‘15 KTM S/A. I bought new in 2015 and only issue I had was plugged fuel sock. I found out later that when the factory test runs the bike the fuel left in the tank leaves residue caused by evaporation. Made sense to me, take it for what it’s worth. I have 44,000 miles on the bike and it’s been reliable, but I do maintain. We do need to realize the hoses that are rubber do settle out, so checking hose clamps is something that needs to be done especially when they are new.
Thanks for showing them side by side! I hadn't realized they put a glossy finish on it, I think I'm still like the paint on the black one as I love the matte finish and topo, but easy fix with graphics. I agree the bike should have always had xplor stuff on it, for my use case the apex would not suffice, and the additional addons for that price you mentioned is amazing to me. So much bang for buck, wouldn't hesitate to pick that bike up with that stuff included if I were in the market. WARNING: Long tangent ahead; As for reliability stand point, I think people need to chill out on it all. No matter what bike you're on you're either going to be lucky, or unlucky in today's age. Gone are the years where honda made bullet proof machines and ktms were prone to issues. Anyone who bashes everything ktm makes and vocally says they're not reliable hasn't necessarily kept up with the times. Their argument is always something along the lines of "Honda's can go forever and ktm's will leave ya on the side of the road" and so on. Fact of the matter is since the XR era of honda, the quality of the honda's has gone down to keep MSRP at a manageable price for consumers to get without breaking the bank, and simultaneously they've been slow to role out new and exciting bikes. Whereas ktm still continues to push the envelop in innovation year after year, while improving QC compared to 10-15 years ago and keep a competitive price point for their motorcycles. But somehow people still want to try and compare a 30 year old Xr650's quality to a couple year old Norden 901 for example. More performance components need more work to keep in tip top shape, it's as simple as that and it's the same for other industries. I can't sit here and say that Ktm is more reliable than Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki because it's not true. Those bikes ARE more "reliable" from a componentry and build stand point, but at the end of the day you're getting less performance/more weight/simpler design/less value, etc.. But when you get so much more bang for buck with these ktm's and all you have to do is work on your bikes in order for them to take you to all the same places wether it be around the world or down the backyard trails. Why compromise if both can get you there? We as consumers should be pushing manufactures to make bikes that are current, perform well, and be reliable all for a fair price! It's as simple as that. And as far as I'm concerned Ktm is making a well rounded linup of bikes that are both performing well, reliable, and innovative. Yes we can ask for better qc from them, leaking shocks and brake reservoirs from factory should not be a thing. But we shoulden't be forced to choose a bike with 20-30year old tech with zero change if we want zero issues out of the box and something deemed reliable for certain.. We should be asking for bikes like a klx400~ that has good service intervals and performance suspension, or a Crf450L rally that doesn't have dirtbike service intervals, and has some windprotection. Or a 300L/klx300s that doesn't have suspension that needs to be binned and swapped to something else right away. Or a DRZ400 that comes with upside down suspension + 6spd and not a 1980's headlight. A good recent example is the new t7 that is coming with tft display, and better suspension. THAT is the right move. But what we all really want is slightly more performance over that size/weight ratio, and give people an option for ride by wire.. I'll give a few examples; I've put 65,000km on my klx250s, and it's never left me stranded. It's had a few gunked up carbs which made the bike limp to get me to where it needed to be, a few blown fuses which require bump start. But it's always gotten the job done. The 790r had taken me just 17,000 so far, but aside from some QC issues the bikes goes wherever and whenever. No shock failures, no rideability issues. Just some bad finish on my stantions that be can deduces down to improper care, and warped/poor feeling front brakes from factory. The crf250l in the family is the only bike that has stranded anyone in my family, and if I had been riding it at the time, I would have been pushing it home off a mountain or trail. $1000 fix quote from the dealer. The bike still only has 6,000km. Point being you can't buy a perfect bike that'll have no issues guaranteed, from any manufacture. Honda also designed that bike to only have one radiator up front, and non-adjustable suspension that's undersprung. So how much are you willing to spend on a bike you bought that's "unbreakable" and then have to fork out another 3k in mods just to make it slightly compeditive for performance? Another example the Crf1000l weighs more than a 790advR, but same power to the floor. And still, suspension that'll need to be modified to push. If it's summer time and you ride dusty stuff, the airfilter should be changed very frequently. 5 min job on the 790/890/901. But takes a whole evening to do that change on the AT. If we look at Kawasaki, they haven't designed a new plated dualsport or Adventure bike in this quarter of the last century. Yamaha isn't innocent either as far as cost cutting measures go, approximately zero offroad/onroad bikes on the market should come without a chain guide... Why does the consumer have to fork out extra just to finish building the bike? Long story short; Gone are the days of brand X being far more reliable than brand Y, in 2023 they're far closer to one another than majority of the social media hive mind likes to think. And what sets them apart should be the usability, versatily, and dollar value that you get for a bike. Every single bike out there is pretty damn reliable in today's standard and hard to go wong with, there aren't any bad apples on the market anymore. Aside form Royal Enfield 😂. (Don't crucify me if I come across as a KTM fanboy, I'm still a kawi guy at heart, but the Japanse brands need to be more competitive IMO, and stop riding their reputation before it's too late.. ).
Bought an Expedition in October 23. Now I’m near 10k km and have no mayor issues so far. One thing is that the “Immobilizer” shows sometimes a malfunction when it stalls and you start it again on the flight. It’s going to be inspected in two months and we will see if there is a problem (camshafts) with it. I’m really fond of this bike and it’s not one that’s everyone rides. I like that! 😄
Just read by chance, hi from Italy bought an expedition February 24, same issue’immobilizer’. Waiting for the new parts. They said they have to change quite a few parts including all the locks 🤔 anyway apart from that for now it’s a great bike Bye marco
@@MarkMario-cg1ek Thanks for your inputI will address the issue to my Lokal dealer when it’s time for the 15k inspection and we will see what he’ll say. Cheers mate!
@@peer-olafkremer4715 ok but in my case it’s risky until they don’t fix it because when immobilizer shows up the bike will not start. Today I had to switch on an off 2/3 times to get it started. Bye Mark
Totally agree with your comments about a leaking radiator hose not being a “reliability” issue. It seems like the less people demand of themselves,the more they demand from the motorcycle manufacturer.
It's an explorer bike, but you can't take it to Africa because the high compression engine, you simply wont find fuel for it. T7 is your best bet if you want to travel outside of rich countries. The explorer package seems like a good deal tho. And the bike and it's performance is a lot of fun.
Some people just like to hate on other brands. I'm guilty of it myself sometimes, but I try to do it out of fun, with no malice behind it. I feel that a lot of hate for a brand stems from other things, besides actual experiences with the brand. Loyalty to one brand often leads people to be highly critical of others. I'll admit, in some cases it's certainly warranted. The 690 has had its share of problems over the years. As far as the leaky hose on the 901, I agree, it's really nothing. However, a shock failure is pretty bad.
I had a norden for 6 months, countless issues, (many that have been well known since the 790’s came out and are still present on 890/901 engines). My bike spent more time in the workshop than with me. It was a fun bike but countless issues and The engine sounds like a bag of nails. If you want to get to know your dealers mechanics very well, buy a 890/901. I’m back on a T7 again and zero issues and the WR is a fantastic bike.
I’ve been thinking of upgrading from the KLR, and this new Norden might just be the perfect set up! Thank you for sharing the first look. It is a gorgeous bike.
My order for the expedition is placed getting mine in July. I previously owned a husky FE350 I absolutely beat the shit out of it and it never missed a beat. I’m expecting the same from the Norden she looks trick the better suspension is worth the money alone. The expedition comes with the sat nav mount as well didn’t see it on that bike
Interesting.. I spent a full day on a standard 901 last year, wasn't impressed with it by the end couldn't wait to get back on my 701. I found it very cramped with my long legs and enduro boots, and also found the suspension very disconnected giving the whole experience a somewhat 'loose' feel. Great engine though, good power throughout the range. But yeah, unfortunately this bike to me is just a 'mid-size' road-bike.. nothing about it made me want to venture off-road, and if I did it wouldn't be on anything beyond gravel. Perhaps this new suspension helps - would be interesting to see.
I think that is a very good price for that bike. I'm not a fan of Blue on a motorbike but I like all the other revisions. I came very close to buying an 890R or a Nordin 901 but held off because of reliability issues. I talked with my local KTM dealer and they acknowledged both the problems you mentioned. Hoses should be properly tightened from the factory. It speaks to quality control issues. There have also been other issues you did not mention, like Hard Starting in cold weather. BRM has demonstrated this issue with his 890R. Here in the USA KTM dealers outnumber Aprillia by a wide margin, but if you have an issue with your KTM, you could wait months for parts to fix it (rear shock). How would that make you feel? This is not a big deal if you have other bikes, or ride mostly on streets, or near cities, but these are adv bikes and by definition are designed to go off the pavement. The majority of good off-pavement riding in the USA is in remote locations in harsh environments. You need a bike that will start, not leak vital coolant, and a suspension that won't collapse in the middle of nowhere. Ride Safe!
I believe reliability is very important on any vehicle that we own! Plus I totally agree with you we as owners have a responsibility to check all parts of our vehicles before we operate them. Thank you for great review! Ride safe🏍️
Great vid. Top radiator hose leak was caused from a badly designed oval shape outlet that was changed to a round one on the 890 series. Problem solved. Hose clamps won't give even clamping pressure on oval tubes. Had my 790 since 2019 with the only problem being the foggy dash. I've come up with a fix for that after the dealer put two new ones on. 24000km still going as good as new. Love the look of the new Norden though and if I was to upgrade it would be on the top of my list.
My 901 has run 9000 miles though the British winter salt and crap, covered in acf50 and the paint has come off the aftermarket center stand that's it. Starts every day at 6 inthe morning for the hour long ride at zero degrees c why don't I take the car because it is so much fun! Expedition next
I had a KTM 790 and it had several warranty issues within the first couple of hundred miles. 2 oil leaks, rear brake light failure, radiator hose leak and smelled like gas was leaking but no leaks. Maybe they have addressed all of these problems since then.
I do love the colors on the expedition, especially with the matching bags. Seems like a pretty good deal for $1k more with the new suspension and everything else.
I agree, pretty "shocked" at the price difference, with suspension and the tech package. Can't imagine Husky selling a standard Norden at all after the Expedition?
I like the colors on the new 901 and husqvarna finally put great suspension on it..the only issue is all the need expedition 901s delegated to the use are all presaold
Well…in a perfect world, buy a fun bike and a Japanese reliable bike lol. I think it all depends on how valuable your time is in everyday life. If you can afford to wait for parts and service, then buy a bike with questionable reliability. If you don’t have all the time in the world because you’re too busy and don’t have much time to and ride all you want to do is ride, then buy something that’s proven solid. Plus, what are you looking for in a bike? Is the journey more important than the bike itself? Or is adrenaline more important? I think a lot of guys aren’t honest with themselves when it comes to this. The T7 isn’t the most fun bike when it comes to performance, but it will finish the trip. The T7 performs in the duties it can do and therefore, is fun to own.
rode a mates 890 only on the road, less than a year old, great engine with a real fun mid range punch more fun than the 1190 I owned possibly. reliability- I have done nearly 200k miles on 2 1200GS and things have worn out, usually predictably, all self serviced and repaired only ever one real failure on the road stopped it (fuel pump relay) .Owned a used 1190 20 months old less than 4k on it when I bought it the display went down in less than 500 miles but no signs of misting etc as is very common, the rear LED failed KTM exchanged both under warranty, dealers were good KTM -zero communication available, sold it soon after, fearfull of further expensive failures, a local guy has it, done low miles on it only issue I am aware of some kind of fuel pump/filter failure. Mates 890 less than a year old display already misted up. I have owned a few older gen KTM enduro's and an LC4, the EXC's were fantastic on realiability the 640 had its issues but generally well built. I Would happily buy a KTM enduro bike an older one at least, the big ADV bikes are rich mans toys, OK if you do not need to rely upon them and have other bikes perhaps, or you really really need that performance which is overkill for many of us on Northern Euro trails anyway, 95% so on the busy Welsh trails where I live anyway. If you can live with the fear/expense and have access to unlimited speed trails perhaps Moroc or some other places or are that good for extreme stuff and can use it, lucky you. me not likely, KTM expect the customer/user to do their development miles for them and dont care if you have to carry your helmet instead of wear it and ride your bike.
Thanks for chiming in. Several interesting points and I think I overall share the same view on this topic. I hope they can increase their quality control and make these interesting bikes more reliable, at least electronical things that could leave a rider stranded.
Nice overview Johannes. The Expedition for sure have a great value right out of the box compared to the Standard 901 (why should anyone choose that one...) and the 890R. This will just be a matter of looks i suppose or fashion of brands. The Expedition looks like the best travel bike of this platform, would be really nice to get a testride. Probably the most equipped and capable travel bike around out there right now. To me it was never really an option when i went for the 2023 890 Adv R. Keep up the good work with the channel and see You on the trails!
Thanks Mattias! Yes, the expedition seems to be a great travel bike, and as you say I can’t really see anyone buying the standard anymore, with this just being slightly more expensive. Personally I’d go with the 890R instead, the new look of it is killer! Ride safe 😊
@Johannes Motorcycle Adventures I wasn't sure about the look until I saw the new 890R in flesh. But dude, what nice looking bike. Was really happy to look at it and collect it from the dealer. Better than expected. But to get a new bike in late January was like torture in our latitude 😂. I just wondered about yhe logic to send pretty much the first batch to Bike in Sweden 👀😂. They should have gone to warmer climate locations. But I'm not too bothered about that 😁👌.
Picking mine up next week. We'll see about reliability and quality control issues if they happen but test riding the bike, it felt solid. No way would my companions have dropped me on the mountain passes in the Italian Dolomites had I had my new bike already. The issue that worries me most with new bikes (like cars) is whether the electronics will let me down and leave me stranded at some point. Never happened to me on my old R80RT, K100RS or 600zzr but I'm not allowed to ride them any longer in the metropolitan area where I live due to environmental regulations that were adopted without checking the basics.
I would always choose the fun bike over a meh.. bike. Have had my fun bike for two years with no issues other than the battery needed to be replaced. And yes you are right in guessing that I haven’t owned a Volvo either 😂
I have to say the Norden Explorer is an absolute bargain with all the extras you get, and it looks great. But, and its a huge but, having owned a standard Norden 901 last year, I won’t be re-visiting the KTM/Husqvarna brand again. Too many reliability problems on a brand new bike, straight off the sale floor, and constant returning to dealer for warranty work, cam chain faulty, oil and coolant leaks, front brake and wheel issues. 😔
Oh man that is too bad, I can only imagine your frustration! Thanks for sharing your experience. Where do you live if I may ask? Seems like the people in US got the most issues..
What was wrong with the cam chain ? That’s a pretty big deal compared to leaks on a low mile bike I would hope it would last 20k miles plus before needing changed. Any additional info would like to know more thanks.
@@JohannesDalenMC I’m in the UK Johannes. As I have said, having owned a brand new Norden, the issues I had from day one, countershaft oil leak and oil leaking from the cam chain adjuster area, from literally rolling out the shop on day one and riding the bike home. The front brake and front wheel issues never got resolved, even though the bike went in and out of the dealer more times than I could mention (which cost me in time, day off work and fuel every trip I had to make). It also had the infamous cold start issue, of either not starting, or then only running on one cylinder! I literally gave up in the end and got rid of it, at a huge financial loss. Since bought a T7 WR and not a single issue, over the last 9 months and 7 thousand miles.
Ser kanalen vokser litt etter litt, bra Jobbet Johannes! Godt å få din vurdering ut i fra Norske forhold også, det gjør det litt lettere å velge. Mvh David.
First of all... Emma is pissed that you said that another bike is faster than she is, but I think I can calm her down. About KTM, of course they break! If you push an engine to the limit it will be less reliable. You know that if you buy a KTM. It is a crazy bike, but if you look after it it's the best! You know that I have had some problems with my 1290. First the gearbox and then the clutch breaking the block. The former was on the manufacturer and they took it, even if they grumbled a bit. The clutch/block was on me (and poor design) so I can't really blame them. But they really, really suck at customer relations! It is more important to them to get buyers than customers. It is really hard to get spare parts. Get a new display to a 790? Prepare to wait at least two years! I kid you not! With that said, I love the bike and will try to take care of her. I only hope that the company starts to take care of their customers a little better.
You can tell Emma that the only reason the 890 felt faster is because I didn't push her properly, my spirit isn't great enough for such powers! But yeah, with a KTM you do give away a bit of the reliability to get something a bit extra crazy. Every KTM/Husky I've ever ridden has left a huge impression. I too hope they'll start to take better care of their customers, happy to hear they helped you with your engine.
I believe most of issues with KTMs and Husky bikes are present because owners beat sh*t out of the bike without ever looking at it after riding. Yes there are some issues but all of it can be fixed within 2 years warranty. In same riding scenario i believe many japan manufacturers would have same issue. Itchy had some problems with the crf300 rally too after hard riding. Rider is responsible for the bike, period.
It has to be one of the best looking adventure bikes. Thanks for sharing. I sat on the base KTM about a week ago and really liked the updates. It seems like a pretty good value for the money. The Tuareg still seems like the best ADV value on the market to me if you have a dealer though.
Well, I finally got the opportunity to sit on and test out a Norden 901 this morning at a huge dealer event here and I am pretty positive I have found my next bike. They have a massive inventory there and I was able to check almost every option out back to back and I love the base Norden 901. It fits me just as well as the updated 890 (which is a big factor for me), but I like the looks and styling a ton more. I was planning to get the new base 890, but the Norden kind of blew me away in person. Now, it’s time to work out getting the thing. 😂
Hey that’s awesome, thanks for the update! So you’re going for the standard Norden and not the Expedition? The suspension alone is worth it in my opinion, but if the standard is ‘enough’ - perhaps you’ll find a good deal on a used one now that the Expedition is out?
@@JohannesDalenMC thanks man! Unfortunately, for my vertically challenged body (I’m 5’6”), the Expedition is too tall. The base/original fits me perfectly (along with the updated base 890 Adventure). I may get some better/progressive springs from Touratech down the road to address that, but the base is more than fine for now. Thanks for the reply buddy.
For me I think the Japanese have become a little complacent when it comes to development. They find something that works and they stick to it, no stress very reliable machines for many years. On the other hand I feel the European manufacturers are constantly pushing the envelope for constant development and sometimes reliability issues are part of that process. Personally I favour and support the European manufacturers because of their spirit to improve motorcycles, even if sometimes it's at the expense of a little reliability!
The dealer always says there are no issues. You buy a KTM and that is enough to know they are not as reliable as japanese bikes. You can argue all you want. It's statistically proven even by ADAC. I have no experience with the Norden but with the 401 and 701 lineup of the HQV Svart- and Vitpilens and Supermotos. KTM needed several years to fix the leaking slave clutch cylinder.... They are shitty overpriced bikes and unfortunately ride really well. But I won't throw my hard earned onto these overpriced junk bikes. I keep my Tenere which costs 5k less than these with foreseeable troubles in the future and a dealer network to scarce to even think about buying one.
I love the bike, but being only 5' 8" tall (1767 mm) my dealer told me that the extra height of the Expedition Model would be too high for me. I love the 901, and would have loved to get all the extras for only $1,000 more. Here in the states it is disgusting how long it takes to get spare parts from Husqvarna for such a great selling bike.
Hi Johannes, in my opinion the "new" Bikes have much to many electronic-Gimmicks and are way to expensive. The old Bikes (80/90er Builds) are bare-bones. But in term of durability and easy to maintain also in Cost to fix waaaaaayyyyyy better. The Performance of the new is outstandig - that`s true. And much harder to stay on it as the old ones. Best Regards, Alfred
I bought a KTM 890 S in December 22. I've only got 3000 miles on it right now but I research motorcycle to the Nth degree. What I've found out is that the Catalytic Converter heats up the rear shock. I just received a Camel ADV guard to protect the rear shock from excess heat. Since my bike is under warranty I didn't want to remove the Cat... yet. I've had the screen go totally black/blank. I could just barely make out that the screen was still functioning, and the bike was running, so I went to my fuel stop. After fueling, when I turned on the bike, the screen came back on. It also gets the condensation which evaporates. so I haven't contacted KTM because the bike hasn't totally let me down and I love riding it.
If I'd prioritized reliability I'd definitely be on Japanese bikes... they're A LOT better than the European bikes at basic reliability. But I have one caveat there... I've found KTM to have a lot of annoying reliability issues (clutch slave cylinder, assembly errors, etc...) BUT I also found my KTM to be able to take a LOT of abuse on the TAT... multiple wipes in deep silt, hit a cow, dropped at 13,000 feet in Colorado... and a lot of hard riding, and it took that abuse surprisingly well. Makes me wonder if KTM's are reliable where it counts - taking the abuse of the trail...
Yeah I like that expedition. Very cool, all round. Wonder why some of us prefer a husky over a KTM (or vice versa) Speaking of engines….. have you ridden a multi V4s yet?
I personally like the KTM more in general, but don't really care too much about it. I'll chose the one I get a better deal on. Haven't ridden a multi V4s yet, actually never even seen one. Never ever seen a Ducati dealership in Norway even..
@@JohannesDalenMC I hadn’t considered that, and had assumed Ducati’s were everywhere. Good bit of context for those of us who take it for granted and become complacent.
We have sold 8 one locked up the rear brake one had the stator come apart, not as good as the Japanese but still pretty good. Japanese 10/10 triumph 9/10 husky/ktm 8.5/10 as far as reliability.
Hey Everett, I take it you work at a dealer, thanks a lot for chiming in! I think that’s pretty good as well, at least for a KTM 😁 Were both incidents covered by warranty?
@@JohannesDalenMC Yes, they were fixed right away under warranty. It wasn't necessarily even an overall quality issue, more of a QC/assembly issue. Has the rear brake problem was caused by out of spec adjustment at the factory. And we're not sure on the stator all the bolts broke off so they might not have been torqued correctly at the factory. Both problems occurred under 200 miles and have been problem-free from then on. I like your channel I might have some adventure bike questions for you. Have a good day.
Veldig bra video, mange nyttige punkter du tar med. 10/10 😁 Kjører selv Vitpilen401 (jeg vet det er noe helt annet, men er relativt ny til mc livet) men helt siden den Norden901 kom på markedet har syntes at den ser kjempe tøff ut.
Exactly, it’s almost ready to adventure right out of the box. The handguards are plastic, but sturdier than the typical plastic that most adv bikes comes with.
Speed? In Australia it has its own special value. There can easily be hundreds of kilometres of dirt road before the next ‘interesting’ section of riding, with no chance of seeing a cop. So it’s nice to nail it, keep an eye out for kangaroos and be able to cruise at 140 or so to fast-forward the boring stuff. As for reliability…I have been the de facto workshop for our riding group for the last 15 years and the bikes that tend to show up most often with problems are KTM’s and Ducatis. I feel like these makers prioritise performance over reliability to some extent. We don’t get upset about it, we just accept it because bikes are often bought with the heart, not the head. But any time someone purchases a KTM our chat group chimes in with the good natured taunt…KTM? Keeps Taking Money!’ 😁
Imagine looking out for kangaroos at 140 😅 Yeah, it seems like the European manufacturers go for performance over reliability. If a buyer is aware of that beforehand, the ‘let down’ will probably be smaller. But, there’s no excuse if an adventure bike fails if it is taken care of properly. No matter how good it performs.
The problem with KTM is how they treat the customer when there is a problem or a warranty claim. KTM headquarter as well as Country level organisations seems to be assholes worldwide. Fortunately my local dealer is awesome. My dealer is "Din MC" close to Stockholm.
Exactly, and it seems like a lot of people struggle with that according to the internet. My local dealer is excellent too, so I wouldn’t worry about that at all. Happy to hear your local is great too 😁
In the end the local dealer is not better than the factory behind. He can do better service, but in the end the factory is responsible for the warranty and bigger issues
I’m one of those people who is willing to sacrifice a bit of reliability for some extra power and fun. For me motorcycles are all about fun, I’ve chosen the sensible route in the past and ended up regretting my decision.
ktm doesn't just have a few reliability issues, most of their bikes have reliability issues. now when you buy a competition bike and try using it as a lightweight adventure and it has reliability issues then you can make excuses for it you're using it beyond the scope of what it was built for. but when you buy an adventure bike like a 690 or 790 and has serious faults you can't make excuses for that. but yes if the worst issue was a leaking hose and a leaking shock it's not a big concern like frame cracks, rocker, injector, fuel pump, radiator, cam and side stand sensor failures. And japanese bike owners will point it out because they know their bikes are updated less often are heavier and have a bit less performance to be more reliable. so it's a bit of your bikes not as good because of x. well your bikes not as good because of y.
I can't believe your trying to say that a leaking hose should be something an owner should notice and fix without complaint on a new bike!That's what you said. Unbelievable! The leading hose is an issue as is the failing shock, mainly due to excess heat from the exhaust, also warped disks and electronic faults that need you to turn off the bike and restart. People jump on these issues because others try and make it like these issues are uncommon. Just admit there are reliability issues rather than trying to smooth them out because your friend works at the dealership
Interesting James, are we talking about the Expedition version? The 901 will be an upgrade in terms of performance - lighter, lower COG, better suspension, stronger engine, but these increases comes on behalf of reliability. What kind of riding do you usually do? And do you have any other bikes?
@Johannes Motorcycle Adventures Thanks for the reply. I only have the one bike. Mostly road riding, with a bit off road. Lots camping trips. I think I am being drawn in by the wow factor and the AT is probably better for needs.
With one bike, mostly road, I would keep the AT. If you on the other hand was an offroad oriented adventure rider who saw a lot of dirt and also had a second street bike for instance, the 901 would be the more exciting choice.
Johannes i am really conflicted. After watching this i went to my local Husky dealership and they had one left for the year. I had made up my mind to get a T7 with the rally raid upgrade like yours. BUT the husky expedition is ridiculous value at the moment. The dealer thinks husky made a mistake withe the price. So i put a deposit down on it. Im thinking of cancelling and buying a ex demo T7 Rally for £4k less. Just don’t know what to do!?🤔 I’m inclined to believe what Ian has said and go with the T7. Only have a few days before the deposit becomes unrefundable and i cant sleep at night
Hehe I can understand your frustration! I can’t make up my mind either, one day I’m loving my T7, the next I’m wanting a 901/890 adv r. If you can get your hands on a demo T7 for 4k less, I think I would have done that. How do you usually ride and do you have any other bikes in your garage?
@@JohannesDalenMC I have only ever riden on theh road but want to be more adventurous. I spend a lot of time watching You Tube channels and hope to emulate some of it but the reality is im more likely to be road biased like Got2Go swiss lady or Nomad Sweden trip to Turkey. But they both ride a T7! I have a 2002 R1150GS with no ABS and have never owned any bike that has so rider aids are not something I have experience of. Im keeping the GS btw. However im 58 yrs old and i do like my comfort. The Husky Explorer just looks so good from the comfort and safety perspective and such a bargain with all the extras that I couldn't resist. Also that it was the last one locally available for the rest of this year (new). However the simplicity of the T7 and its character is very appealing and the £4k difference between a pre registered ex demo and the Husky is something to consider. I could get the Rally Raid upgraid and full Mosko Moto luggage and still have change.I have to add that my ambitions are to ride the Norway Coast, Morocco and also the trans Siberian road when things settle down. I also worry about picking up a dropped bike. Never been able to lift the GS on my own.
Both the 901 and the T7 will be a bit lighter than your GS, but they are both heavy bikes and I wouldn't recommend starting out riding offroad on either. I know you mention longer trips that include tarmac, and for those application both bikes are great, but so is your GS. In your situation I would definitely recommend a lighter bike to learn the basics of offroad on, and then use your GS on those longer trips because of its road comfort. If you can't lift your GS, you will struggle with the T7 as well, it's very heavy when it is laying flat on the ground. Based on this short conversation I would recommend something like a CRF300 Rally, upgrade the suspension and make it as road comfortable as possible. And then accept the fact that it will not be as comfortable on the road as your GS or the 901/T7, but when you reach the offroad sections you will have a much lighter bike that you know for a fact that you'll be able to lift.
Always happy to help Sean. If your mind is still set on a middleweight adv bike, I would go with the cheaper T7 myself. Cheap and reliable is two things I value. Spend less on the tool (bike) and have cash for travels and experiences, and reliable because I don’t like when expensive things doesn’t work. Not saying the Norden is unreliable, but it definitely isn’t as reliable as the T7, statistically.
I had 890R -21 and it had: leaking coolant hoses and blown rear shock - these were fixed by KTM dealer. However these problems dealer nor KTM could not fix: constant one cylinder start problem, front brake discs were always warped after 3 thousand km (3 sets), moisture in dash. All this in 15 thousand km. 1 month ago I changed KTM to Husky Expedition. Husky has so far ”only” starting issue: it needs 5-6 starts until it runs on first start of the day. Otherwise I like expedition more than 890R. But it is amazing how poor quality KTM puts to market year after year. They even copy the problems to new generation bikes and they have no solution to these problems. Like starting problem of this parallel twin: it was a topic in 2017 when 790 duke was introduced… now we live 2023 and KTM has copied the problem all these years to all bikes using same family engines.
I’ve read that the bags on the expedition (which have been sold as add ons for the original Norden) are faulty… they tear, don’t have enough fasteners to hold in place, etc. some have said that they are really only good for gravel roads but not good enough for a real adventure. I’ve also read that Husky was going to address this problems before the final Expedition bikes would be shipped to dealers. Were you able to tell if they’ve fixed those issues with the bags on the bike in this video?
I’ve received a couple of comments about the bags and them being low quality already. I only opened and closed them, and tried the mounting solution. Didn’t seem like high quality like Mosko, Kriega or Giant Loop, but not terrible either. I would buy new baga for it either way and sell these and the racks, if I bought this bike.
Not as good as CP2? Surely you mean sound wise? Because the LC8c stomps all over the CP2. CP2 is more reliable of course as it's not tuned for high performance like the LC8c.
I should have been more precise. The lc8c is much higher performing, yes, but I still like the CP2 better because of it’s linear delivery and nearly impossible to stall. I haven’t ridden the lc8c recently, so this is based on my memory. Will ride it again as soon as the roads are clear 😊
@@JohannesDalenMC it was a apex I forgot he had bought one for a short time lol like 2 weeks! I own a 20' ktm 790 R and passed the no shock failure and 16K mile valve check :) !
A bit unfortunate that he sold it that quickly as I’d love to follow it more closely, but happy he now got a Tuareg, another bike I find interesting. Happy to hear the 790 is serving you well 😊
As far as reliability, Japanese manufacturers are good at hiding and covering up problems, I have a friend with a well maintained Yam super Tenere and hes on his second major engine repair, both the head was removed
To all the people saying that the Explor level suspension should have been on it in the first place … sure. But it would have cost more money, just like it does on the Expedition now. If you expect that level of suspension at the standard 901 price, you’re on crack😂
Yes, but a Toyota Camry is also super reliable. But who wants to drive one. There isn't a bike on the market that matches my Husky 701 for performance and weight, that comes from Japan. Nothing close.
@@jayd3931 i AGREE WITH YOU 100% I currently have a 701E and a 890 R ,both absolutely peg the fun factor , I've Put 13,000 on 890 with zero issues. I also think comparing the T-7 to 890 is not a fair assessment. Completely different bikes.
It’s a general give that smaller volume manufacturers will have more issues by virtue of the fact that they have less opportunity to do the long term testing that the bigger ones have. That said, my move from BMW was based on poor design, poor build quality and lousy service. I have a KTM 890 Adventure and love it. I have an expectation of odd issues but my main dealer has been excellent and the gear change issue I had was my own doing (having failed to notice the gear lever just hitting the frame after I adjusted it). My fault but no issue and they’re keen to see me happy. BMW missed that opportunity. I regret not digging my heels in and demanding a full refund! As they say, sh#t happens but it’s how that sh#t is dealt with that is key. I loved the GSA but a faulty flap valve after 7,500 miles and an £1,800 quote to fix it was the last of several straws. A shame but companies trading on past glories isn’t sustainable.
Whoa there! Hehe, looks really are subjective. I think it looks pretty cool, but the round headlight doesn’t quite do it for me. What do you think is the best looking adv on the market?
If you want warp speed (scotty!) you need to have the 1290. Bought the new model 2021. Yes, its a heavy bike but i don't mind because i'm 190cm and 105kg... but with that hp the ditches are getting littlebit too close sometimes🫣
yup japanes more trusty steed and better value versus european more character and take the niggles that come with more excitement and engagement.....sounds like a very old discussion .....hmm have we been here before over the past decades...
Husqvarna skal liksom være litt mer comfort-orientert enn KTM, men ikke la det komfortable utseendet lure deg, dette er nok en utrolig kapabel adv-sykkel. Tanken er den samme tror jeg, par og tyve liter?
