Take them both out for a test ride enjoy then make a choice. I found the bikes I thought I'd like the most I didn't after a test ride. Try as many as you can

 

Buy both? Or buy a Tenere 700

 

I honestly don't know why all the hype for the 700, it's heavy, top heavy, kinda like the AT. The suspension is super soft. And it's heavy, but I don't see the advantage here, mostly the same weight as other bikes in the class but less HP. If the reason is price, then I get it. I don't see the 700 competing with the AT for longer trips. Nor for heavy loading in the backcountry for extended trips. I think the 690 or 701 are great for short highway stints and exploring the back woods and technical trails to get there. When you win in one area, you loose in the other.

 

I see Big Rock Moto has just got one.
Personally I think the front end is better than most but still fugly,

 

Yeah, they are an, ehm,. aquired taste.
The husky and AT are, imho, the most appealing.

Im getting the new AT when the new season starts (europe). Have to sell my current bike first, and thats far more of a nice weather bike. Want to wait for good weather to sell.

Just curious about the husky. But it needs to pack some real punch and ride like a dream to get in front of the honda, to be honest. The price and spec difference seems minimal, and compared to the proven reputation of the at its a no brainer to get a honda over a husky. But that might be preaching to the choir over here

Thanks for the link! Only saw the ones from the azoren promo weekend.
Wondering if the tank placement on the husky, down low in harms way, really seems like such a good idea.

 

I just got my Norden, it is MUCH smaller than the AT. Wind protection is much less. The best bike depends on what you are HONESTLY going to use it for. If I lived in the flatlands or was only going to do roads, gravel, and easier dirt roads then the AT is clearly the winner, especially if long trips are planned. Up to Prudue Bay, AT. Cross country. AT. They are really different bikes for different applications. I see guys all the time out riding a big bike with Al panniers, big knobbies, and they mostly ride roads. I honestly don't get it. We need to honest with ourselves. I hear guys talk about preparing for the 1%, well that makes the 99% not as enjoyable. I'd rather struggle in the 1% and be dialed in for the 99%. But then again, I'm not riding their bike either....

The reason I got the Norden is because up in the Rocky Mountains, the Side by Side crowd has completely altered the jeep road by tearing around (no blame just a fact) and add in crazy heavy Spring rains and the resulting erosion, and it's made medium difficulty trails hard, or very hard. That being said, I've enjoyed my AT and loaded it up with prime camping gear, we've had gin and tonics, blue cheese and caviar, and cooked prime ribeye over the camp fire, and I've slept in comfort far into the backcountry.

 

I'd love to see some pictures and perhaps a review sometime if you have the inclination...

 

I do sort of agree with you ref the T700, ive had a couple , the latter being the Rally in that lovely blue.
This bits i didnt like with regards to it’s actual presentation rather than what it could be.
Suspension is woefull so had to upgrade it to RRaid. Even then it wasnt right. Way to hard even after working with all ends
rusty corrosive spokes both ends. On BOTH bikes after weeks of ownership.
Says fully adjustable suspension. It is not and springs designed for a featherweight rider.
if you drop on exhaust side you run the risk of it rubbing the swing arm away,
No removable rear chassis.
feels V top heavy.
corrosion from the start on front of fuel tank. Well known.
fuel gauge sender says almost empty after 110 miles even though it will go another realistic 60 miles.
numbers and text impossible to read on mono colour dash,

Bits i love:

simplicity
That CP2 engine is absolutely brilliant.
The look of it.
Almost in the sub 205 kgs range.

it could be absolutely brilliant but was built to a low price ish, unless this new version the “raid” comes out,

its still a great bike but need to overcome some basic design flaws and quality control issues.

 

I did await the Norden and 890 but its just too ugly and the KTM reliabilty doesn’t do it for me as have been some real horror stories so chose the AT again. Does everything i ever want to do and more being the DCT.

 

I would pick the the Tenere for a couple reasons. Power and stock suspension is not one of them for either the AT or Tenere.

For the T7, reliability, strong dealer network, great aftermarket selection, and ergos for pushing it off road (especially compared to the AT). I don’t presume to know how others ride, but I don’t ride heavy if I can avoid it. I’ll set up camp and drop my gear before hitting the technical stuff, so I end up with a weight advantage over other AT/ ADV riders who take all their stuff with them. Having a Tenere in that scenario would theoretically only increase your advantage, all else being equal.

Picking your bike becomes a pretty straightforward exercise of which base do you build from looking at the type of riding you actually do. A lot of people say “I’m going to do this [insert sweet trip] when I get my bike,” but they rarely do. I personally like the looks of that Norden and the KTM lineup, but the KTM just doesn’t fit what I wanted out of the ownership experience. And they’re the same company as far as I’m aware.

 

I will take some side by side photos and post a more through comparison this week. I did post some thoughts over in 1st impressions in the general discussion forum and will add to that as I just got back from a 100+ mile ride.

 

Oh, I forgot

22 Norden 901
19 Africa Twin
11 Husky Te630
11 HusabergFE390
09 Husaberg FE450
06 Truimph Sprint ST
05 BMW R1200RT

 

Norden 901 is the same as KTM 890. Same parts, same machinere, different wrapping. That was what kept me from buying 901. The reputation to 890 is not flattering.

 

Over here they do have a their fair share of reliabilty issues, more breakages it seems. Shame as no to bad looking apart from that fugly head light

 

It sounds like a bag of nails or at least on the video I have seen and yes the front end is not my taste.

 

"Ready to Race" comes at a cost. The exact reason I opted for the AT this go around.
Add to that everyone's desire to outsource their engines to the lowest bidder.

 

I honestly don't think they compete with each other so well. They are different bikes and fill slightly different niches. The AT is more a big bike that competes with the 1190/1290 and GS. I am not a fan of the KTM's, their suspension nor the engine mapping. The Norden improves on both. I think the reality is few riders are honest with themselves about what they will ride and which bike fits those needs. I hear about people buying tires or a bike for the 1%, and perhaps that is logical but to me it's foolish. The AT is a great gravel, easy jeep trail, and backcountry road touring bike. It is definitely more "vibey" than the Norden, but it's larger, more fuel, more room to stretch out, and definitely sounds better than the Norden with the AT's great OEM exhaust and note.

I find it odd that the noise of a motorcycle is considered a "factor". I often ride long distances and the quieter the better. No need to rev the engine to impress anyone. I hope the new mapping of the engine and other tweaks and resolved and "issues" but there are "issues" with the AT and every other produced item but we never hear about all the owners of bike and other things that never have a problem. The tech, screen, tubeless tires, weight distribution. and the brilliant quickshifter are pros for the Norden.

Like the 690 and 701. which really don't have any competition, the 890 and 901 are in a space where no other manufacturer is making something that competes in weight, handling, and performance. It is not a slam on the AT, as I think it outcompetes everything in it's class, especially when it comes down to reliability and built fit and finish. They are different animals. And they both put a smile on my face, but for different reasons in different conditions.

 

Aside: A good bike would never be too quiet for me. Of course, a bulbous exhaust system is typically a side effect of that quest.

 

The higher performance bikes are running very high compression ratios, up to13:1, which translates to high heat, higher fuel costs, and reliability issues. If the AT had 13:1 it would be putting out 120 bhp. It would be brutally hot, the cat converter would be melting boots. With the euro 5 emissions the heat is only going to get worse.

 

Iam impressed with the design of the fuel system on the 901 keeping fuel weight low. If the Africa Twin was a clean slate design I think we would have seen something different. It took its design from the 1988 version. I posted in the video section of the comparison to the original.

 

I think Honda could have changed the tank setup if they'd really wanted to put the effort in. After all, they changed the motor from a V to a parallel.
I pulled the ATAS tank off this winter and yeah it's huge to wrap around that air-box, definitely should have split it.

 

I believe the Norden and KTM are running 13.5 compressions. Keep in mind with modern oils, machining tolerances, as well as the typical lower miles it may or may not be an issue. Usage is also a factor, how many adventure riders will be pushing redline? Preventative maintenance on any machine is key. Look at snowmobiles, they are 850cc and now are turbo'ed from factory putting out 180 HP, granted few run more than 5000 miles without at least a top end job, but riders don't seem to mind, and 1000 miles a year is a good year of riding. So why is preformance so underrated in the moto world, or adventure world? And when will start seeing turbos on Motorcycles? The Kawasaki H1 has a supercharger! I've had many bikes, none have had an engine failure, it's relatively uncommon, and mostly due to a maintenance issue or racing around close to redline endlessly.

 

Mostly a business decision @Van Brudenrijden. The riding world has done this dance before during the early-mid 1980s. Insurance companies just did not like turbocharged motorcycles, and so sales just died.

 

Every time I read about KTM issues on the net I wonder if posters have ever had the pleasure of owing and riding KTM's.
Granted I sell my bikes after 35,000kms, I have owned a 2017 AT and sold it due to suspension issues, have owned a 950S, 990, 1190, 1090R, 890R, 450EXC, and a FE501, (990SMT and a 450XCW in the garage belongs to my son). I never had any serious issues, some fuel pump problems in the early years that were easily overcome. the 501 is a 2016 and continually gets abused and has been rock solid.
Van Brudenrijdin nailed it totally different machines comparing the 901(890R) and the AT is apples and oranges Often times I do regret selling the 1090R comparing that bike to the AT would be apples to apples

 

A dealer in my area had the 1090 and crf1000 so I sat on both of them a few times. The 1090 was really tempting until I seriously considered how I would actually be riding whichever one I bought. My history with KTM and the reviews about its off-road prowess caused me to procrastinate long enough that the 2020 AT was being reviewed. By that time I admitted to myself that my rides would mostly be long pavement on the way to gravel forest service roads. That made it easy to pick the AT.

 

Considered looking at the new Ducati desert X, looks decent enough but it's factoring in servicing costs with a ducati. Worth factoring that in with the norden. When I went bike shopping I looked at what I wanted before searching. For me it was something ideal for 2 up fully loaded touring, commuting, lots of storage. Decent suspension and good tech ie the android auto link up plug it in and go, reliability and reasonable servicing costs. I went for the ATAS ES manual, I liked the silky smooth gear box souch so dont really miss not having a quick shifter.
I went for the plus model seemed good value and got 3 free services ticked all the boxes for me.
Just work out what you want and be ruled by your head not your heart. Looked at the vstrom, good bike for the price but suspension and tech not so good I would have wanted to add a lot of stuff to it and don't really think the quality is there on the suzuki. I don't regret my purchase in June. I Just miss riding it the last month due to health issues. First ride out today in a month.

 

 

After looking at sooooo many Africa Twins and their twin headlights, all other motorcycles seem to look like Cyclops to me.

 

 

 

Thanks @Van Brudenrijden