T7 vs Norden 901 Street Comparison

[Fzrcraig]

After a 10 month wait, my T7 finally arrived, and I was anxious to put in some miles before the weather worsened here in the north. I planned a ride with a friend who has owned a Norden 901 since the spring and we spent the day riding 150 kms. or so through the hills north of my home. After a couple hours of riding my new bike, we traded as we were each interested in seeing how the other half lives. For reference, I also ride an FJR1300ES and a KTM 350 EXC-F. Here are my thoughts...

- At 5'10", with a 30" inseam, the Norden was a better fit, allowing me to stand without needing to be on tip toes. The T7 is as tall a bike as I care to ride, and I may consider lowering it before taking it offroad.

- Controls for both bikes fall naturally to hand (and foot). No need for any adjustments to either for a short ride, although the Norden brake pedal is small and can easily be missed.

- Gearbox - The Norden offered smoother shifting, although I'm sure that the T7 will improve over time. Clutch effort and action was similar.

- The Norden seat is definitely more comfortable and was a bit of a relief from the Yammie.

- The brakes on the T7 were weak right from the dealer and only improved slightly through the early break-in. The anti-lock activated on a few corner entries where I felt it wasn't necessary. The Norden's brakes were excellent, with great initial bite and feel.

- The T7 motor is peppy and entertaining (even at the lower revs I was restricted to), but the Norden is a level above in power and sophistication.

- Suspension comparisons were limited to rough patches of road and railroad crossings, so not much could be determined here. The 901 had Motoz knobbies so higher speed cornering was out. The T7 did feel harsh, but in fairness, I hadn't even turned an adjuster at that point. The T7 seemed a smoother road bike, but it may have been the Norden's noisy tires.

- Wind protection - No discernable difference between bikes at the speeds that we were travelling (<100 kph).

- Handling - Both bikes seemed excellent in cornering although the T7 felt easier to throw around. Both were also quite stable in straight line riding even in windy conditions. Weight, or the sense of weight, may have had something to do with it. To me, the whole top-heavy/gas tank design/weight conversation is a non-issue as both seemed equal in this regard. It seems that since KTM introduced the low gas tank design in the 790 Adventure, every other motorcycle has been described as being "top-heavy". This isn't the case. If you want to ride a top-heavy bike, ride an FJR.

Summary - there are few performance areas where I felt that the T7 was superior to the Norden, but this was expected as it is a premium ride. For a reasonable amount of money, many of the T7's shortfalls can be addressed. Do I regret buying the T7? No, I appreciate the T7's simplicity, looks, finish and reliability. More importantly, the T7 feels like a giant, narrow, dirt bike, and I love that about it. Due to the low-tank design, the Norden feels bulky and wide and a little lumbering in comparison, and while this isn't a factor on road, it could be on the trails. I'll have to wait until the spring for that comparison.