HUSQVARNA NUDA 900 (2011 - 2012) Review

Highlights

  • Supermoto thrills with added practicality
  • Excellent BMW twin engine
  • Reliable and reasonable to run

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £150
Power: 105 bhp
Seat height: Tall (34.3 in / 870 mm)
Weight: Medium (423 lbs / 192 kg)

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
3 out of 5 (3/5)

The 2011-2012 Husqvarna Nuda 900 was the first new road bike to be produced by Husqvarna since BMW took over the company in 2007. In essence it’s a re-badged, re-styled parallel twin-cylinder BMW F800 with a 100cc bigger motor. The Nuda mixes typical Husqvarna supemoto thrills with a comfier riding position and a nod to practicality, if you go for the optional touring extras, which include panniers and taller screen. Although the motor is very frugal, a small 13-litre fuel tank hampers practicality.

Husqvarna Nuda 900R also available

There was also a Husqvarna Nuda 900R version (costing £9250 new), which came with Brembo monobloc brakes, a sportier seat, a one-tooth smaller front sprocket for better acceleration and fully-adjustable Sachs forks and an Ohlins rear shock.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
4 out of 5 (4/5)

Supermotos are usually hard, wafer-thin things that you can’t wait to get off, after a few miles. The Nuda 900 was roomy, comfortable and up to 80-90mph has acceptable wind protection. The base-model’s basic suspension was set well to deliver comfort and control in the corners. It gave good feedback for what the standard equipment Metzler Sportec M5 Interact tyres were doing, too.

Husqvarna Nuda 900R handling is brilliant

Brembos were well up to the job of anything you could throw at them on the road. The higher-spec R model rode the same but with a slightly taller seat. Suspension and braking was far more suited to track work. Fit a set of sticky tyres and it would be untouchable on a twisty B-road.

In November 2012 optional ABS was added to the Husqvarna Nuda 900 lineup.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
3 out of 5 (3/5)

The engine was based on the BMW F800 parallel twin but had been boosted in capacity from 798cc to 898 thanks to a 2mm larger bore of 84mm and a longer stroke of 81mm; up 5.4mm over the BMW motor. The compression ratio had been raised with modified pistons, camshafts and conrods.

It may be based on the BMW F800's, but we like the Husqvarna Nuda 900R engine

With a bigger bore and stroke, the reworked BMW F800 engines produced 105bhp and 74ftlb of torque. It also had a new crankshaft with a new offset, which Husqvarna said gave a throatier engine note, a snappier response and fewer vibes. The firing order of the F800 motor was changed thanks to an alteration of the crankshaft offset angle to 315 degrees from zero.

The Nuda was fast, punchy and smooth and the motor was more than enough for this type of bike. But the big parallel twin-cylinder engine wasn’t as exciting, or as involving as an equivalent V-twin.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
5 out of 5 (5/5)

Until this bike, Husqvarna hadn’t made pure road bikes since back in the 1930s: all of their models were enduro, motocross and supermotos.

Husqvarna Nuda 900 front three quarters

But they’ve always been robust machines. BMW introduced strict quality control measures into Husky’s factory in Varese and provided a lot of electronic knowhow.

Our Husqvarna Nuda 900 owners' reviews show nothing concerning from a reliability perspective.

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

It's difficult to complain about the Husqvarna Nuda 900 price point. It was a few hundred quid more than its closest competition: the Ducati Hypermotoard 796 and Aprilia Dorsoduro 750, but a couple of grand cheaper than the KTM 990 SMT. The standard model was better value than the R, but it wasn't practical enough to be a strong tourer or sporty enough to sell your sportsbike for.

The Husqvarna Nuda 900R has some impressive rivals

We pitted the new Husqvarna against its closest competition - the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 Factory, Ducati Hypermotard 796 and KTM 990 SMT - on British roads to find the king of the 'street moto' category.

Despite a common theme, each manufacturer has approached it in a different way and the only thing that really links these four bikes is the use of flat bars and long-travel suspension.

The Dorsoduro Factory is the most 'supermoto' and aggresive in its looks, but despite the clean rear end with its neat underseat pipes and smart red frame, the carbon panels let the bike down.

Engine Liquid-cooled, 898cc, 8v, DOHC parallel twin Liquid-cooled, 749cc, 8v, DOHC V-twin Air-cooled, 803cc, 4v, Desmo V-twin Liquid-cooled, 999cc, 8v, DOHC V-twin
Power (claimed) 105bhp 90bhp 81bhp 114bhp
Torque (claimed) 73ftlb 60.4ftlb 55.7ftlb 71.5bhp
Chassis Tubular steel trellis frame Tubular steel trellis, aluminium side panels Tubular steel trellis frame Tubular steel trellis frame
Suspension 48mm Sachs USD forks. Sachs monoshock, adjustable for preload and rebound 43mm USD forks, fully-adjustable. Mono shock fully-adjustable 43mm Marzocchi USD forks. Sachs monoshock adjustable for spring preload only WP USD forks, fully-adjustable. WP monoshock, fully-adjustable
Weight 174kg 206kg 167kg 194kg
Brakes Front: Twin 2x320mm discs with Brembo foru-piston radial calipers.
Rear: Single 265mm disc with single-piston caliper
Front: Twin 320mm wave discs with Brembo four-piston radial calipers.
Rear: Single 240mm wave disc with single-piston caliper
Front: Twin 305mm discs with Brembo four-piston radial calipers.
Rear: Single 245mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Front: Twin 305mm discs with Brembo four-piston radial calipers, Bosch ABS.
Rear: Single 240mm disc with twin-piston caliper, Bosch ABS
Tyres Front: 120/70x17
Rear: 180/55x17
Front: 120/70x17
Rear: 180/55x17
Front: 120/70x17
Rear: 180/55x17
Front: 120/70x17
Rear: 190/55x17
Fuel capacity 13 litres 12 litres 12.4 litres 19 litres
Seat height 870mm 870mm 825mm 855mm

The Hypermotard look has been around for a while now and Pierre Terblanche's take on a supermoto has been considerably better received than his idea of a sportsbike (the 999).

The Husqvarna is the newest bike in the test and as such you would expect a fresh look, but the Nuda is completely unique.

Having moved the SMT more towards touring than supermoto, it is no surprise that the 990 looks bulky in comparison to the other bikes on test.

Equipment

3 out of 5 (3/5)

Out of the box, the standard Nuda 900 was basic, but you did get a two-stage riding map, adjustable with a button on the dash. An obvious influence of BMW was that you could buy a vast array of optional extras. There were touring items like heated grips and panniers. Racy bits, like exhausts and carbon fibre panels and clothing, from leathers to casual and all-weather gear.

The Husqvarna Nuda 900R specs show a decent level of kit

You're also able to purchase a number of aftermarket accessories for the Nuda from an array of companies.

Specs

Engine size 898cc
Engine type 8v, parallel twin-cylinder
Frame type Tubular steel trellis frame with double-sided cast aluminium swingarm
Fuel capacity 13 litres
Seat height 870mm
Bike weight 192kg
Front suspension Non-adjustable 48mm Sachs forks
Rear suspension Single Sachs shock, adjustable for preload and rebound damping
Front brake 2 x 320mm discs with Brembo four-piston calipers.
Rear brake 265mm single disc with single-piston caliper
Front tyre size 120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 180/55 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 72 mpg
Annual road tax £117
Annual service cost £150
New price -
Used price -
Insurance group 11 of 17
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two year unlimited mileage

Top speed & performance

Max power 105 bhp
Max torque 74 ft-lb
Top speed 125 mph
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 150 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

  • Nuda 900 and Nuda 900 R introduced in 2011
  • Both bikes off sale in 2012.

Other versions

  • Nuda 900 R

Owners' reviews for the HUSQVARNA NUDA 900 (2011 - 2012)

4 owners have reviewed their HUSQVARNA NUDA 900 (2011 - 2012) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your HUSQVARNA NUDA 900 (2011 - 2012)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 5 out of 5 (5/5)
Engine: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Equipment: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Annual servicing cost: £150
5 out of 5
24 July 2024 by Jonester

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £150

The engine is an absolute peach. Pulls hard in every gear, just torque everywhere you look. The exhaust note: Oh my word. Absolutely addictive, and it makes no difference which exhaust you use, its still beautiful. Rising position is perfection, I could rise it all day for touring. Best front brake of any bike, almost TOO good. Brilliant on fuel, even when pushed hard.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

My word, the handling. So, so flickable through corners, you just find yourself with a permanent grin with this bike. Every time you get on it it feels special. Riding position is perfection, never get tired. Seat is fine for me.

Engine 5 out of 5

Beat part of the bike. The engine just pulls and pulls in any gear, you'll never find yourself wishing for more power. Overtaking is just bliss, this bike wants to be pushed.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

No issues. Keep it maintained and it'll go forever. Plenty of examples with 70k miles still going strong.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Cheap enough to service and it sips fuel, even when you're pushing hard. It's almost miraculous.

Equipment 5 out of 5

That front brake. I don't know how they achieved it but it still impresses me all this time later. A few friends have had a spin and the brake is the first thing they mention when they get off. Wind protection is great so don't spoil the looks with a screen.

5 out of 5 Husqvarna Nuda 900r
08 July 2014 by daveball

The R is a fantastic bike and now is huge value for money. It has top notch equipment and is one of the best looking bikes out there. Now it has been discontinued due to the sell off to KTM it has all the hallmarks to become a cult classic.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Involvement!
28 September 2013 by

I just want to make a comment on the statement above "the big parallel twin-cylinder engine isn’t as exciting, or as involving as an equivalent V-twin". What absolute guff! Having come from "an equivalent V twin" I can assure you the Nuda is every bit as involving and exciting! Not the best bike for long distance touring but for back road blasting it is an absolute hoot.It also comes with some nice quality parts as standard. Stonkin'bike!

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5
5 out of 5 My Nuda 900R
29 June 2013 by RideTheLightening

I bought a Nuda 900R after selling a disappointing Monster 1100evo.. the flaxibility of the engine around town is 300% better than the monster and when you crack the throttle open it reacts instantly.. its geared to fly..although on longer motorway runs the engine feels a little vibey.. the sound from the standard R exhaust is intoxicating.. and the riding position for a six footer like me is just perfect.. easy to thread through traffic... and perfect control on a longer country lane blast.. i love the looks..i turns heads wherever it goes.. even from non motorcyclists... where most bikes other bikes are ignored... the build quality is second to none...and fuel consumption is around 50mpg.. having ridden the Hypermotard.. i think the Nuda riding position is far better and less sitting over the front... the Brembo brakes are perfect for one finger stops...the seat is a little hard after an hour in the saddle...and i dont think I would tour on it...although friends of mine have been 1000s of miles on theirs with panniers.. and suffered no ill effects... all in all to sdum up... an exotic that is useable every day and as reliable as a BMW without the pipe and slippers. young guns and mid life crisis wannabees need only apply !

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5
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