Pacific Northwest local Eric Minsker upgrades his Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition with an Aurora rally kit, a host of top-shelf components, and a razor-sharp livery.
Adventure motorcyclists are low-key among the most prolific custom motorcycle builders around. But theirs is a philosophy of function above everything. It usually starts with a capable adventure bike, which is then bombarded with parts and modifications until it handles rough terrain better, carries more luggage, and shrugs off more punishment than it ever could in stock form.
The story behind this heavily modified Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition, however, is somewhat different. It has all the mods an adventure bike needs—but it’s also one heck of a looker, thanks to the sharp eye and impeccable taste of its owner, Eric Minsker.
Based in the picturesque Pacific Northwest region of America, Eric bought the Norden with no intention of customizing it. After all, the Expedition variant, which costs around $16,500 new, comes standard with a taller screen, WP XPLOR suspension, LED fog lights, a big sump guard, and luggage. So even if you do have extra cash after buying it, there’s not much left to do to it.
Eric’s mind changed when an unfortunate accident left his Norden totaled. “I was faced with a choice: walk away and start fresh, or stick by the bike and give it a second chance,” he tells us. “I chose the latter—I bought the bike back from insurance and got to work.”
“The timing couldn’t have been better. Around the same time, Aurora Rally Equipment announced their rally kit for the Norden 901, which included carbon body panels and a CNC-machined aluminum rally tower.”
“These were exactly the parts I needed to bring the bike back to life, and more importantly, they provided a clear vision for what the Norden could become. I wasn’t reinventing anything. I was simply assembling something special using the right pieces at the right time.”
The Aurora rally kit comes with a CNC-machined aluminum head clamp and navigation tower, carbon fiber front fairings, a powerful Denali LED headlight, and all the bits and pieces needed to fit them. But since the kit was brand new, Eric had to wait for the carbon bits to be laid up and cured. This gave him time to source replacements for all the parts that were damaged in the crash.
First on the list was an overhaul of the rolling chassis. Eric upgraded the wheels with new 21F/18R hoops from Excel, shod with Mitas rubber. He also upgraded the suspension from the standard WP XPLOR forks and shock to top-spec XPLOR PRO units.
“It’s some of the best suspension money can buy, and it completely transformed the Norden,” he explains. “What was already a capable adventure bike now feels like a two-wheeled trophy truck, with more confidence, more control, and the ability to push harder when the terrain gets rough.”
Other upgrades included Rottweiler triple clamps and a Scotts steering stabilizer. CNC-machined guards from Bullet Proof Designs were added to the rear brake rotor, caliper, and fluid reservoir, and the front sprocket. Vanasche Motorsports supplied the fuel cap and foot pegs, the turn signals came from Motogadget, and the hand guards were from Reflex Racing.
Eric also installed a KTM Powerparts radiator guard and SamcoSport coolant hoses. The exhaust system was modified with an Arrow catalytic converter delete and a Wings muffler, and a Rapid Bike Evo Tuner was added to ensure optimal performance.
With the Aurora package fitted, Eric equipped the nav tower with a Thork Racing T665 navigation device and an Oxbow Gear radio. A Barracuda tail tidy and Mosko Moto soft panniers were selected to finish off the tail end of the Norden. A bunch of parts were then sent off to Creekside Customs for fresh powder-coating, while Eric designed new graphics to complete the build.
“The goal was to pay tribute to Husqvarna’s original design language,” he says. “Subtle details, like retaining the factory placement of the ‘H’ logo, were intentional. I wanted the bike to feel familiar, as if this version could have rolled out of the factory.”
“The seat is fully custom, though most people don’t notice it at first glance, and that was exactly the goal. I wanted something that blended seamlessly with the bike. I worked with Rich’s Custom Seat in Washington State, bringing them the rolling chassis and asking if they were willing to take on a more involved project than a typical seat recover.”
“The seat pan was modified to follow the narrow subframe, the foam reshaped, and a one-off cover created. The result is a seat that fits the bike perfectly and matches the manufacturer’s styling.”
“When doing a custom build, I believe it’s important to respect the original design intent of the manufacturer. It’s easy to go too far, but when everything comes together correctly, the bike still feels cohesive.”
“You know you’ve done something right when the manufacturer recognizes the build on their official channels. Having Husqvarna share this bike was a huge win, and a testament to everyone involved in making it possible.”
Eric Minsker Instagram | Images by Trail Squatch
