KTM’s new 790 Adventure R is ready to rule off-road
KTM’s new 790 Adventure and Adventure R could be two of the most capable off-roaders ever
After months of teasers, prototypes and spy shots, KTM have finally unveiled the much-anticipated 790 Adventure and Adventure R; two long-distance travel enduros with the potential to turn the mid-sized adventure market upside-down. KTM say their target for the new bike was to create a machine that was truly capable off-road, without the intimidation factor of their 160bhp Super Adventures and on the face of things, that’s exactly what they’ve done. Sharing the same 799cc parallel twin as the 790 Duke, albeit with a retune for more midrange, the 790 Adventure produces just shy of 94bhp. Enough to haul you around quickly but not enough to terrify. The chassis is all-new and, once again, accessibility is key. Without the big rear cylinder of a V-twin, KTM have been able to make the chassis slim and low without compromising ground clearance. The result is a reasonable 830mm seat height, which will be music to the ears of sub-six-foot adventure riders. The shape of the 790’s fuel tank has been cleverly designed, as well. Not only does it have a capacity of 20 litres of fuel (giving around a 300-mile range) it also holds the fuel low down making the bike easier to handle.
The 790 Adventure is also packed with the latest electronics and safety-aids. As standard it comes with three riding modes (Street, Off-Road and Rain) with an optional Rally mode. It also has cornering ABS, off-road ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, off-road traction control and a TFT dash that can be paired with KTM’s MyRide app. There’s also the option of adding a quickshifter, heated grips and seat and cruise control.
Then for the really ambitious there’s the R model. This takes offroad performance up a level with suspension that is 30mm longer as well as a one-piece seat, a smaller screen, Rally mode as standard and off-road style tyres. One obvious downside is a higher seat height but all the accessories are interchangeable so you can pick and choose what you’d like. Prices and availability are not yet known while the arrival of the new model also means that KTM will be dropping the 1090 Adventure from their European range (although the R model will remain).