So,what’sthereallyextremeonelike?
KTM 790 Adventure R
KTM also offers an R version, designed for more extreme
off-road use. It uses the same engine, chassis, gearing,
clocks, tank and bodywork but 100mm more suspension
travel, a taller seat, a shorter (but still adjustable) screen
and a tall, motocross-style mudguard. Rally mode allows
the traction control to be tailored for different surfaces.
I sampled the R at KTM’s Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike
Experience, and its abilities allow an off-road novice like
me to brim with confidence, but at the same time allow
dude-ish off-road experts to do unspeakable things with it.
Like the stocker, the key is perfect balance, meaning the
R feels much lighter than its real 210-odd kilos and an
engine that works as well at 2,000rpm as at 10,000rpm.
The suspension means you can hit obstacles hard and
tackle rocky ascents. If you’re planning some serious
green-laning, its worth the £900 premium. MATT WILDEE
le ssthanBMW’sF850GS Sport or Honda’s
AfricaTwin.So it’s slightly surprising to
discoverthattheKTM’s steering is a little
onthecautiousside. For a light bike from a
firmfamedforits aggression, the 790
Adventureneedsmore input than expected
togetit intoa turn — perhaps a mix of its
ground-hugginggeometry combined with
thatbig frontwheel. Stable at lean though,
andperfectlyprecise with it.
Themotoris a joy. Blipping the throttle
revealsa quick-revving, slightly coarse
characterwitha sense of hollow internals.
Butany excesseagerness is well-managed
atlowrevs,power building smoothly into
a crisp,urgent,rapid-fire delivery right
throughto its 9800rpm redline. Thereare
noholesorgapsin the power curve, loads
ofdrivealwayson offer irrespective ofgear,
andthetwo-wayquickshifter is one ofthe
smoothestandlightest I’ve ever used ona
ro adbike. There’sproper pace just gagging
tobe unleashed— so much that you can tell
thetractioncontrol is holding it back even
justacceleratingthrough second gear.
Suspensionis firm and mostly well-
damped,withnoskyscraper see-saw
pitching.Tyresare Melksham-madeAvon
Tr ailriders,which prove quiet and grippy.
Thedeep-treaded pattern is mostly there
fo r looksthough— it’s a road tyre withlittle
dirtperformance.The biggest let-downis
thebrakes.Four-piston front calipers,made
byBrembo’sIndian subsidiary ByBre,lack
initialbite andneed a determined squeeze.
Thereare somewell-considered touches
th atcanonly have come from the mindof
devotedriders. Air intakes are hidden away
highup underthe pillion seat, to stop it
suckinginwaterwhen crossing a deep
river.Thechain-guard has a small toothed
sectionto hangthe chain on when you’re
removingtherearwheel. The gear pedal
has a flip-uptipin case you drop thebike.
Butthereare several less-impressive
details too. The screen is adjustable, but
only between two positions, and onlyif you
st op, get off, take out a T27 Torx key and
undoandrelocatea bolt.Wanta practical
centrestand?Sorry,KTMhasn’tmadeone.
Want heatedgrips?Thenyourhandlebar
will be blighted with a small black plastic
box, that looks like it’s been pulled fromthe
skip that the bargain bin of a poundshop
gets emptied into. It’s not in keepingwith
an 11-grand machine.
SPECKTM 790 ADVENTURE
Price£11,099(£11,796.76astested)Engine799cc
parallel twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 94bhp @ 8000rpm
Torque 65lb·ft @ 6600rpm Transmission 6-speed,
chain Frame tubular-steel trellis Front suspension
43mm forks, 200mm travel, no adjustment Rear
suspension monoshock, 200mm travel, adjustable
preload Front brakes 320mm discs, 4-piston
calipers Rear brake 260mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Front tyre 90/90-21 Rear tyre 150/70-18
Wheelbase 1509mm Rake/trail 25.9°/107.8mm
Seat height 830/850mm Kerb weight 214kg
(measured) Fuel capacity 20 litres
Or, indeed, more. While the starting price
is £11,099, this bike’s quickshifter is a
£349.28 extra, the heated grips £174.24
(really) and the Rally pack (which adds a
fourth riding mode) another £174.24. That’s
£700 of extras — and if you want cruise
control, that’s a further £295.98.
Turning off tarmac and thunking down an
easy byway the 790 Adventure proves nicely
balanced and confidence-inspiring. Its lack
of height and weight makes it so much
more manageable than any GS or Tiger. I’d
like higher handlebars, grippier footpegs
and a smidge more shock damping to
control the way it rebounds out of the
deeper holes and dips, but dedicated dirt
riders will skip straight over this base bike
and head for the R model, with its ultra-
premium suspension.
The 790’s USP is its modest size, which is
both a blessing and a curse. It makes it less
imposing, more welcoming and (in the right
hands) more dynamic but when it comes to
long-range touring, it also lacks the
presence, the protection and the
reassuringly substantial tank-like vibe
of a big GS or Tiger. This is not the best
adventure bike ever, but it’s definitely a
different kind of adventure bike to what
everyone else currently offers. Whether
you’ll enjoy a different kind of adventure
on it remains entirely down to you...
On-road handling
is stable, but not
quite as frantic
as expected
NEW BIKES
24 | JULY 2019
‘There’s proper pace
here just gagging to
be unleashed’
