KTM 790ADV R

[PRZJOHN]

My order is placed.

https://www.ktm.com/us/travel/790-adventure-r/

[Tony]

Been reading about it. Looks to be a great bike.

[check1]

John, Have you seen one in person? Are they somewhat smaller than the 1190s?

[Dan]

https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/03/artic ... re-review/


Page 79 is a write up

[Gargoyle]

WP announced they have cone valves specifically made for the 790R as well!

[PRZJOHN]

Tim and I picked up our new 790s and did a 100 + mile day of dirt and tar this weekend. This bike is a game changer. I am thoroughly impressed with the light weight feeling, the power, and the handling. I love my 990 but this bike makes that one feel like you're riding a Sportster, it's that much better. It feels much more like a dirt bike. Where the 990 and the 1190 I use to own have a planted front end feeling to them this bike's front end feels light like a dirt bike. I assume much of the way it feels and handles is because of the low fuel tanks and lower CG. I only have that one short ride on it but expect to feel even better on this bike once some real trip mileage gets logged. I can see the whole ADV Bike market changing. This bike has all the power you need to cruise at 80 on the highway and then jump into the woods. I just don't see a reason anymore for having 1200-1300 CC Behemoths for ADV riding after this bike. There will always be a market for the GS bikes that never see off road but if you go off road regularly this bike can't be beat. It will be interesting to see how the Tenere stacks up as it looks like the only bike coming out that will be similar, trouble is that bike is far out as of now. Will update as more miles go by.




At The Vanilla Bean Cafe. Use to be you never saw another KTM out on the road. This past Saturday there 5 of them in the parking lot counting us.



Tim back at my house at the end of the day. Tim suffered a stroke almost a year ago and this was his first time back on a bike. He did great and no problems, good to have you back Tim.

[Rocketman]

So cool. I saw my first one 2 weeks ago at a suspension shop. The guy was having his lowered

[Gargoyle]

Picking mine up on Saturday!

[Deano]

John...you need a pic with Joe in the mix with the non "R" model for comparison. Looking good guys!!!

[hub98]

Those bikes are awesome looking. Congrats! There may have to be one in my near future. Sounds like it is much more nimble than the bigger boys. How is it compared to say the 690?

[oldschool]

I couldn't even stand having a 790 sitting in my driveway. The 'styling' to my eye is just awful. They've taken the GS beak thing and added a Playschool touch. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I'm sure some out there just love it.
It has been interesting on the ADV forums watching all the threads form regarding their quest for the 'next best thing'.

Of course ADV bikes are different things to different riders. If serious off road work is planned I don't want to be on anything over 300 pounds and under 250 is even better. Nor would I be cruising at 80mph on my way there. I avoid the Interstate like the plague. All compromise is just that. Now for going out on rural backroad rides of both broken blacktop and sand/gravel surfaces with some forest roads and cart paths thrown in, that is my ADV bike sweet spot. And my KTM 950 ADV works just right for that role for me.(And I like the way it looks too!)

We have ADV bikes, Dual-sports and dirt bikes each with their own mission.

We'll see how things shake out for the 790 in 15 years time...

[check1]

I could at least touch the ground on the non-R. So John, when can I take a test ride???

[PRZJOHN]

oldschool wrote:

I couldn't even stand having a 790 sitting in my driveway. The 'styling' to my eye is just awful. They've taken the GS beak thing and added a Playschool touch. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I'm sure some out there just love it.
It has been interesting on the ADV forums watching all the threads form regarding their quest for the 'next best thing'.

Of course ADV bikes are different things to different riders. If serious off road work is planned I don't want to be on anything over 300 pounds and under 250 is even better. Nor would I be cruising at 80mph on my way there. I avoid the Interstate like the plague. All compromise is just that. Now for going out on rural backroad rides of both broken blacktop and sand/gravel surfaces with some forest roads and cart paths thrown in, that is my ADV bike sweet spot. And my KTM 950 ADV works just right for that role for me.(And I like the way it looks too!)

We have ADV bikes, Dual-sports and dirt bikes each with their own mission.

We'll see how things shake out for the 790 in 15 years time...

I have never cared much about looks, just take a look at the guys I ride with.

I have an 08 990 with 30,000 miles on it with a fair amount off road and can tell you hands down this bike is far better at ADV riding, period.

In our group, we are not dual sporting or enduro riding, been there done that. This is ADV riding and we need to travel 6-8 hours to get to where we are going to be starting our off road stuff sometimes, and sometimes that takes a couple of days to get there. And then, sometimes we are on a trek through Canada on and off road for a week, and we got nuthin on the real tourers. It is ADV riding, so when the comparison comes up about weight and size, please understand, this ain't our first Goat Roping, we got dirt bikes. We been around dirt bikes all our lives.

For ADV riding we also need to bring our dirty laundry back home so storage is important and the bags are nice for that. For our trips you need a bike that can easily cruise 80 MPH on the highway, because, well, we got things to do, places to go, and beers to drink.

All riding is good in my book.

[PRZJOHN]

check1 wrote:

I could at least touch the ground on the non-R. So John, when can I take a test ride???

Anytime Jeff. I'll let you know when we take another after work ride.

[Chippertheripper]

I have one too. Yup, that hooked beak is gross, and the styling is a bit busy for me, but it’s easily the most off-road capable big bike ever made. I’ve been commuting, dual sporting it, and generally mucking around in the woods with it, and it’s astonishingly capable.
It’s way better than my previous 990 in every way, except MAYBE straight up torque off the bottom, but my clutch finger and wrist have already figured that out in a way that’s become second nature.

[MikeDi]

Congrats! the bikes looks awesome!
Kevin, I haven't ridden any of the larger ADV bikes but own a 690.
They are for different purposes for sure. The 790 seems like it's closer to the 990 or 1100 in terms of long distance travel at highway speeds.
Like John said, 5-8 hours of travel time with luggage, would be the ADV class.
The 690 on the other hand can pretty much do what a KTM500 EXC can do but is much more comfortable on roads and can do 60 on the highway. I'm not a road guy so to me i feel that at 50 plus mph, the bike is uncomfortable.
Also, I have knobbies on mine which are fine as long as you don't try to stop real quick.
Everyone gravitates toward comparing bikes to how well they perform against a 250 on singletrack. I would take my 690 pretty much on any trail that I'd ride my 250 (but it's heavy and expensive to replace parts) . From what I can see the 790 and 690 are different classes of bikes for sure.

hub98 wrote:

Those bikes are awesome looking. Congrats! There may have to be one in my near future. Sounds like it is much more nimble than the bigger boys. How is it compared to say the 690?

[hub98]

Thanks Mike. Great info.

[300man]

I think Mike Lafferty was tearing up the woods at the Hammer Run on one of these. Reports were that he was flying on it.

[slojo]

I believe Ryan Bottesi rode his too on Sunday