KTM 790 Adventure R

2021-11-22 by Andrew Holmes

So as I mentioned in my last post I've treated myself to a brand new* KTM 790 Adventure R. I haven't really done much with it yet, partly because I haven't had it that long (about 6 months) and partly because it is so well set up out of the box. Modifications I've done so far are limited to luggage (I went with the excellent Bumot luggage and racks) and a GPS mount above the dash. I've still got some things I want to add such as a more robust bash plate, a crap flap (to stop crud being sprayed all over the headers), maybe new levers (though the stock ones aren't bad) and I'd love to buy the rally tower from Rade Garage (because if I'm honest, the KTM isn't the best looking bike in the class).

Otherwise there isn't a lot it's missing out of the box - it doesn't require crash guards due to the design of the fuel pods being down low which protect the engine and body work (and give it amazing agility and a feeling of being 30kg lighter than it is), the motor, though quiet, has a nice growl to it from the stock exhaust and I really like all the small details scattered around the bike (the tool storage in the side plastics, the fact that the New Zealand bikes get a set of reusable foam filters from Unifilter, the amazing LED headlight, the awesome quickshifter...). It handles really well for a bike with a 21" front wheel - like a sports bike at the speeds we're allowed to ride here in New Zealand on tarmac and super stable when barreling down a gravel road. It's even pretty manageable in sand considering it's up over 200kg fuelled.

It's not all roses - the build quality isn't up there with the likes of the Japanese (I don't mean things like welds and cable routing, more things like condensation in the dash, small niggles like the rear brake light switch being dead on arrival for my bike, sometimes stalls after starting from cold) but the good far outweighs the bad and I'm sure with proper maintenance it will give me years of fun - it's an awesome bike and I can't wait to get a few more kilometers under the tyres!

* Yeah, I bought brand new after saying I'd never do that again, or at least not for a while. You see I bought my Moto Guzzi brand new in 2015, then ended up selling it under three years later in 2017 and losing a ton of money in the process (my fault really, you shouldn't sell vehicles that quickly if you can help it). My bikes up until that point had all been second hand and it's hard to argue with the value proposition that brings, and I've had over 4 years of great motoring out of my Buell at a fraction of the cost a new bike would have set me back. But there aren't many 790 Adventures (or Tenere 700s) out there second hand yet and the dealer did me a great deal due to wanting the 790 gone to create space for the 890, so I went with it in the end. Hopefully this is a bike I'll keep for years to come so I can get maximum value and fun from it!