Is the KTM 790/890 ADVENTURE R the BEST Mid-Sized ADV Bike? 18 Month Ownership, Issues + MODS!
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- I have owned my 2019 KTM 790 ADVENTURE R for 18 months and it has been a wild ride with this adventure bike. The KTM 790/890 Adventure is renowned for its unparalleled off-road performance in the mid-sized adv bike space. Other bikes like the Yamaha Tenere 700, BMW F850GS and the Tiger Triumph 900 all offer great unique characteristics and features - but none can stand up to the KTM's balanced, lightweight chassis, class leading suspension and feature rich electronics package. In this video I discuss my 18 months of ownership with the KTM 790 ADVENTURE R, the issues faced with this motorcycle and modifications I have made to make it my own. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
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Hey there and welcome to the channel! My name is Michael Munroe, I love motorcycles and the adventures taken on them. If you want to build your skills in adventure motorcycle riding, develop your confidence riding offroad and keep up to date with new bike releases - hit the subscribe button and tell your mates! Let me know what you're riding in the comments below!
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Thinking about a KTM 790/890 Adventure? Leave your questions in the comments below! 🦅🤘
did you de-cat it ?? Rotty intake or parts ?? hi $ stuff but totally transformed my 1090
@@justsomedude445 Rottweiler intake is next on my list, might do a decay at the same time but not sure. Intake seems like a must though with added protection with the better filter as well as the performance gains.
@@TheMotoBarista intake stage 3 + cat and smog cannister delete with the fuel dongles that came with it completely transformed the 1090r making it run FAR better and FAR cooler than the factory set up
@@justsomedude445 I have no doubt. Bikes are so clogged up from factory these days with all the regulations. So much power, efficiency and engine health to be unlocked.
I have a little bit of a similar feeling towards my 890 Adv R with the exception of I love riding it on long trips including highway miles. Mine came with a Rally front fairing/headlight system already on it. I would not have put this on her if it didn't already come on it due to how expensive it is. I don't have any experience with the OEM set up, but I am happy with it. I have ridden halfway across the country and back on a KTM 690 SMC so this bike is just that much better for that. I like a bit of wind to get to me to help keep me cooler in the hotter weather and with the proper gear, I have been relatively comfortable at 31 degrees F on both the 690 and 890. For me, this is the best bike I have ever owned. It does everything very well from highway miles to city miles, and then the best place for her is off road miles. I bought her with 1180 miles on it and now have 12,163 miles. Just shy of 11,000 miles in about 9 months and still completely happy with it is a statement. With that being said, I have ridden a friends Goldwing on a long trip and I much preferred my R1200GSA as far as comfort due to seating position and style, and I feel that I would rather ride the 890 Adv R on a cross the country trip as opposed to the Goldwing or even my GSA. It is that comfortable for me and I know I can ride like a fool if a dirt road calls my name on the 890. I have taken the Goldwing on some very light dirt roads to get to a friend's place and have taken the GSA off road, but noting like the 890 has done. I have only had one issue since I have owned it and I think the bigger issue with that problem was not that it had a problem but that the dealer could not fix it. I bought an adapter cable to allow me to connect my OBD2 reader to her and within an hour and a half from the time I removed the seat to connect the reader to fixing the problem, and putting the seat back on. The dealer had my bike for 2 weeks. Sadly, I think this happens with almost all makes. I would say if you are handy and love off road riding, this is the best bike out there. She isn't as smooth as other bikes on the street due to stiffer suspension, but for the benefits off road, I don't mind. Everybody is different and has different tastes. That is what makes the world go around. Just my opinion and preference. Maybe it will help someone who is on the fence one way or the other. For those that think the adv R is too hard edged and the Adv isn't quite there, from my research, it sounds like the Norden 901 (KTM is Husky) sits right about between them, and looks sexy too;-)
The best review I've heard on the 790: eloquent & informative. And honest. I have mainly been a rider of tar roads most of my life. About 9 or 10 months ago, I discovered the joys of riding dirt roads, & traded my old faithful KTM 1190 for the 790, & am also loving it. Thanks for a great review
Great review. Your videos are fantastic.
Very good review, can't agree more. I got my 790 R for one year now, and I love it.
It's also nice to see a person of my age on yt that owns this bike and likes to ride it hard ( no offense fellow adventurers 😁). Keep the right side up Barista 🤙
Absolutely agree what KTM got right with the 890 is unbelievable 👌🏻👊🏻
Yehhh 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Great job man. I’ve had my 790 R almost 2 years now. I feel most people bash the street capabilities of the bike. Obviously if you’re riding on a major highway for hours on end you’re going to take in some wind. But back roads and twistys are fun as hell. Then when you hit the off road in rally mode it’s an absolute beast. Feels like I got 2 bikes for the price of one. Stay safe and have fun!!!!!
Just got back from a 3 day moto camping trip with some mates riding Harley’s, so mainly highway and country roads. Bike handled great with a wind spoiler added to it.
Had a morning riding alone along some back country gravel roads - was epic.
Fantastic review mate, well done
Thanks mate! Appreciate the kind words 🙏
Thank you very much for the info. I ordered a 23 890 and impatiently waiting. I have an exc-f 350 so just want a big brother to that. Pretty sure I made the right choice based on what you said
Yes l would agree that the 890 r is the best big off roader money can buy at this time, l had the BMW 1250 gs rally nice road touring bike to big off road imo, also had the Africa twin just cant compare with the KTM its the most fun off road bike l have ever owned ,off road it really blows the rest away , had no problems at all with the bike, that's not to say l have not looked after the bike l go over the bike after ever ride and make sure its in top condition, the mosko rackless bags great quality yet to do the first camp out on this bike looking forward to that
Bike looks very cool, love the black.
Well spoken review. Great that you spoke about KTM reliability. Often a throwaway line from non owners . I own 2 1290 and a 950se with nil problems and have never let me down. Also love my Mosko moto reckless 80 bags . Good suspension and tyres make all the difference. Keep up the great content. Cheers Jack
Yeh, it’s a cheap shot at a relatively non issue these days. All manufacturers have their issues.
Currently running Motoz Tyres which have been great for grip and lifespan - thinking about trying Mitas for the next set though 🤷♂️
@@TheMotoBarista
Fitted Mitas E-12 Rally star to the rear and C-12 cross & Enduro to the front on this years KTM Rally on my 950se and found them excellent. Previously ran motoz , wasn’t happy with them .
@@jackdaniels4888 will definitely look into the Mitas options. Always hear great things.
Just bought an 890 adv r this spring. I've owned XL 650's, a BMW Dakar 650, and an F800GS. The 890 is the s**t!
The only advice i could give to you on this KTM ownership is to not wait to the 15.000km mark to replace oil, i do it at 10.000km, and use an zppd or ester additive for motorcycles with wet clutches, this will help a lot with the valve train because this bikes are noticiable for destroying cam shafts... my idea is to get to 30.000km before the warranty spires so i still have one year of warranty and i haver 20.000km on mine without any issues at all... just efortless everyday riding ownership... on the last 380 days of ownership, this bike has been used for at least 360 days of them...
That’s awesome to hear dude! Yeh I change oil every 7-8000km too. Amazing bikes when you look after them!
Great content, awesome bike setup! Btw did you remove cat? And do you recommend it? Thanks!
Thanks mate! I haven’t removed my cat yet - but I am thinking about a cat delete and a Rottweiler Intake system for this bike. Not sure if I need it though, it depends on how you ride the bike - if you want every bit of power possible then could be a great option - I’m still deciding.
It could also be great to help the engine breathe better, have a better fuel/air ratio and keep the operating temperatures lower.
@@TheMotoBarista thanks for the input mate!
With regards to your comment on the 790 vs 890 adventure gearing, the 890 it's still a bit too high for lugging low offroad. The first thing I noticed on my 890 Adventure is that it rolls at idle in 1st gear much quicker than other adventure bikes ive had. Atleast 8 or 9 mph (13-14kph) at idle and 1st has a lot of runout. Considering adding a few teeth myself for those more technical trail situations.
Suppose to be,designed for off road man.
What if you put Warp9 supermoto wheel set? ;)
I think there is another aspect to the question if you should buy one. I did test rides on almost any middleweight Adventure Bike ... in fact ... I don't know which I could have missed out. What really comes into my mind when I think of my rides ... first on the 790 and secondly on the 890 R ... is how encouraging this bike is for completely unexperienced offroad riders like me. Damn ... normally I would never leave the road on a test ride with a bike that I don't know or own but the 890 Adv R made me doing it and it felt almost like riding a Mountainbike. I would say that the 790/890 has the potential to inspire or encourage riders without any offroad experience to explore the world a little bit more. That's actually why I struggle so much ... I love the Africa Twin but it's much more intimidating to me as the 890 when it comes to offroad. On the other hand is the AT the overall better bike for most of my other needs. Damn ... such a hard decision :(
That’s a great point, the chassis, low centre of gravity and low/open cockpit makes it feel like a big dirt bike. The other bikes have tall fuel tanks and lots of weight up heigh - which is very distracting and intimidating for off-road - it does make them a bit more comfortable for long distance road riding though.
@@TheMotoBarista Normally I would say: "The trend is to have two motorcycles." but that's not an option ... unfortunately :D
I had a honda transalp 600 and i really liked it...now im not sure if i go to the 790 r or 890 r, what would u recommend??really not sure what to chose...i actually like being off road but would do some street to.
They are essentially the same bike with some power/ low end difference. Biggest factor will be budget and availability.
Great review, and totally agreed!!! My only regret buying my 2019 790 Adventure "S"... was/is not buying the R. I did the opposite of most and UNDERestimated my off-road abilities. Had a blast on the mountain twisties Halloween day though, catching up with the local sportbikers on Tail of the Dragon(318 curves in 11 miles). All while I was shredding a TKC80 knobby on the rear with the Autumn foliage dropping! ^_^
Nice! It’s pretty amazing how good these bikes are on the road too - a few times I have taken mine through the twisted I can believe how well it sticks in the corners and holds the line.
@@TheMotoBarista, it certainly is impressive. I made a new friend that day following me on his MT10(160hp) and being local, yet he still couldn't keep up with me in the curves making a chase video, lol. It's one of the more recent videos on my channel if you care to check it out, "Knobbies + Fall Foliage." XD
@@RollinwithRoland nice, I’ll be sure to check it out 🤘
@@TheMotoBarista, awesome brother!!! Good riding to you both, looking forward to more of your wicked content. ^_^
Mod your S suspensions, replace rear, revalve and resprung front, you will be amazed with the result for low money... i spent like 600 euros in total and the result is AMAZING.
Hi. You mention 9 possible setting for traction control in the Rally Mode, but it's from 1 to 7. Am I wrong somewere ?
It’s from 1-9 in rally mode 👍
@@TheMotoBarista you're right ! It's on 7 by default, but out of 9.
Thinking of possibly selling my dirtbike and mt09 and have one bike. I'd like to do adventure/touring riding but ride mostly road and commuting to work. What do you suggest?
I reckon I would choose between the Tiger 900 Rally Pro and the Husqvarna Norden 901. Both I think are the best all rounder bikes in the midsized class.
I ended up getting a 690 instead of 890 as I really prefer the dirt and wanted a lighter bike than 200 kg 890. Have you tried a 690? Do you find the 790 heavy in the dirt? Cheers
I haven’t tried it but I have thought about one before - I would want a rally tower and extra fuel though so thought the 790 was best choice for me.
The bike is heavy when riding slow and technical terrain and in sand, otherwise the weight disappears when you ride with a good flow.
mosko stuff is tippy tops quality gear for certain
Never seen it in person before I bought it as not many people seem to have it here in Western Australia, so when I finally got it I was really blown away.
Would love one of these, only the issue in the UK is the dealer network, they treat you like shit not a customer shame really
Mate that is a shame. Over here near me, KTM is great but have had awful experiences with other brand dealers. It’s a make or break a lot of the time too.
I’m a GSA owner. I don’t get people who buy this bike and don’t take it off-road. For me, it’s too slow on-road and I’d prefer numerous other bikes on-road, including my K1600. However, I also only take my GSA on-road to get to dirt or do the grocery shopping. People think I’m crazy for taking a $30k bike off-road. I don’t get it. I crashed it in a creek in less than a month of getting it, and it was fine. Isn’t this what it’s for? I’ll own a KTM SAR at some point. Such a cool bike.
Nice one, bikes are built to ridden not kept pretty in a garage 💪💪💪
@@TheMotoBarista Superbikes are pretty, not ADV bikes. Crash those feckers. I have a 600cc track bike I’m willing to crash and write off, but I have a $30k Ducati I want to keep pretty and only take a couple laps on the track and keep as my baby. I think that’s understandable, but a bike that’s big and ugly with CRASH bars? WTF?
ive owned 5 ktm's and the only one i had issues with is the most recent one and how much of that is to blame on the incompetent local dealers service department and how much is to blame on the bike i dont know , unfortunately i live in a small ish town and the closest seemingly competent service department is 2.5-3hours away over 2 mountain passes...... if it wasnt for this id already have traded my '17 1090r for a 790r or 890r..... i did watch your vid on the 901 and may consider that
Yeh I think the issues around certain brands are often blown out of proportion- but issues surrounding dealer experience and service is certainly a real problem! Lucky we have a couple of good KTM dealers near me, can’t say the same about other brands though.
@@TheMotoBarista i couldnt agree more ! , the only other dealer in my town gets good reviews and the same family has owned it for 30 years they have been a Honda Suzuki store that time but picked up Husky about a year ago so if i stick with the brand ive loved for decades already it'll be that 901 , your review on it was good
@@justsomedude445 man, good dealership experiences are so important - it will actually make me want to swap brand. Glad you enjoyed the video - that Norden 901 looks sick, would be perfect to travel around Australia or even ship over to New Zealand to go explore. Interesting to see if KTM add an adventure line under the Gas Gas brand next 🤯
@@TheMotoBarista extremely important nowadays , 20+ years ago i bought simpler bikes and did my own work but todays bikes are super complex and i work so much i just dont care to DIY anymore
You could invest in some tools and training and service it yourself, no? My wife was such a bitch about driving me to/from the dealership I invested and it’s not only paid for itself, although tools/tire changers/lifts/etc. expensive, it paid for itself and I had better quality work done too. You could even benefit from doing your own work and not having a bitch wife too possibly! 😉
I had the Tiger 900 RP for 6 months and did 75% off-road. Didn’t want to do long trips where I had to spend a few hours on motorways or at high speeds to get to new off-road trails because of comfort. Sold it, bought a GSA, and it’s easier to pick up, crashes better with less damage, and is so much more comfy. I’m thinking for the daily weekend dirt rides I get a proper old school dual sport or an Aprilia Toureg, it honestly, after a lot of training, I feel like I can do everything I want to tackle now with the GSA. The KTM Adventure 890R seems so cool, but it will kinda suck on long rides (8-12 hour days) and for the weekend 6-8 hour days most;y off-road, it doesn’t seem ideal, albeit better than the GSA. It’s hard.
I’m thinking about going similar route to you. 690 enduro for weekend trail riding and something big and comfy for my moto camping and travel!
@@TheMotoBarista big and comfy, and at 250lbs, I can still get air without bottoming out (okay it’s new 😉). I adore KTM’s though.
Why don’t you mention all reliability issues?
Because I haven’t had any. I think they are blown out of proportion online.
Did you find out why your father's KTM stopped on your adventure ride?
Yep, the KTM gas tank is split in half (left and right), the fuel valve which is hidden behind the bashplate on one of the sides was closed. It should have been opened during dealer unboxing and inspection but wasn’t. Turns out it is a common issue!
@@TheMotoBarista cheers thanks mate a simple fix no fault of the bike which is good but bad dealer delivery,keep up the great work mate
I have a 2019 kTm 790 (s) no serious problems so far, but 4 that are totally starting to piss me off though....
1: takes 5-10 tries to start. A 2019 fuel injection bike should NOT be doing this.
2: having a terrible time trying to find a better street based touring seat. I've bought the seat concepts comfort seat but too narrow seems to be off road (r) bias. And I wasted 600 bucks on a Corbin 2up touring seat(complete waste of money) I bought the (s) because I ride mostly on road n would love to have a better seat for long distance road travel.
3. No matter what I try can't just get 100% comfortable in the handlebar position.
4. The wind protection is horrible. I have found a fix for this. I am 6'2 I bought rade garage windshield. All I can say is perfect now.
I love my kTm but this start issue has me thinking about trading it in. Sucks cause I do love the electrics, suspension,motor, and how lightweight this bike is.
I feel for you on some of those issues. I had the cold start issue for a while but lately haven’t had that issue, maybe because it is getting warmer here.
Not sure about what comfort seat to recommend, I would have thought the Seat Concepts Comfort would have been the best choice. I use the KTM Rally Seat but it is tall and narrow.
Handlebar position is very personal, I would think with mainly road riding the stock would be fine? Maybe just need to play around with mounting position and angle? I am very very fussy with handlebars and might even change mine again in the future. But found that adjusting mounting position and angle I could find a sweet spot.
Otherwise, could always trade in for a Husqvarna Norden 901!? Same platform that you love but seems to have better comfort and wind protection.
@@TheMotoBarista thanks for the reply. Great video BTW
Try checking valve clearances
1090R .....
I went from a 1090R to a Tenere 700. Huge disappointment! Sold that and just picked up a 2022 890R. This bike is awesome!!! It may just be my unicorn.
@@RideMoreNow nice,yea T7 are shit less you throw 10 at it on top actually bring to spec and looks.