KTM 790 Adventure launched at EICMA
KTM chose the EICMA motorcycle show to reveal production models of not one but two production versions of their new KTM 790 Adventure. The new bikes join an already strong line up in KTM’s adventure bike model line up, and with the brands unrivalled off-road racing heritage, the bike is certain to prove popular.
The 790 Adventure has taken almost as long to reach production as it’s most obvious adventure rival, the Yamaha T7 Tenere which was also launched at the same show in Milan this week. But KTM went one better by releasing not only the standard 790 but also the altogether more off-road biased 790 R
Both bikes feature what KTM state is the ‘most compact performance engine on the market’ – the twin cylinder, 8 valve DOHC LC8 motor with balance shaft that is already in use in the 790 Duke. The lump puts out an impressive 95 horsepower, vastly more than the Yamaha – through a six-speed box.
The KTM’s frame is conventional chromoly steel as used on many of the company’s hugely successful off-road machine, but this time the motor becomes a stressed member to reduce weight and keep the dimensions small and light.
There’s a trellis subframe at the rear of the bike, with a die cast open lattice swingarm to offer the best compromise between stiffness and flex.
Stripped of the bodywork, the bikes reveal planty of lateral thinking from the KTM engineers, from the under-seat mounted air filter to the incredible 20 fuel tank that straddles both sides of the the machine and should offer a staggering 450km of adventure straight off the bat.
VITAL STATISTICS
OK so the biggest question about the new bike is the weight – can the new KTM break the sub 200 KG barrier that adventure bikes seem unable to crack? Well yes and no – dry weight is quoted at 189 kg, but as you can’t run a bike without coolant, oil and fuel then adding those will take the bike the other side of 200 kg – probably matching the T7s 205 kg. Good – but cigar ….
The stock 790 has 200 mm suspension travel at both ends, while the R version gets an additional 40 mm at 240mm front and rear, using 43mm WP USD forks and a single WP shock at the rear without linkage.
Both bikes have the same twin discs at 320 mm with radially mounted four pot calipers up front and a single 260 mm at the rear gripped by a twin pot caliper. Ground clearance is 263 mm on the off road model with seat height at 880 mm, where as things are a bit lower on the stock version at 233 mm clearance and an 850 mm seat height.
The 790 has a two piece seat that is heigh adjustable, bit the R version gets a one peice unit to make movement up and down the seat easier when off road. The standard 790 seat will however fit the 790 R.
The bikes have different screens too, with the road going option having a taller clear unit, whereas the off-road R gets a shorty tinted screen, but again the parts are interchangeable.LED lights are used for the headlight, tail light and indicators
THe 790 uses an off-road friendly mix of a 21 inch front and 18 inch rear wheel – both spoked , with the R version getting Metzeller Karoo tyres and the stock version gets Avon Trailriders.
Both bikes get a 5″ TFT light sensitive dashboards, with selectable information displays and riding modes. Both models have traction control, cornering ABS and off-road riding modes, whereas the 790 R gets off-road ABS and Rally mode. The rev counter even blinks politely when it’s time to shift.
There are aftermarket options of cruise control and a quickshifter system for the both 790s and of course, you can link the bike into the KTM My Ride App on your smart phone. Like you always wanted to, right?
With the 790 only just released, then details of price and availability are still yet to be confirmed, but wit stiff copmpetition from both the new Yamaha T7, the fast selling Honda Africa Twin and BMWs new F800 GS then the KTM is going to have find it’s space in a very busy marketplace …