790 Adv at Fowlers

[catcitrus]

dropped by my local KTM dealer this morning (G4)--they have quite a few 790 adventures in--standard and R. I swung my leg over the standard version and was quite surprised by the low(ish) seat height--being old and short--basically I could manage it quite well I think--as a road bike. The screen coverage and the sticky out fuel tank give good weather protection and the general layout seems clear and uncluttered and well thought out. Interesting non linkage shock arrangement--and a reasonable attempt at a mild off road underride protector. If I had the cash I would certainly like to try one. It seems that the modern philosophy is to charge (nearly 12k) what the market will stand--and if it doesn't sell then drop the price. The fuel tank is about 17 litres with most of it down below(good C of G)--and looks one piece--very like my old 640A. They have also packaged in a big collector box where the normal rising rate linkage would be--and that has meant that the rear muffler is not a great big piece of junk--again centralised and low C of G. I think it will be an excellent rival to the Africa twin--about the same price and power, but maybe lighter and better handling? My only worry is the sticky out petrol tank--protected from minor scuffs with a plastic cover. Apparently you can get a carbon version at 300 quid a set. If the covers are not too expensive then I might buy a set and do some carbon/kevlar add ons similar to those I do for the Honda CRF 250 rally--because whatever you add then you are relying on the underlying strength of the tank--and if you add crash bars it will be as wide as boxer!--carbon on its own has NO abrasion resistance to a slide down the road and needs kevlar underneath for that--but kevlar is yellow, or yellow-and doesn't look trick!

[Tim Cullis]

I test rode the 790 Adventure (non R) last month to confirm my order for the bike. Not keen on orange and 'my' white one will arrive in May. Some notes from the ride comparing it to my 690R...

Jason Jones at The KTM Centre in Hemel Hempstead had the 790 Adventure waiting with only 40 miles on the clock.  Trade plates were fitted as the ’19’ plates are only legal from tomorrow (1 March).

To differentiate the models I would have liked to refer to the non-R version of the 790 as the 790S but ’S’ is reserved in KTM nomenclature for alloy wheeled models.  So I will call it the 790B (basic).  

Looking at the paper specs, the 690 has a 910 mm high seat, the 790R has 880 mm and the 790B has 830-850 mm.  But this takes no account of the seat curvature and the reality is that the 790B with the seat in the low position feels almost the same height as my 690.  I have a 30-inch inseam and on the 790B am only touching the ground with the balls of my feet.   I suspect there will be a lot of potential 790R customers out there who will either move to the 790B or have to do some form of lowering

The extra 50 kg of weight over the 690 wasn’t particularly noticeable when moving the bike around and it felt lovely and light on the road, very balanced.  The bike is more than 20 kg lighter than both the Africa Twin and the BMW F850GS. The fuel tanks look rather bulbous in photos but when you are on the bike you don’t notice them.   Much of my riding in Morocco is at ‘bumbling along’ speeds and I often get 300 km range.  Similar riding with the 790 would allow a 470-km (290 mi) range which is really impressive.  

The first thing that will impress everyone is the TFT instrument panel which in addition to the usual rev counter, speedo, warning lights, also shows multiple trip odometers, ambient temperature, battery charge condition, fuel range, fuel consumption, ride mode, ABS mode, traction mode, and so on.  The various bike settings are controlled by a four-way handlebar switch.  Thanks to the intuitive software, when it started to rain, I was able to switch the ride mode from ‘street’ to ‘rain’ without even having to slow down.

The noise from the standard silencer is quite muted.  Riding the bike with ear plugs it was hardly noticeable.  I have a Wings exhaust on the 690 but this was fitted primarily because the standard 690 can/CAT runs so hot it melts plastic roll bags!  The 790 cat is under the engine and I would probably run the 790 with the standard exhaust.

I took the bike north on the M1 motorway seeing what it was like at high cruising speed.  The airflow over the windshield was fine and I rode for some time with my visor up.  The windshield is adjustable and could be lowered by maybe 25mm to ensure the helmet is in clean air.  Also the much lower R windshield could be fitted.  

The engine has ample power, feels more like 1000cc, pulls well from under 3000 revs in 4th, feels very happy at high revs.  The fueling is spot on, no hiccups in traffic, the engine is smooth with no vibration, and a constantly clear image in the rear view mirrors (vibration-induced mirror stem failure is common on the 690).

I meant to take note of the seat comfort but forgot to, which says something quite positive about it.  One major advantage of the 790 is that it can definitely take a pillion.  I have ridden the 690 with my wife on the back but it’s only viable for short distances, it’s cramped and one’s gonads are rather squashed.

Having ridden north for a while, by now I was well and truly lost so I thought I would use the bike’s simple navigation facility to route me back to The KTM Centre.   I had the 790R owners manual on my iPhone so I stopped to read this to check how to link my phone to the bike’s TFT screen.  First of all, I had to download KTM My Ride from the Apple App Store (£7.99).  I got it linked and then set up a route in the KTM app back to Jason, but couldn’t work out how to display the app on the TFT screen.  I was a bit exposed sitting by the side of the road, so I skipped that and used Apple Maps on my Watch instead which gives me coded haptic taps on the wrist to tell me to turn right or left.  

I took a twisty route back through the Chiltern hills.  By now the bike and I were firm friends and I was really enjoying myself.  I probably didn’t go over half throttle the whole journey but loved the way the bike reacted.

One unsung aspect I really like are the twin storage compartments either side of the bike, one holds the tool kit, the other could be used for tubeless repair kit and CO2 cartridges. There's another small storage under the pillion seat. 

I didn’t thing The KTM Centre would thank me for take the bike off-tarmac in the rain in what are 90-10 tyres (Avon Trailriders) but I did try standing on the pegs and everything felt good.  Yes, it’s not as light as the 690 but then I’m often off-tarmac on the 690 with 50+ kg of luggage and the 790 sans the luggage would be about the same. In any case I won't be doing much off-tarmac on this bike. The dealer will swap the Avon Trailriders for 50-50 Karoo 3 tyres at no charge.

What didn’t I like?  I thought the side stand foot should be bigger so it doesn’t sink into mud or sand.  I never understand why they are invariably so small.  I couldn’t think of anything else I didn’t like.   I would probably fit a louder horn and like the idea of fitting Barkbuster hand guards with built-in LED running lights so oncoming traffic in Morocco realises I’m not a moped.

Since riding the bike I've been following the reviews from the press launch in Morocco and the consensus seems to be that KTM has developed something really special that is in a class of its own.

[fozzy17]

[daveuprite]

"Free mug with every test ride"


I know it's expensive but that is impressively candid of KTM.

[Cone]

"Free mug with every test ride"


I know it's expensive but that is impressively candid of KTM.

I think that’s generous! Bmw would still have made you pay for it then handle would probably have fallen off!

[fozzy17]

"Free mug with every test ride"


I know it's expensive but that is impressively candid of KTM.

I think that’s generous! Bmw would still have made you pay for it then handle would probably have fallen off!

no the handle would be a extra option

[fozzy17]

i was told today those wanting a R model now will have to wait until 2020 unless they have already ordered one

[herman]

By which time they will be discounting £1500 off the launch price knowing KTM

[catcitrus]

The "modern" KTM philosophy on price is based on what the market will stand--they will only discount if it doesn't sell-makes sense. The seat height figures are realistic for me and I'm happy just to be able to touch down comfortably with one foot. I have had a good look at the standard plastic fuel tank protectors and plan to mould some "add ons" in carbon and kevlar which will stiffen things up considerably and also not only be sacrificial but provide decent abrasion resistance and an extra layer should you go sliding--I've ordered a set of the standard protectors as a basis for the design. I've been encouraged by the way a similar design has helped the sticky out side panels on the Honda CRF 250 Rally. I'll post when I have something that someone can try

[mark vb]

"Free mug with every test ride"


I know it's expensive but that is impressively candid of KTM.

Haha....maybe they're referring to the test pilots who will be bamboozled into buying one, and not a reference to the receptacle one uses for drinking tea!