Yes, I most certainly did, regarding KTM’s launch in Morocco held at the beginning of the year. Two reasons for that, I hate flying long distance and I was a bit scared to spend many days in the desert, and probably would have rewarded myself with a painful injury. Anyway, many months later and I finally had the chance to play with the new KTM 790 Adventure, so there.
Now I’m not the biggest fan of adventure bikes. Invariably they’re too big, too heavy and everyone wants one, so they’re a bit common and therefore forgettable. So, when KTM said they’re building ‘one’ with a low seat height and smaller dimensions I became more interested.
This new bike also has their 799cc parallel-twin motor found inside the 790 Duke, which I enjoyed, a LOT. 103hp comes from the Duke and the adventure model is slightly de-tuned to 95hp and 88Nm. A quick dyno run from the LC-8c engine confirmed 80hp at the wheel, which was enough to see an indicated 207kph on the usual and informative KTM digital clocks. Not bad at all, but the most impressive thing about the new twin is the instant low-down torque delivery, ideal for all conditions. In fact, I had a drag race with a BMW 1200 GS and pulled away from it off the line and only above 170kph did the BM’ gradually start to creep back, because it has over 110hp at the wheel. Must admit, it did give me a hint of arrogance, but at 189kg (dry), the 790 is massively lighter.
What aren’t massive are the dimensions with a relatively low 850mm seat height (25mm lowering conversion also available), and you sit ‘in’ the bike and not ‘on’ it, if you know what I mean? This instantly gives the rider more confidence flying around town and through traffic, encouraging fast riding for no other reason than it felt good. So did the quick-shifter that made the Akrapovic pipe ‘crackle’ on the upshifts with a very smooth action, but the downshifts tend to be a bit rough and sticky at times. So, I ignored the downshift and chose normal methods instead, which cured that and confirmed the 790 has a sweet gearbox without the electronic intervention.
These are all profound road manners but what about off-road you ask? Well, I didn’t do too much of that, but it did easily pass through those Moroccan desserts, so that answers that. And of course, there’s all the customary electronic stuff to help in all environments, in true KTM fashion, which you can absorb off their site, rather than me boring you. Not forgetting with a 20-litre tank (well two of them, one each side), and a small-ish capacity adventure engine, the 790 will demolish any big adventure bike on fuel consumption, which I think is a very important issue, don’t you?
Another important issue is the price, R173,900 or R185,999 for the R model. However, I rode the R also, which everyone seems to buy, and I preferred this Adventure version. Sure, the R has high-end WP suspension for more hard-core off-road antics, but the Adventure bike is way more accommodating. The R is also taller and has a much harder seat, so if you’re more into long distance touring/riding I can’t see why the majority buys the R, I wouldn’t that’s for sure. The R does have a lower tinted screen as well, which some twat fitted to my bike, which was a twat of an idea by removing the Adventure’s superior wind protection. It should have the taller standard touring screen, so put it back please, for necks sake!
Never mind, because I believe that not only is this 790 Adventure the best adventure bike I’ve ridden to date, it’s also one of the nicest bikes I’ve ever ridden. With one exception, the front forks are a bit too ‘choppy’ for my liking, which is a bit odd coming from the WP engineers?
A few days after I returned the bike though, the guys from RAD (www.radmoto.co.za), asked me to visit and ride ‘their’ bike with their fork conversion, which they offer on either an old or a new 790. It was noticeably ten times better and a must conversion if you own a 790 Adventure. They also performed some secret air box modification that made their bike sound deeper and rev quicker, which they can also modify yours for a small fee. Here’s their demo bike, if you want to go and try from their shop, they’ll be more than happy to assist.
With only tiny complaints here and there KTM are certainly ‘on the boat’ regarding this 790 model. With a similar looking 390 Adventure arriving in 2020 they’ll probably then have the best adventure bike range in the world, and who’s going to argue with that?
Now click on www.ktm.com to see and admire all the new 2020 models 
