KTM 790 Adventure test

Menus

• Small Adventure, great sensations !
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• Motorways and expressways
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort / Duo
• Convenient
• Conclusion

Small Adventure, great sensations !

In 2018, I had the opportunity to do the "Balade des Cent Cols" on the handlebars of the new Duke 790 and I kept quite fond memories of it. And with the arrival of the latest version of the 790 Adventure This is why before leaving for ten days in Sardinia I therefore asked KTM France to kindly entrust me with a "long test" of it. duration ”, I admit that I was not disappointed by the discovery.

KTM 790 Adventure review

Discovery

So here I am with the sympathetic "orange" with the eyes of a fly, it is true that she seems tiny next to the overpowered giants. Two initial surprises, a long side stand that is correctly tilted and seems easy to handle and a saddle height that is no longer just for Tyrolean giants. Two damn good points that instantly put me at ease.

The 790 Adventure put to the test during a roadtrip in Sardinia

The general appearance of the beast really claims this multi-terrain destination, the Pirelli Scorpion Trail which fit the spoked wheels even accentuate the lightness of the whole just thwarted by two side jowls of a black plastic with an effect of the strangest semblance. be there at first glance to hide the yet pretty twin LC8e, but which, after a little more detailed examination, turn out to be the two additional remote tanks, which are, like the machines which regularly race and win big rallies- raid, placed there to lower the center of gravity as much as possible and reduce the width of the machine.

The LC8e engine of the 790 Adventure

An intelligent solution which will not only make the motorcycle much more maneuverable with a full tank, but also limit the unbalance and incidentally allow those who are not 1.80m tall and their legs in unison to climb easily on the motorcycle and, once on it, to being able to put both feet on the ground without any problem. Thus the total fuel capacity reaches a total of 20 liters, or measured by us, ensures a range of more than 450 km. This tank configuration is a first on a production motorcycle. We just noted one caveat, what will happen in the event of a fall? Perhaps it will be wise to go through the accessory box, largely equipped for this machine, which offers tubular protections ….

The tank is placed at the bottom

From the berlingue point of view, having the same engine as the Duke, but with a power reduced from 105 to 95 hp for the benefit of a better torque range, the 790 Adventure is therefore largely provided with regard to the advertised dry weight. less than 190 kg !

We easily recognize the usual design of KTM

In the saddle

You immediately feel good on this bike, if only for the ground clearance which is not, unlike almost all of the orange range, designed for an Austro-Hungarian giant. The saddle has two adjustment positions and, on the lower one, the one who is less than 1.70m can make KTM a playable option if he is won over by the aesthetic appearance of the machine. The wide handlebars fit well in the hand and the adjustable levers just need to be adapted to all mimines. The saddle seems very firm, but its design is well studied and allows you to change the seat very easily, so you can go from a typical trail position to a more touring position by wedging on the mini backrest that supports the passenger seat.

The 790 Adventure is more accessible than the brand’s other trails

Contact

The large dashboard keeps all its promises, it contains almost all the information you need and also recalls the options selected: different driving modes, ABS settings, traction control, Bluetooth, as regards the info the beast has everything a great. All these little people are in direct selection from a turntable on the left stalk. There’s even a very efficient cruise control that will keep you from ringing when you forget to look at the speedometer. If you start in the dark, the display will go into night mode to immediately change the visual as soon as the brightness is sufficient, this will prove to be very practical afterwards given the number of tunnels we have passed through. The contact is made by a traditional key and, in the old way, there is a steering lock position on the Neiman.

The Adventure color screen

Motorways and expressways

The hum of the twin cylinder accompanies you at the regulated speed and the wind resistance, despite the "suitcases – pizza" option, is not bothersome. We regret a little the design of the bubble which, of course, goes perfectly with the sharp design of the critter, but which would have deserved to be a little less cut and a little higher. If, by chance, you took the idea of ​​playing the right grip, if only to test the capabilities of the machine, know that in a fairly impressive growl and in less time than it takes to get it. ‘write you will end up in the prison box and even beyond … By chance I said well! From experience, even when subjected to a very strong side wind, the well-loaded machine has never engaged in the slightest sway. The vibrations of the twin-cylinder are very largely attenuated by the technology and one can without problem envisage a long motorway stage with this motorcycle without this conferring to a session of torture..

Stable at high speed, the bike could have benefited from a bubble a little less cut

Departmental

It is all the same on the small roads, according to the virolos and by absorbing all the degradations which invade more and more the secondary network, as well with us as with our European neighbors, that the 790 Adventure is more able to s’ to express. Well helped by the Pirelli Scorpions that equipped it, I admit that I took great pleasure in handling this machine, even pushing it to its limits. I reassure you, even if the ground clearance is lower than some others in the range, it is strongly recommended not to try to scrape the footrests, because, in this case, the box "on the ground" is not really not very far. It is easy to forget that we are dealing with a trail, so obvious is the ease of setting on the angle. The fork not only absorbs all the faults of the road, but the whole machine is very neutral and the suspensions play with holes and bumps without ever disturbing the trajectory of the bike. The gearbox is remarkably precise and the shifter ensures an exceptionally smooth ride, especially if you happen to be carrying a passenger. After very little acclimatization, you get to playing with your body like a roadster. Displacement of the seat, knee on the tank, support on the inner footrest…. the ballet of virolos goes on without missteps. Calm kid, this is a mid-capacity trail not the last sports car in the range.

The Adventure answers present on the small roads and connects the virolos without missteps

Braking

Two 320mm diameter pancakes at the front clamped by radial four-piston calipers and, at the rear, a 260mm microgroove mated to a dual-piston floating caliper. All largely helped by a latest generation Bosch ABS with cornering function, offroad mode and even deactivatable for refractories, there is more than enough to stop the featherweight. The front assembly is particularly efficient with a very good feeling and formidable power, the rear is a great retarder when entering a curve and ensures the base of the bike. Both have never fished for lack of stamina, the fact should be noted.

The front brake discs of the KTM 790 Adventure

Comfort / Duo

The saddle seems shaped like a breadboard, but from a comfort point of view it is very acceptable even during long stages. As I said before, the wide handlebars not only make riding easier, but also contribute to an almost natural position on the bike, a position that is easy to adapt both to your desires and to your state of fatigue while playing. on the seat. I have done more than 300 km in one go without feeling the fatigue that implies a prolonged stop, for a trail of less than 800cc it is still a good performance..

The handlebars offer a natural position

The space allocated to the passenger is far from symbolic and he greatly appreciates both the position of the footrests and that of the two very judiciously placed handles. Without being at the comfort level of a GT, the 790 Adventure is an excellent machine for those who want to travel far and even accompanied. I admit, however, that the notion of comfort is greatly accentuated by the exceptional lightness, balance and maneuverability of the machine. It should be noted that neutral the beast is solo, neutral it remains in duo.

The KTM 790 Adventure is quite comfortable, including for the passenger

Convenient

The bike was entrusted to me fully equipped "touring" with the suitcases and the top case. The suitcase on the right will lose capacity due to the location of the exhaust passage. The locking systems are well thought out and the strong release (too much?) Easy. Above the dashboard, there is a very practical 12 V cigarette lighter socket and a location for a GPS is provided under the screen. With a little help, you can easily lubricate the chain by tilting the bike on the side stand. We just regret forgetting to have equipped the machine with elbow valves which would have avoided the mimines on the spokes from rotting happily during the pressure control. Note that the fuel gauge on the dashboard will only drop once half of the full used up, the position of the tanks requires…. you have to get used to it. The display and option controls take a bit of getting used to and some learning. The display of the time, the exterior temperature and the gear engaged are all small details that delight. All great I tell you. We will also appreciate the very effective hand guards and we can just regret the absence of heated grips, but here it is my home-style side that stands out.

The positioning of the exhaust leads to a loss of capacity for the right case

Conclusion

It had been a long time since I had traveled on the handlebars of a mid-capacity trail, it is true that nowadays where the panzer from the Teutons haunts almost all the roads of the globe, go and do in lightness and above all in a cubic capacity less than a liter for long distance strolls looks like a hell of a challenge. Well, having had the opportunity to test a lot of these big adventure machines, I have to admit that this "little one" seriously blew me away. Both in terms of comfort and sensations, the 790 Adventure largely holds the top of many others, even more upscale.

The 2019 KTM 790 Adventure

Is it its lightness, its saddle height, its ease of handling, its inherent torque or this always exploitable power. Seeing it all well mixed together makes me think I found in this latest Mattighoffen product the kind of machine that makes you want to travel the world without worrying. Some might regret a little lack of power, but you have to look at what the bike is designed for. The KTM image is often associated with a generalized fight, there you will be able to have a machine usable by any person who wishes to have an original motorcycle and which pleasantly mixes the unusual with the practical … This is sufficiently rare. in current ranges. Only one approach is necessary for those who are tempted. Go try it out and compare it to others in the same niche and even higher.

Strong points

• Lightness
• Maneuverability and agility
• Parquet outfit
• Ease of driving
• Comfort
• Fully configurable electronic assistance
• Lots of options possible

Weak points

• Bof…. we can find some, but it’s to everyone’s taste or criticism

The technical sheet of the KTM 790 Adventure

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