Michael is always very detailed and eloquent. Super piece. I'm not even really interested in this bike but his thoughts are always informative.

I ride one because of the legroom and the view over the top of most SUVs, which before SUVs were everywhere was ok on a standard bike.

I'm more interested in the release of the 490adv, that seems a lot nicer.

Shame the 890 has got heavier, and the extra grunt isn't needed off road. I wish KTM would produce a light (150kg maximum wet) dual sport travel bike at around 450 to 500cc (single cylinder) that has long service intervals and a subframe strong enough to carry soft luggage without cracking when bouncing around off-road. The 690 Enduro comes close - but it is more of a heavy enduro bike than a lightweight dual sports adventure travel bike.

I got a 790 Adventure for £9500 just a month ago. I barely do off road but I really cannot see a lot of middle weight tourers out there around this price with 95 horse power, decent suspension, advanced ABS, advanced traction control and riding modes, a nice riding position which doesn’t hurt your back after an hour riding and a decent fuel tank which can give you 200+ miles of travel range. Plus the fact that when you need to do the extra mile and go to a nice location using the off road capability, you can do it. Of course choosing a bike is always a very personal thing :-)

I live in the western USA and adventure riders here actually take their bikes off-road. We are blessed with thousands of miles of fabulous adventure riding here so maybe a different perspective. Light weight, suspension and tractability are essential. Excellent insights on the 890 - they do need to up their game on reliability.

I have a 700GS and I take it off-road often. Remember, offroad means "not surfaced, not "enduro" - there are other bikes for that. If you stick within the capabilities, tires etc., it's fun on most surfaces if you're not in a rush. I like ADV because the roads here in Mexico can be poor so having more susp. travel is a good thing when meeting 2ft, 6" deep potholes mid-corner :-). I also like the ability to pack with soft luggage etc. and go away for a bit. I don't like the poser-value of ADV though "look at me - I'm gnarly - I have a picture of the world on my unmarked pannier" - sigh. Great video as always MCN - quality channel.

For BDR type riding (maybe except the expert sections), the 890 AR is a great choice. You have to ask how much pain you want on the road and at camp to be able to be comfortable on the more technical sections. I sold my 1250 GSA after 1 year because of the extreme weight and top heavy attributes, the 890 is much lighter (yes I know it's still heavy) and the weight is down low which I really like. I've had mine for a good bit with zero issues, but I haven't really put it to a good long off road beating YET :-) (that's coming soon). I have a 500 EXC-F that I have abused with zero reliability issues, it's a great bike if you trailer it to the start of the BDR, but you have to pack extremely light and it stinks on the road.

Sounds like there needs to be a 890 GT

Thanks for the honest review, including possible reliability issues. I would love this bike if it were as robust as advertised.

I bought a 2020 KTM 790 Adventure S last December 2020. I love the bike. Yes it can be classified both as an Adventure/Off Road/Sports Touring Motorcycle IMO. Most satisfying motorcycle I have yet to own, I also currently own a 2016 Motto Guzzi V7 II Stone and a Harley Super Low 12000T. just saying

KTM needs to build a 890 Duke GT, thinking of sich a bike since the 790 Duke was introduced

An "adventure" bike that has the specter of being unreliable? Next... Tossing into the conversation - I've got an '09 Speed Triple and an '04 VStrom 1000. Got the V after the Speed because I wanted something for the essence of what ADVs are designed for: reliable, longer, comfy rides in unpredictable conditions. In a major California city, we ride a lot here. The roads can be punishing, and in any direction, the basic conditions can change significantly. I also like to take my wife out, and more than 30 minutes on the pillion position requires real, human-scale room. I don't go off road, except an occasional fire road. The V is quite good at soaking up bumps, carrying things, and comfortably cruising at some pretty excessive speeds. I *love* my Speed, but it's utility is limited, which prevented me from just hopping on and going. Not a big fan of the V's looks, but I've put some time into that to make it better :)

Loving the bike terminology used here: “Soft-roaders” and “Tall-roaders”. Exactly what today’s (read ageing, me!) riders need! Also I find it funny how I look at an 890 and think it a small bike. A 916 (yes I know it’s a completely different style, but...) is a mere 26cc bigger and that was a big bike in its day!

5:40 "If you're only going to ride on-road, there are probably a lot of tour roaders that do the job just as well as KTM for a lot, lot less." I'd love to know what you recommend those of this in the group.

Thanks for a great review. And I like your style - no theatrics, no BS, just an honest, straightforward opinion/review of the bike. And having listened to you, I'll stick with my 790R now.

The 790/890 R version is definitely more comfortable for taller riders and works brilliantly off road. I am 6 feet like Neevsey, which is not particularly tall, but find the standard Adventure too short.

A very valid point you make. Most riders will not have the skill level to manage this bike off-road so the mass market needs to consider it as a Sports Tourer!!!

Like the look of Ktm's but reliabity issues put me off from owning one. Japanese bikes all day long for me.

I like Brett Tkacs recent one year evaluation of the 790/890 Adventure. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/icelosaZ0Li1dWw.html UK riders probably don't have as much available offload riding as we do here in the states or in Oz or NZ. That affects the road/dirt equation and can easily tip it more toward the dirt side here. It's great to have so many choices these days. This segment is sliced so much more thin than it used to be. If only I was 40 years younger.

Excellent review but at the end you should mention about the competition by name if you mentioned it at all.

neeves is the GOAT of motorcycle reviewers.

Honestly, I just want a 1290 SM R with soft luggage.

MCN really need to hire someone with a love and understanding of adventure bikes in the UK. I like Neevsey but calling a 21inch front wheel ‘weird’ is bizarre. Adventure bikes, and the larger front wheels, are popular in the UK because it’s always raining, the road surfaces are terrible and there’s speed cameras everywhere. Sports bikes are useless here outside of a track. So yes, obviously you could buy a better handling bike but you’d get it out twice a year when the sun comes out.

890 smt Would be interesting

Hi so what tall roader would you suggest

I had 10 issues with my 890 AdvR. Everything from Immobilizer failure, moisture inside the TFT display and cold start issues

lol make the middle weight adv bike heavier and more powerful asked literally nobody.... it’s a real shame no one really rides these bikes off road. I can confirm my tenere 700 is a pain to pick up off road. Basically you have to ride with buddy’s which you really should be doing anyways.

Hi I need your opinion ! Would KTM 890 Adventure be a good motorcycle for 200 to 300 km on road(highway speeds) and then may be 50 km minor offroad ?Currently I have Yamaha XSR 900, but it is horrible on the highways - alot of wind, death wobble in the handle bars , super stiff suspension. I am not hardcore offroader ??

From a comparison point of view, the price is a bit high. But its a great bike and I think anyone who loves KTM dual cylinder engines will love this.

It's way more capable off road than you suggest. I'd suggest that the limiting factor for off road antics will be the ability of the rider, not the bike. Great review otherwise thanks.

Still waiting for KTM to finally bring out the SMT/C. Can't believe the prototypes of those bikes were spotted two whole years ago with absolutely no mention after that.

Planning to get this, but what stops me is the reliability issues.

There is a lot of off road if you know where to look

It is ridiculous how this channel never ever mentions reliability issues with Triumphs. To them, English bikes are amazing and all five star rated. To this date, I have never seen a Triumph that is not leaking oil but I never even heard a mention of that on this channel. Or, any of the issues with their transmission or electronics. But when it comes to KTMs, nothing but reliability issues or why do you need this bike. They never said that for Tiger, have they?

I’m a huge KTM fan. But that has to be one of the ugliest bikes I’ve ever seen.

It’s funny how KTM prices their bikes in different markets. Here in Canada it is definitely cheaper than most of the competitors (except of course the Tenere). I take my 790S into some fairly interesting off-road - I like the lower seat height than the R version - but I do have extensively rebuilt suspension.

Thanks Michael i hope Yamaha comes out with a 900 that fits the bill for most Adventure riders, certainly a caveat when in 2020 reliability is an issue and Yamaha needs a middle weight .

Cheaper than gs850? Not in canada

Seems like KTMs introducing even-numbered bikes as the more hooligan versions of the odd-numbered ones! There’s only one thing I can ask for, a duke 490 plz🙏🏾

superb review, thanks!

Is there one with black paintwork?

Neevsey reviews the XD-4. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I ended up with an AX-9 but still curious. Even more with the E1.

I grew up on dirt bike 2 strokes, less than 200 pounds. 500 pound adventure bike would be an adventure! Lol! I like Dual sports with dirt road capability or 350 or less weight 4 stroke adventure bike. But for serious off road, 2 strokes for me. They can take a beating, Easy and cheap maintenance with their light weight power.

I’ll wait on this one, Thank you for the great review

Ktm in NZ won’t have a 890R for demo to April next year let alone this one 😂

The older rider wants a comfortable ride. Upright with wind shield plus cruse control. Off road only if I have no choice.

That guy is brilliant. No bells no whistles unlike some American reviewers who make stupid self promoting comments.

KTM- Killed Thousands of Men. I test rode one today, for the price I’m gonna pass, so many other options that are super reliable and cheaper. The bike looks and feels nice though.

I am very confusing between 890r and 890s But it’s beautiful

Love it that 890 is now considered 'middleweight'............

Can I get the weight, fuel and other figures in in Imperial please...

Seems to me, nothing beats a 1200/1250 gs for riders who do road, and fire roads, two up. Otherwise, for rider only, no pilion, Kawa Versys 650, T7, or vstrom 650. For road only, Kawa z1000sx. My choices, at least.

how much better than a 790 is it ... i could get a used, like new 790 for 10k ...

Great content ✨

The thing that truely pisses me off about this bike & the 790 is that i dont have one!

bugger wanted review on Adventure R

Adventure bikes are the SUVs of motorcycling.

Not only are there few places to ride an adventure bike in the UK, you forgot to mention its full to bursting with people, so if you do find the odd track to use it on you will probably be confronted by some old rambler with a map around its neck, or a stuck up horse rider that think she or he owns with world with a plumb in its mouth, the roads on the way to the thin on the ground dirt track will be filled with cars, with drivers that have not a jot of patience and want to kill you by driving right up your dirt box, the joys of living in the UK, Hopefully it will be a little more crowded once its been milked dry, wont be long now.

Bike makers are pushing hard to make their bikes lighter and lighter, that compromises build quality and reliability....that sucks.....🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴🥴

Neevesy's Helmet....😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Michael "Bovver Boy" Neeves!

The bike can ride like a champ, but that's lost on me! I can't get past the looks, it just doesn't flow.....

I don't like the way it looks.

A lot of tour roaders, such as?

Yamaha Ténéré 700 all the way

Rather have a V-Strom 650.

990 SMT still their best all rounder then...👍👌😁

cramped and expensive there are better alternatives

KTM stands for Keep Throwing Money. A friend got a 390 duke. Serviced. Not pushed. 3 years old max 5000 kms on the clock. Oil leaking from the top gasket. Ktms are unreliable and poorly made. And thanks for bringing it up in the video

May be the Tracer 900...

KTM has awful dealer back up, unfortunately being a KTM you will need it. Had a 790 for 12 months and not only did it have multiple warranty issues they argue against doing work on everyone.they are very rude and lie to customers.

God, that’s one fugly motorcycle.