KTM 790 ADVENTURE
BIG QUESTIONS ANSWERED
With a low sticker price but better spec than rivals, is the made-in-China budget KTM worthy of your £9999?
Pictures Adam Shorrock
THIS YEAR, KTM have made the slightly surprising decision to reintroduce the 790 motor in the Adventure and Duke ranges. The first reason is simple: the 790’s lower power output allows it to be restricted to A2-legal – unlike the 105bhp 890 – adding newer riders to its potential audience. But there’s also reason for full-licence holders to consider buying it.
All 790 models will be built by CFMoto in China, whereas the 890 is built by KTM in Mattighofen, Austria (as was the previous 790). This has allowed KTM to lower the 790’s price so it can compete directly with Japanese rivals, yet they claim quality won’t suffer because KTM and CFMoto have worked together for more than a decade. They say production in China will ‘be supervised by KTM staff on the ground’ in CFMoto’s dedicated KTM plant, which was opened in 2022.
Sounds wonderful, but great things have been claimed for Chinese-built big bikes before – and the results have more often than not been disappointing.
We rode one of the first 790 Adventures to land in the UK to see if the blend of quality, performance and value lives up the promise of its creators.
BRAKES AND WHEELS
The KTM-branded four-piston radial brakes come with cornering ABS as standard, as well as braided lines and an adjustable-span lever. The spoked rims carry 50/50 road/trail Pirelli Scorpion STRs on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheel, fitted with inner tubes.
DASH
The five-inch TFT dash is the same as on the 890 models and features the option of adding connectivity through KTM’s Connectivity unit, which is £144.96. Once linked to the KTMconnect app, it adds turn-by-turn navigation, music, incoming calls and quick access to KTM roadside assistance.
ELECTRONICS
KTM’s contentious Demo mode gives you a taster of the full electronic options list: cruise control, Rally mode, an up/down quickshifter and MSR (motor slip regulation). But the functionality is removed from you the first time you switch the bike off after covering 930 miles (1500km). You’re then left with the basic electronics package. That means an upshifter only, angle-responsive ABS and TC, as well as Street, Rain and Off-Road power modes. Reinstating all of the extras through the Tech pack costs £859.87. If you only want some of the gadgets back, you can add them individually, and at any time. Hand your dealer a credit card, they’ll plug in the laptop, and hey presto…
ENGINE
The 790 marries the smaller capacity of the earlier LC8c motor with the 20% heavi
