Many thanks. A little light reading in advance.
2018 KTM 790 Adventure
- Thread starter Arsey
- Start date
Many thanks. A little light reading in advance.
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
- Reaction score
- 50
Hi Mike. I forget who said it, but I remembered the quote being something like, "nobody asks for a heavier off-tarmac bike." Once you are out of Western Europe and North America nobody needs more than 500cc.
Of course you then have to square that with having a bike that is sturdy enough to take the hammering from carrying heavy luggage. I remain a keen fan of the 690 and can't think of a better bike for your trip. It's easy to work on, and the engine is a marvel of so few bits.
Tim
Tim
I liked the report - thankyou
Can you really carry that much luggage on the 690 I did not think it had that capacity due to the lack of a rear subframe
I liked the report - thankyou
Can you really carry that much luggage on the 690 I did not think it had that capacity due to the lack of a rear subframe
Just had a good hour on the 790S...
120MPH EXC
Crikey it’s a fun bike, loved 4th gear, it’s really strong and very useable over a wide range. I arrived on the GSA Hexhead so it did feel a little more sat on, exposed and I could feel the DNA with my EXC but it was more comfy than expected - If I’d needed to carry on to Cornwall to see my Mum I’d not be thinking feck this is going to be a test of my endurance.
I had following Tim’s post expected a bit more wind protection, it was fine but not a cosseted experience, I think I’d be tempted to go for the R screen to enhance more the nimble feel you get.
Clutch was a bit iffy, only working when the lever was right out so it felt a bit snatchy, where’s the bite, where’s the bite or there it is kinda thing.
Nice brakes, handling and nipabillity - From Pitstone to Ivinghoe the road has a series of square speed blocks which on a bike you’d normally ride between, I was going straight over sat and then standing and it was no bother.
For those that know the Road from Eaton Bray towards Billington you'll know the compression in that road that’s a real bastard on something like the 1100S and even the GSA has you preparing for it - The 790 handled it with ease.
It’s quite a tall bike, so I’m expecting the R to be tippy toe for me.
It's seems to have a massive range of capability, no off-road today but it’s got a that would be no bother feel about it, it’s got good enough comfort to do distance on, it will bimble along in 6th at 35MPH, it will show 120+ with surprising 'feck that’s quick' ease, that was in the uphill from Ivinghoe to the turning for the Beacon and when you realise you've been having to much fun and you are late getting back a clear run down the Leighton Buzzard road to Hemel shows it’s ability extends to some pretty quick A road pace.
I’m mighty impressed but it never suprise me how good the GSA is, getting on to ride that home I was expecting it to feel heavy and ponderous, but not at all - There’s something very special about a Hexhead
Now do I buy a 790 R and sell the EXC...
120MPH EXC
Crikey it’s a fun bike, loved 4th gear, it’s really strong and very useable over a wide range. I arrived on the GSA Hexhead so it did feel a little more sat on, exposed and I could feel the DNA with my EXC but it was more comfy than expected - If I’d needed to carry on to Cornwall to see my Mum I’d not be thinking feck this is going to be a test of my endurance.
I had following Tim’s post expected a bit more wind protection, it was fine but not a cosseted experience, I think I’d be tempted to go for the R screen to enhance more the nimble feel you get.
Clutch was a bit iffy, only working when the lever was right out so it felt a bit snatchy, where’s the bite, where’s the bite or there it is kinda thing.
Nice brakes, handling and nipabillity - From Pitstone to Ivinghoe the road has a series of square speed blocks which on a bike you’d normally ride between, I was going straight over sat and then standing and it was no bother.
For those that know the Road from Eaton Bray towards Billington you'll know the compression in that road that’s a real bastard on something like the 1100S and even the GSA has you preparing for it - The 790 handled it with ease.
It’s quite a tall bike, so I’m expecting the R to be tippy toe for me.
It's seems to have a massive range of capability, no off-road today but it’s got a that would be no bother feel about it, it’s got good enough comfort to do distance on, it will bimble along in 6th at 35MPH, it will show 120+ with surprising 'feck that’s quick' ease, that was in the uphill from Ivinghoe to the turning for the Beacon and when you realise you've been having to much fun and you are late getting back a clear run down the Leighton Buzzard road to Hemel shows it’s ability extends to some pretty quick A road pace.
I’m mighty impressed but it never suprise me how good the GSA is, getting on to ride that home I was expecting it to feel heavy and ponderous, but not at all - There’s something very special about a Hexhead
Now do I buy a 790 R and sell the EXC...
Just had a good hour on the 790S...
120MPH EXC
Crikey it’s a fun bike, loved 4th gear, it’s really strong and very useable over a wide range. I arrived on the GSA Hexhead so it did feel a little more sat on, exposed and I could feel the DNA with my EXC but it was more comfy than expected - If I’d needed to carry on to Cornwall to see my Mum I’d not be thinking feck this is going to be a test of my endurance.
I had following Tim’s post expected a bit more wind protection, it was fine but not a cosseted experience, I think I’d be tempted to go for the R screen to enhance more the nimble feel you get.
Clutch was a bit iffy, only working when the lever was right out so it felt a bit snatchy, where’s the bite, where’s the bite or there it is kinda thing.
Nice brakes, handling and nipabillity - From Pitstone to Ivinghoe the road has a series of square speed blocks which on a bike you’d normally ride between, I was going straight over sat and then standing and it was no bother.
For those that know the Road from Eaton Bray towards Billington you'll know the compression in that road that’s a real bastard on something like the 1100S and even the GSA has you preparing for it - The 790 handled it with ease.
It’s quite a tall bike, so I’m expecting the R to be tippy toe for me.
It's seems to have a massive range of capability, no off-road today but it’s got a that would be no bother feel about it, it’s got good enough comfort to do distance on, it will bimble along in 6th at 35MPH, it will show 120+ with surprising 'feck that’s quick' ease, that was in the uphill from Ivinghoe to the turning for the Beacon and when you realise you've been having to much fun and you are late getting back a clear run down the Leighton Buzzard road to Hemel shows it’s ability extends to some pretty quick A road pace.
I’m mighty impressed but it never suprise me how good the GSA is, getting on to ride that home I was expecting it to feel heavy and ponderous, but not at all - There’s something very special about a Hexhead
Now do I buy a 790 R and sell the EXC...
Did the bike you tried have the shorter screen ( like an R) or the higher screen like the S?
Just had a good hour on the 790S...
120MPH EXC
Crikey it’s a fun bike, loved 4th gear, it’s really strong and very useable over a wide range. I arrived on the GSA Hexhead so it did feel a little more sat on, exposed and I could feel the DNA with my EXC but it was more comfy than expected - If I’d needed to carry on to Cornwall to see my Mum I’d not be thinking feck this is going to be a test of my endurance.
I had following Tim’s post expected a bit more wind protection, it was fine but not a cosseted experience, I think I’d be tempted to go for the R screen to enhance more the nimble feel you get.
Clutch was a bit iffy, only working when the lever was right out so it felt a bit snatchy, where’s the bite, where’s the bite or there it is kinda thing.
Nice brakes, handling and nipabillity - From Pitstone to Ivinghoe the road has a series of square speed blocks which on a bike you’d normally ride between, I was going straight over sat and then standing and it was no bother.
For those that know the Road from Eaton Bray towards Billington you'll know the compression in that road that’s a real bastard on something like the 1100S and even the GSA has you preparing for it - The 790 handled it with ease.
It’s quite a tall bike, so I’m expecting the R to be tippy toe for me.
It's seems to have a massive range of capability, no off-road today but it’s got a that would be no bother feel about it, it’s got good enough comfort to do distance on, it will bimble along in 6th at 35MPH, it will show 120+ with surprising 'feck that’s quick' ease, that was in the uphill from Ivinghoe to the turning for the Beacon and when you realise you've been having to much fun and you are late getting back a clear run down the Leighton Buzzard road to Hemel shows it’s ability extends to some pretty quick A road pace.
I’m mighty impressed but it never suprise me how good the GSA is, getting on to ride that home I was expecting it to feel heavy and ponderous, but not at all - There’s something very special about a Hexhead
Now do I buy a 790 R and sell the EXC...
To be pedantic, it’s not a 790S. There isn’t one !
You rode the 790 Adventure as opposed to the 790 Adventure R.
It’s a cracking motor,isn’t it ? As soon as I collected my 790 Duke last year I knew it would be good transplanted into an Adventure .
Sounds like it’s sorted as the Duke was a bit fluffy off idle and at low revs and gearing a fair bit different as 35mph would have been clunky even in 5th, let alone 6th.
I’ll find out Tuesday anyway .
Wreford will answer obviously, but I’m sure his demo bike had the standard,taller screen as why would they swap screens on a demo bike ?
The shorter screens are often better, as the airflow is cleaner so I’m expecting the short OE screen on my R to be better ( for me) than the taller screen that comes as standard on the 790 Adventure.
And many, like Nutty found the same on the bigger bikes as he fitted the short screen from the 1290R to his 1290S.
Higher Screen, it’s alright but I’d be thinking cleaner airflow from the shorter R screen would be better.
As for Adv or Adv R for me in honesty it would be a vanity thing, wanting the best off road tool but I doubt really using it - It will be interesting to see what it’s like with a 21in Fr. Also I think it’s going to be quite tall, the Adv was taller than the Triumph 1200 XE
I still haven’t seen one in the flesh, I hope it looks better than in the photos, that gawky headlight looks terrible from the side. Anyway, with the 1190R gone to a new owner I have been waiting for this or the Yamaha T7, I prefer the looks of the T7 but don’t think it will have the dynamics of the KTM, the large EXC comparison appeals to me as I still have the 350 and 690 and love riding them. The 1190R was such an exciting bike to ride and would lift the front wheel off the throttle, how does the 790 feel, is there plenty of power? I hope I don’t regret selling the 1190R but I just wanted a lighter bike that would still be capable of travel and still excite. It does not help that Yamaha are launching the T7 like they did with the S10 with an online ordering system, I would prefer to ride both before committing.
I can’t wheelie so can’t comment on that capability, the 790 had enough speed for me but It’s not grunty like a Hexhead and I imagine an 1190.
I did mean to say having ridden a 701 that the 701 feels like an off-road bike that happens to be surprisingly good and refined on the road, the 790 ADV felt like a road bike that can handle off-road when required to do so.
The EXC dna comment is because it does sit you in a position with some similarities to an EXC and it gives confidence to muscle it around on the back roads in that EXC on the road way.
Although I expect the ADV R capabilities will be a lot more than the T7 I do wonder if in the long run it would be a more satisfying bike - At the lower price you could say the T7 has the honesty of a bike like the Himalayan but more capable
I did mean to say having ridden a 701 that the 701 feels like an off-road bike that happens to be surprisingly good and refined on the road, the 790 ADV felt like a road bike that can handle off-road when required to do so.
The EXC dna comment is because it does sit you in a position with some similarities to an EXC and it gives confidence to muscle it around on the back roads in that EXC on the road way.
Although I expect the ADV R capabilities will be a lot more than the T7 I do wonder if in the long run it would be a more satisfying bike - At the lower price you could say the T7 has the honesty of a bike like the Himalayan but more capable
IanC
Registered user
If you fit a pannier rack ( rack for soft panniers would be enough ) it spreads the load between the foot peg mounts and the rear subframe so carrying luggage isn't a problem, they are also designed to carry a pillion so that gives you an idea of what they are capable of
Yep, KTM aren’t very good at larger screens. The smaller R screen with an MRA X-Creen is the perfect setup.
A mate picked up his bike today and took it straight to the local mx track
https://youtu.be/9QtpGZMkHKs
https://youtu.be/9QtpGZMkHKs
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
- Reaction score
- 50
The Metal Mule pannier rails are triangulated back to the footpegs to take the load.
More photos of prepping the bike: http://www.morocco-knowledgebase.net/forum/showthread.php?t=333
I bought the Rally Raid tank stronger tank bolts but never got around to fitting them.
I did once carry both luggage and a pillion for a short distance then decided that was a silly thing to do...
I thought both models had a 21" front wheel.
They do !!!
That's cleared that up then 
Come ON!.....One of the most disappointing videos I've ever seen
Maybe I need to lower my expectation levels. Great idea to film at an MX track. More and better please.
Similar threads
