Minimalist yet powerful: the KTM 690 Rally carries on the legacy of the 640 Adventure

The end of the 2026 motorcycling season is in sight, and the new models for the coming year are already making their presence felt. KTM is making a big splash two months ahead of the leading EICMA motor show in November: with the 690 Rally, the Mattighofen-based manufacturer is now officially unveiling a new single-cylinder adventure bike for the first time.

The Upper Austrians want the new model to be seen as the ‘spiritual successor to the legendary KTM 640 Adventure’ and emphasise its ‘rally-raid roots’. The technical basis is the 690 Enduro R, which underwent a comprehensive overhaul last year, featuring its LC4 single-cylinder engine. The 693 cubic centimetre engine also delivers 79 PS and 73 Newton metres of torque in the 690 Rally. This means the LC4 remains the most powerful single-cylinder engine in series production.

The Enduro base is supplemented by two additional fuel tanks in front of the rider. This increases the fuel capacity from 13 litres on the 690 Enduro R to a total of 20 litres, which should give the Rally a significantly greater range.

Both visually and functionally, the 690 Rally is defined by its front end, known as the ‘Rally Tower’. It combines lighting and instrumentation with a tall, steeply raked windscreen designed to provide adequate wind protection. It is no coincidence that the design is reminiscent of KTM’s Dakar competition machine, the 450 Rally.

Markant: Die «Rally-Tower»-Front beinhaltet Scheibe, Licht und Instrumente

Foto: KTM

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The LED lighting is also taken from the 450 Rally Replica, whilst for the instrumentation KTM has opted for the 4.2-inch TFT screen from the 690 Enduro R.

The ground clearance of 265 millimetres and the suspension travel of the fully adjustable suspension components remain unchanged. On the rear shock absorber, the rebound damping can be adjusted separately for high and low speeds.

A Brembo braking system is responsible for deceleration. A 300-millimetre brake disc is fitted at the front, whilst the rear disc measures 240 millimetres. In off-road mode, the ABS on the rear wheel can be deactivated either separately or completely.

The rider sits at a height of 910 millimetres on the newly designed seat. The ergonomics of the 690 Rally are designed for both longer stretches of seated riding and a standing riding position off-road.

KTM states that the 690 Rally weighs 161.5 kilograms without fuel. This means it weighs only around 9.5 kilograms more than its technical basis, the 690 Enduro R. With a full tank, the kerb weight is likely to be around 175 kilograms.

The KTM 690 Rally thus occupies an interesting niche: it is designed for long distances across a wide variety of terrain, whilst remaining significantly lighter and more focused than the Austrian manufacturer’s more comfort-oriented twin-cylinder adventure models.