New KTM 790 Adventure spotted: mid-range adventure tourer gets a complete overhaul

It has now been nine years since the KTM 790 Adventure first made its debut, initially as a concept bike at EICMA in Milan and, two years later, in production form. When it was launched in 2019, it bridged the gap between the heavy touring enduros and the Austrian manufacturer’s entry-level models.

But no sooner had it hit the market than it had already disappeared again. Just like its naked sister, the 790 Duke, the adventure enduro was replaced by a version with a larger engine capacity, the 890 Adventure – only to be reintroduced after 2022 as a more affordable alternative to the latter. During this time, the 790 has mainly changed in terms of details: the engine has been adapted to meet emissions standards, and the windscreen – and with it the design – has been revised. Speaking of design: the styling of the 790 Adventure has remained a matter of personal taste. The fuel tanks, positioned in front of the rider’s feet to create a low centre of gravity, are a particular point of controversy.

In the next generation of mid-range adventure tourers, these will give way to a conventional fuel tank solution. This is suggested by a prototype that caught our eye during test rides in Upper Austria. But that’s not all: the entire motorbike is set to be launched, presumably next year, having undergone a complete overhaul.

The new model will be recognisable at first glance, as its styling is changing drastically – still featuring the typical KTM design, but visibly more appealing than before. The headlight features a unique interpretation of the headlight design that has recently become typical of KTM, incorporating 3D elements and occupying less space than before. The steep front end is likely no coincidence in vaguely recalling the Austrians’ Dakar competition bike and will also be used in a very similar form on the larger 990 Adventure.

However, unlike that model, its sister bike – equipped with the smaller LC8c inline twin – will continue to use the chassis of the current model in the next generation: the frame and suspension appear to be tried-and-tested components in the current generation, just like the engine itself. The exhaust is also a distinctive feature and remains mounted higher and is more voluminous than it will be on the 990 Adventure, though it has been redesigned. The subframe will be more exposed in future, with fewer plastic trim panels used. Likewise, the entire front fairing has been revised and features a significantly more seamless design with fewer sharp edges.

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Die kommende 790 Adventure setzt auf Rahmen und Motor des aktuellen Modells

Foto: BMH Images

The 790 Adventure is set to be an accessible, easy-to-ride motorbike. By contrast, the 990 Adventure will be designed to be significantly more off-road-oriented. We draw this conclusion from our examination of early prototypes of the 990, which had a high-riding stance and appeared to feature WP suspension components with greater travel and damping reserves than those of the 790.

The controls will apparently differ too: the 990 Adventure prototypes feature the large, vertically mounted touchscreen display from the 1390 Super Adventure, whereas the 790 test bike spotted here appears to use the same 5-inch TFT display found in the current 790 and 890 Adventure models.

This is matched by the engine, which is expected to remain in the same power class as at present. Currently, it produces 95 PS from a 799 ccm displacement and delivers 87 Nm of torque. We can only speculate as to how the classic fuel tank design will affect the fuel capacity. The current 790 Adventure has a capacity of 20 litres, whilst the technically closely related Norden 901, with its classic fuel tank, has a capacity of 19 litres. However, the fairing on the KTM test bike shown here is wider in front of the rider. It is therefore conceivable that the fuel capacity will remain virtually the same.

Die Schwinge stammt aus dem aktiuellen Modell, der Auspuff ist voluminöser

Foto: BMH Images

As will be the case with the majority of the KTM range in future, braking will be provided by the new in-house division, WP Braking Systems. It is not yet possible to say for certain when the new 790 Adventure will be unveiled. One thing is clear: the prototype shown here is not far from being production-ready. Nevertheless, a launch this year is unlikely. The pattern followed by the Mattighofen-based manufacturer in recent years – usually unveiling its new models shortly before the start of the season – suggests a launch next spring.