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ADV Bikes2018 KTM 790 Adventure Spied During Road Testing

2018 KTM 790 Adventure Spied During Road Testing

KTM's super-secret 800cc twin adventure model gets caught out testing.

Published on 12.08.2016

New photos emerged today of a pre-production 800cc KTM Adventure out road testing, and they are some of the clearest pictures to date of this highly-anticipated new model. KTM has long been a dominant force in the Adventure Touring segment, but a middleweight twin has been noticeably absent from their lineup. An 800cc KTM adventure model has been rumored for some time and was recently confirmed by KTM head Stephan Pierer. The bike has not yet been officially named, but assuming it follows KTM conventions, we can expect it to be called the KTM 790 Adventure.

KTM 790 Adventure testing

The new KTM 790 adventure model will feature an 800cc parallel-twin engine, with a 270° crank, and is expected to produce somewhere around 100hp. The powerplant will be mounted in a completely new chassis, with an overall focus on weight savings and off-road performance. Riding on a 21″ front wheel and 18″ rear, with beefy 43mm WP forks and a healthy amount of suspension travel, the KTM 790 Adventure will likely set a new off-road performance bar in the big-twin ADV category. To keep it competitive on the sales floor, KTM will need to price it somewhere in the $13,000 range.


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KTM 790 Adventure prototype

In the spy photos, we see a small headlight assembly with missing windscreen and fairing panels. The bodywork will most likely look completely differently by production time and we’d expect it to incorporate the same vertically-split headlight design found on the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R — a new design style appearing on many of KTM’s street models. Look for the new KTM 790 Adventure to be announced in late 2017, released as a 2018 model.

2017 KTM 790 Avdenture Headlight styling
Expect the styling of the new KTM 790 Adventure to incorporate the same vertically-split design found on the 1290 Super Adventure R.

For more information on the spy photos, visit morebikes.co.uk.

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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Jobs For Non-profit People
Jobs For Non-profit People
December 8, 2016 1:44 pm

Yessssssssssssssss.
That said, I can’t abide the new light/fairing design motif: it is truly hideous and reminiscent of some kind of alien insect.

Bruce
Bruce
December 10, 2016 4:10 am

Oh yeah – Such crap design from legendary design house Kiska! Your idea would be?

Paul Vela
Paul Vela
February 8, 2017 5:27 pm

I agree. not liking that new “vertically split design” too much. I wish they did the headlight styling close to what the rally bikes have. I think the Yamaha T7 concept headlight looked so much better.

Clarke
Clarke
July 18, 2017 9:39 am

I agree, wtf just make it look somewhat like the rally 450 and call it a day.

LYNN DAVIS
LYNN DAVIS
December 8, 2016 3:13 pm

Copy a Honda CRF

Dustin
Dustin
December 8, 2016 8:14 pm

Love these new ADV bike spy photos and concept bikes we have been seeing. Seems as if some of the manufacturers are finally coming around. Looking forward to see how the final production unit turns out. Perhaps this is the bike that could finally make me go orange.

trackback
New KTM 790 ? - Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB
December 9, 2016 5:46 am

[…] KTM 790 ? New KTM 790 spotted? 2018 KTM 790 Adventure Spied During Road Testing – ADV Pulse […]

Bob G.
Bob G.
December 9, 2016 7:00 am

I also dislike the new headlight assembly shown, but not because it’s ugly. I read the text that stated it’s not likely to be whats shown above. I applaud the use of dual lamps, if that is whats shown, even if the cost increases somewhat. Reason is, the cycle is targeted to get off-road, but you have to *get there*, as in ADV. Dual lamps in today’s road conditions are a must have. Now to why I don’t like the design shown: It creates a light-gap down the center. That’s right in front of the cycle. That’s silly! Forget style, Gimme light in front of my cycle! (Not easy to do, with side projecting LEDs).

An 800 cc cycle at 100 HP, that’s a stressed motor. We’ll see how well that can be built to the suggested price point. (Speaking to quality of build, and perhaps design).

Mike
Mike
December 13, 2016 12:44 pm
Reply to  Bob G.

“light-gap down the center”… nonsense.

sbashir
sbashir
December 13, 2016 10:58 pm
Reply to  Bob G.

I suspect the dual lamps are high beam, low beam, as on all KTMs, but stacked side-by-side instead of vertically (for example on the KTM 1190 R). So on low beam, one lamp will be lighted, and on high beam both lamps will be lighted, one pointing down and the other pointing ahead.

Bob G.
Bob G.
December 9, 2016 7:11 am

The engine and exhaust can seem well protected, good! Nothing hanging out underneath, good! 21 frt, 18 rear, yes! 6 speed manual, right? Check! The rear sub frame, tho. Hmmm, I can not tell if that is a center stand, or part of the sub frame coming up from the passenger pegs. I hope it’s frame I see, otherwise, did you see that looooong sub frame rail? Can you say “easy to break, easy to bend”? One more: Do Not give me a rear subframe like the current crop of 690 / 701s. I can not hang anything on those plastic frames / gas tanks, without a $2000 external frame Rally kit. Nope, I can do better than this, after a cost like that.

Keith Brink
Keith Brink
December 10, 2016 6:22 am

In my opinion, the T7 concept has all other manufacturers in a panic and I expect 2017 will be low on sales as savy buyers wait for more news on the T7

Paul Vela
Paul Vela
February 9, 2017 9:26 am
Reply to  Keith Brink

That T7 concept is an awesome looking bike. I hope however that Yamaha is wise enough to keep it as close as possible to the concept (specially that sweet looking headlight).

Paulo
Paulo
December 10, 2016 9:17 am

We knew this was coming along with the T7. Truth be told, it’s an after effect of the AT…..specifically mentioned from the head of KTM himself. Even here on ADVpulse you called the AT the next gen. To me the market is shifting and we will be looking back on this new generation of sub 1000cc ADV bikes as the time before the AT and the time after. Honda can be thanked for this new KTM but only KTM can be blamed for the gladiator headlight oddness……I’m not a fan no matter how much better it might be in corners.

Anyway, the panic to me is at BMW as they HAD the ADV market by the nuts but now their nuts are taking a good pounding. LOL. All their stuff to me looks WAY outdated, over engineered, too expensive and too complicated.

Glad to see all the new batch of ADV bikes heading in a better direction…….and again, started by the AT. 😉

enduro18
enduro18
January 10, 2017 3:10 pm
Reply to  Paulo

Honda AT weighs the same as KTM 1190, after you add the centerstand and crashbars that the 1190 comes with. Honda does not influence KTM design, thank God!

james severe
james severe
December 10, 2016 2:03 pm

How about the 390 adventure? I’m waiting. Are you listening KTM?

sbashir
sbashir
December 13, 2016 10:53 pm
Reply to  james severe

Already spied testing.

same
same
December 10, 2016 2:56 pm

What is the seat height 31″?

Derek Alberts
Derek Alberts
December 11, 2016 9:54 pm

This may be a game changer … perhaps it’s time to think about a shift to KTM.

Nathan Emmett
Nathan Emmett
June 9, 2017 3:47 am

Hope they do a fairing reminiciant of the old 950 adv. Also would have liked to have seen the 48mm forks from their off-road line up make there way onto this thing.

CJ
CJ
July 18, 2017 6:59 pm

“Expect the styling of the new KTM 790 Adventure to incorporate the same vertically-split design found on the 1290 Super Adventure R.”

WHY?
The 1090 didn’t use it, so why would the lower rent 790 use it?
Speculation adds nothing to what little is offered here.

trackback
KTM 790 Adventure: New Details Revealed in Latest Spy Photos - ADV Pulse
October 23, 2017 9:29 am

[…] seen spy shots of the KTM 790 Adventure, more gets revealed with each new photo captured. In past spy shots, the bodywork has been missing, obscured or parts from older bikes have been utilized to help […]

Joe Cowling
Joe Cowling
October 24, 2017 5:13 pm

Unfortunately KTM have left it to late again and are the followers and not the leaders in the ADV market

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