If you could alter KTM’s 790/890 Adventure bikes to better suit your wants and needs, what would you change? Improving the bike is a tall order as KTM already put a lot of thought into mass centralization, suspension dynamics, rider ergos, etc., but play along. Maybe you’d add more range? More wind protection? More space for electronics on the dash?

The designers at Rade Garage asked themselves the same question, and they’ve come up with an answer in the form of their 790/890 Adventure Rally Kit, a full-bike makeover that gives the 790/890 a sleeker, more purposeful rally look and also improves on performance aspects important to the kinds of riders who already love them.

The full kit really consists of four separate kits: a new navigation tower and fairing, front tanks, rear auxiliary tanks and new adjustable shift and brake levers. All the components can be purchased and installed separately if a full makeover isn’t in your plans, but the components are designed to fit and work together as a whole package.

Fairing Kit

Starting at the front, the fairing kit is based on a new navigation tower constructed of up to nine layers of kevlar and carbon fiber designed to keep stiffness high and weight low. Rade says the kit saves one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of weight compared to stock. Aftermarket, street-legal LED headlights are included in the kit, as is a new windshield with improved wind management.

The design incorporates a USB outlet, a new dashboard with a 12 mm bar for mounting a GPS, smartphone or even a roadbook above the spot where the bike’s original TFT dash unit sits. The bar is mounted on vibration-damping blocks to be kind to your electronics, and the whole unit is stabilized by a reinforcing bracket that keeps the bike’s VIN visible. 

Front Rally Tanks Kit

Moving aft, the Front Rally Tanks Kit replaces the stock, one-piece gas tank with two tanks connected via a hose at the bottom. The result is a fuel-storage system that’s 12 centimeters (4.75 inches) slimmer and 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) lighter than the stock single tank. There are two fill caps though which you’ll be able to pump 17 liters (4.5 gallons) of fuel, less than the 20 liter (5.3 gallon) capacity of the stock tank. However, Rade says the tanks hold the fuel lower than the stocker for better center of gravity and improved handling. Stylistically, they also resemble the two-tank setup of KTM’s classic 950/990 Adventure bikes.

The tank kit includes a beefy, integrated aluminum radiator brace and carbon-fiber crash protection. A two-liter, USB-charger-equipped top box to store your wallet, camera or phone is a nice touch, as is an adapter for a Scotts steering damper. The kit works with any skid plate designed to fit using the original lower tank protectors, and can be ordered to fit either the stock front fairing or Rade’s Rally Fairing kit. 

Rear Auxiliary Tanks Kit

For KTM 790/890 owners who like Rade’s front tank solution but don’t want to lose fuel capacity there’s the Auxiliary Tanks Kit. By replacing the original rear panels on both sides with tanks of the same shape and size, Rade engineered an additional five liters (1.3 gallons) of capacity while allowing the use of any exhaust or luggage system that would fit the stock bike.

The rear tanks gravity feed into the main tank (or tanks if you are using the Rally Tank kit). Rade offers the option of having the left rear tank hold water instead of fuel, complete with a bottom tap and quick-release fasteners that let you fill it up off the bike. 

Adjustable Shift and Brake Levers

Last but not least, adjustable shift and brake levers help improve ergonomics and increase control. The brake lever has a stepped design for ease of use whether standing or sitting, and the tip is adjustable to accommodate different boot sizes. The shift lever is height adjustable without tools through the use of an eccentric adjuster. Both are made from CNC milled aluminum and should survive more abuse than the stock units. 

Availability and Pricing

The fairing kit ($1,298 USD), front tanks ($1,989 USD) and rear tanks ($369 USD) are available for pre-order and will start shipping February 15th. Brake and shift levers ($288 USD) are currently ready for shipment. For more information go to radegarage.com

Photography by Rade Garage

Author: Bob Whitby

Bob has been riding motorcycles since age 19 and working as a journalist since he was 24, which was a long time ago, let’s put it that way. He quit for the better part of a decade to raise a family, then rediscovered adventure, dual sport and enduro riding in the early 2000s. He lives in Arkansas, America’s best-kept secret when it comes to riding destinations, and travels far and wide in search of dirt roads and trails.