Unveiled to the world along with the production-ready 790 Duke at the 2017 EICMA, the Austrian manufacturer gave us their first hint at the 790 Adventure R Enduro production-prototype motorcycle that is underpinned by the same mechanicals as the Duke.

KTM has since then been teasing us with glimpses of the lightweight enduro motorcycle undergoing testing around the world. Fortunately, it has opened the blanket completely at the European Adventure Rally a few days back to provide an exclusive first look of the model year 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R.

Developed along with their 16 consecutive years of domination at the Dakar Rally stage, the 790 Adventure closes the gap between KTM’s enduro and their Adventure series. With their production model ready, KTM gave a few hard-core customers the taste of their brutal 790 parallel-twin setup on incredible on and offroad tours across three days of guided riding and tuition from KTM ambassadors and racers.

With the bike, KTM believes they’ve got the most “performance-focused mid-weight travel enduro of its class, with a dynamism and power-to-weight ratio normally found in larger displacement bikes.” It utilizes the same KTM LC8c 799cc parallel twin engine but is tuned for a wider spread of torque when compared with KTM 790 Duke.

With a 90+ hp powertrain, it’s coming in a space enjoyed by the Triumph Tiger 800 and the BMW F 800 GS for their practical accessibility and outstanding cross-country ability. Although these contenders are getting heavily updated for the 2018 lineup, the 790 Adventure R will hit the streets later this year and will have even more oomph than what it carries now.

For now, it’s all in there. The Dakar-inspired bodywork, beefier swingarm, larger 21”/18” spoked wheels, skid plate, hand guards, high-mount exhaust and stubby tires developed for ADV customers who are looking at getting something with seriously rugged looks and off-road capabilities. Low seat arrangements helps easy accessibility, and the low hung fuel tank takes care of the center of gravity.

It will also come packed with all the features included on the Duke 790 including the LED lights, TFT screen with KTM MY RIDE, cornering ABS, Supermoto mode, lean-angle sensitive traction control, quickshifter, riding modes and ride-by-wire. Fully adjustable WP suspension front and back with long travel and PDS for the shock absorber are typical KTM affair.

The split seats get replaced with a narrow single piece unit and the Akrapovic exhaust canisters that are swapped with one that conforms to Euro IV norms. The face sees typical LED setting from KTM with a translucent windbreaker that is small to do any help pushing air away from the rider. The 320 mm discs shift from petal to straight cuts and get Radial mounted 4-piston front brake calipers.

KTM has announced that this rally bike on a budget will head to production in 2019 and these images and the press reports confirm that the Adventure R will come with auxiliary fuel tanks to increase the bike’s range to up to 250 miles. It looks like the wait will only get over at this year’s EICMA, Milan in November.

Reference

Triumph Tiger 800

BMW F 800 GS