Motorcycle specifications KTM790 Adventure 2023 Cornelian choice

It's enough to make you wonder. Why revive the 790 Adventure when it was replaced by the 890 not so long ago? What's in it for us, two engines so similar? Choice, of course, but also two targets. The 790 for A2s, the 890 for those who want a little more in the way of a rocker and suspensions.

Let's not start looking for differences between our two siblings. Apart from the colors and the shape of the mirrors, they're the same. The less "paunchy" one benefits from all the improvements of the 890, with a softer design, much better protection, an engine cowling encompassing the lower parts of the tank, a large bubble, an optimized color TFT screen, more engaging tires, a more powerful inertial unit and improved ABS. So it's not the 2019-2020 790 that's back, but a seriously updated version.

It would be simpler to speak of an 890 with a different engine. The 799 cm3 of yesteryear receives a series of optimizations to make it Euro5-compatible. A new airbox, 20% more inertia, a more efficient knock sensor (which also enables it to accept lower-octane fuel), a new exhaust and a pre-chamber plenum allow the twin to validate itself for a new career. Its anti-dribble clutch has also been strengthened.

As a result, power has not changed. Still 95 bhp at 8,000 rpm, with a healthy 9 mkg at 6,500 rpm. Already a serious powerplant, capable of coping with a wide range of situations. Above all, by limiting itself to 70 kW, the 790 Adventure can be converted to an A2 flange, and attract new license holders. The 890 can't do this, but its performance is in a different league. With 105 hp and torque in excess of 10 mkg, the "medium-large" Adv gives it added impetus.

The 790 is also a strong performer, with a much more affordable price tag. But this is hardly due to the difference in displacement. The main reason is maternity. The 890s are made in Austria / the 790s in China, by partner CF Moto. KTM informs us that the manufacturing process is supervised by its own staff, directly on site, to reassure us about quality.
There's nothing really new in this geographical transfer. A whole host of bikes are made in China, Thailand or other countries in the region. Mostly small-displacement bikes, but with the relocation of KTM and BMW's 800 and 900 blocks, a breach has been opened..

false twins but true sisters. The 790 will ride with the same tubular trellis frame as the 890, as well as its spoked rims, large 20-liter fuel tank, 320 mm brake discs with 4-piston J.Juan radial calipers, and almost identical damping. Suspension is also WP Apex, with 200 mm of travel, but here the fork is not adjustable via knobs at the top of the tubes. The only adjustment possible is the preload of the shock absorber spring.
No restraint on the electronics side, uniformly shared: ABS and traction control responsive to cornering, anti-lock deactivation on the rear, anti-wheeling and 3 riding modes: Street - Rain - Offroad (+ Rally optional). This can be complemented by cruise control and an Up&Down shifter; optional and available for the first 1,500 kilometers to get a taste of their pleasures. The connectivity module can also be used as a gateway to a smartphone to manage music, calls and notifications.

In short, the 790 Adv is an 890 Adventure with fewer horses and fewer settings, a different country of manufacture and a lower price tag. Otherwise, it's the same face, the same type of engine, the same chassis and the same desires. There's plenty of reason to hesitate, as one responds more than the other to the rider's level of experience.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos