KTM 890 Adventure is a top tourer on- or off-road

[@pinkiewerewolf]

I've had this bike for 3 months and around 4,000 miles. Previously I had the Pan America Special and for a brief time the KTM 1290 SA-R. Those large displacement machines are marvelous. Especially if you are taller than 5'8" tall. Which I'm not. That was the reason I went with the Standard 890 Adventure over the R and I've been super happy with the bike. It's the most fun I've had on a bike since I was a kid. The 2023 has upgraded front suspension and TFT display and in time I might upgrade the front suspension but for now I'm loving the 890 in it's mostly stock form.

[@anthonymiccijr6380]

Welcome back! Missed you guys!

[@davidmatthews3093]

Thanks, I really enjoyed the video. I also live in rural France a bit to the west of you and wanted a bike that I can use on tarmac, on gravel tracks and through woodlands on most of my journeys and load up for camping trips in the mountains. I chose the Honda CB500X and am so pleased with my choice. I’ve discovered that for this sort of bike you don’t need 100+ BHP to have a lot of fun every time you go out.

[@cpuuk]

Matt, you hit the nail on the head when you said, "people want a great road sport touring bike, rather than an Adventure bike". KTM are now filling that ADV\ Sports Tourer niche very nicely.

[@Captndarty]

People? You mean “S“ sissies.

[@Rossi593]

I bought one on the strength of this among other reviews. The look is determined by the low front mudguard which makes all the difference (to me at least). I can forgive the look for the bike that it is. Seat aside it’s superb. Time will tell on reliability but it’s a fun machine where my Africa Twin AS and GSA frankly weren’t for me. This is easily as quick in the real world but not remotely intimidating by size or weight both of which blighted the others. I’m 5’8” and no giant or youngster (almost 64) which are factors. The Tiger 900 is nice but more top heavy and that crank design introduces unpleasant vibrations to me. The 890 is much smoother but very much a twin and my preferred engine type. Try one!

[@masterspin7796]

Same here Ian I am also 64 years old 5/8 140lbs. and my 2022 BMW 1250 R/T is too big for me after 7,000 miles I am ready to sell although it is a fantastic motorcycle...

[@woongtv-naturehealing273]

Hello, my new friend. Wow, that's a fun and healing and adventurous 💝💕💘 motorcycle ride video. I'm glad to be your great channel friend 💗💜💛 Have a happy 💛❤💞 day 👍👍👍🤙👌

[@ConstantinDendrinos]

great review, thank you!

[@teltikk]

GREAT JOB BOTHER!!!

[@brucekendall52]

Thanks.Would help off road if the tyres were more suitable.

[@chrisredfield3240]

Can't really call a scorpion trail 2 (90/10) tyre a dual sport tyre. Maybe a scorpion trail rally STR could be.

[@Maxa21Million]

definitely needs some welly boots on. Not sure that country lane would even count as an off road test though.

[@MaxPowerFilthcrud]

Great and thorough review, thanks!

[@BN1960]

I'd swear those roads were near Nontron in the Dordogne (probably not as a lot of rural France is similar) Nice video Mat

[@bertrandls]

5:40 the sign says "Isseuges" wich is in Auvergne (S.O. of Lyon) ;-) "lot of rural France is similiar" you say? How DARE you!!!! :-))

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

Up near La Chaise Dieu. This whole region is a biker's paradise, brilliant roads, well maintained, not too busy. We only moved here (Brioude) in December so just getting to know some of the roads (this test route starts about 2km from my front door) but already am blown away by the variety. Glad you enjoyed Nigel, plenty more to come...

[@fentontaylor9021]

I currently ride a BMW 750 GS but am intrigued by the 890 Adventure and the extra power. You have ridden both bikes, is the KTM much better than the BMW for 99% street driving

[@Incalvideo]

hello and welcome to the Berg show ?

[@ajmf-hy8qt]

i am buying this bike to ride with my wife as a passenger . is really bada for a pillion ?

[@corentinalpha4784]

Hi, great review. You nailed it, you have to be honest with what you will be using the bike for... Good to see you are enjoying les routes auvergnates🇫🇷! I have another point of view on KTM options policy: as it is just electronic, you can buy the bike and add afterwards what you want or need. I bought my Superadventure S second hand and could had the QS added/unlocked later during a maintenance for 315€. Didn't want the hill hold control or the msr and didn't have to pay for that. And it is way far cheaper then the equivalent Ducati or BMW (though still expensive, but you get a lot of bike for the money). By the way, I have far less reliability issues or bad surprises with my KTM then on my previous BMW! 😁

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

True, you can look at it either way I suppose - but paying to unlock an electrically limited ability to wheelie really irritates me. And an auto-blip gearbox as an option? I can't believe anybody would not take that option, so it should therefore be standard. And yes, this region rocks big time for us bikers!

[@corentinalpha4784]

@@IgnitionBikeShow it is also true that, when you are paying 18 599,00 EUR in May 2021 for a bike you are ready to go the 300 extra for the blipper 😁. What about the comfort seat KTM is offering? Is it worth it or would you reckon going for another custom aftermarket?

[@matdurrans3361]

@@corentinalpha4784 Not convinced with KTM's interpretation of seat design. I'm on the 1290 Super Adventure S at the moment and the standard seat is so bad it should be illegal. There's apparently 11 options of seat for this model in the Powerparts catalogue. Who does that? Someone who can't make seats? Or a nation with a vast array of mutant behinds? Beats me.

[@bradsanders6954]

@@matdurrans3361 Ive never had one motorcycle where the stock seat was good,have you? I bought a BMW,top dollar,within months I was almost sitting on the frame rails as the seat squashed downwards. Cheap shocks,cheap seat,BMW. By 36,000 miles the bike was done. Always burned oil,died with electrical problems too much. All bikes can have issues.

[@RRSmurf]

I'm a KTM fanboy but eish that's not a good looking thing 🤣

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

Yeah, it's not a looker, is it? But then most adventure bikes look like they've argued, at least briefly, with the ugly stick.

[@RRSmurf]

@@IgnitionBikeShow That is true, however I'm comparing it to other Adventure bikes 🤣 But for a guy who hasn't ridden anything non-organic for over 10 years, an ugly bike beats no bike, every time!

[@bradsanders6954]

You have to look at it for awhile. The fat low tank makes for a non top heavy riding experience. More about function.

[@boogboog8097]

Why isn't the seat comfortable as standard 🤔

[@regislacomme5238]

How is your mastering of the French language Matt?....greetings and thank you for yet another superb vid.... bonsoir et amities from Still Bay South Africa!

[@regislacomme5238]

Enjoy l'Auvergne, "et goutte un peu de Suze"... and ride safe on the "other side" of the road... and pasop for the gendarmes!!

[@tbgtbg6311]

Why the duct tape?

[@chrisredfield3240]

Is it still 213kg like the 790r or has it gained weight ?

[@whiterabbitt2002]

The 890 has gained roughly 10 pounds in weight.

[@jims6235]

Are ktm reliable?

[@johnnste1]

Yes

[@nikspring]

Indeed they are. I’ve had two.

[@johnDukemaster]

Yes. Indeed they are.

[@alithejumbo]

How better or worse than BMW F 750 GS it is?

[@cloudjumper8868]

About ----------------------------------------------------- this much. You have to specify criteria which are important to you and then compare. Just saying something is "better" is very vague. I bought this bike two months ago and so far I found nothing I would change. Of course, I´ll buy some accesories, but the bike itself is everything I want and need.

[@alithejumbo]

@@cloudjumper8868 🤣🤣 OK faire enough. I don't know what to ask about in fact. I am just buying the 750 GS in a week.

[@cloudjumper8868]

@@alithejumbo BMW are solid bikes. In fact all today bikes in relative price range are acceptable and comparable, there are no flaws or advantages that would make one bike exceptionally better. But they are diferent in accesories, prefered usage and such. You´ll make a good buy with BMW and I liked that bike on my short ride I made with it. But when I was choosing my future bike, I wanted street oriented one, that I can use on forrest roads and light terrain, because a loto of my friends have cottages and weekend houses out of the grid. Not Alaska, Siberia or Africa type of out of the grid, but middle Europe type so no real hard terrain. KTM 890 ADV was matching the request and I owned DUKE 390 before, I like KTM and therefore it was obvious, what bike I´ll buy. So it really depends on you, in this class, there are no bad bikes. Have fun mate!

[@alithejumbo]

@@cloudjumper8868 Well said. Thanks for answer and enjoy your KTM too!

[@motomark7671]

I would have to go with the Triumph Tiger 900 if I had the choice!

[@Steve-motorcycles]

KTM = Ready To Race as well as Ready To Repair 👨‍🔧

[@nikolajiwuszkin5730]

@Stephen Byford Hahah ! :) KTM RC8 beautifull bike, extra performance, shitty reliability :(

[@callumjohnson9433]

@@nikolajiwuszkin5730 rc8 last of a purebred end of an era.

[@R12gsa09]

Repair what?! I had a 1290 Adv T (2016) and I traded it for a 790 Adv (2019). I got over 6,000 miles with the 790, two trips across 4 states (TX2CA) and multiple commuters daily. Truly nothing to repair.

[@Steve-motorcycles]

@@R12gsa09 your lucky, I had a 790 and it had three oil leaks and a coolant leak in the first 18 months and 2000 miles.. I have traded it now. Great bike but it spent more time at the dealership than I had it. I am not alone nor is the 790 in suffering from poor build quality issues. It appears very hit and miss

[@bdraidian6280]

@@Steve-motorcycles i still own a 790, and yes i do love the bike, but my 790 has spend more time at the dealership then it has in my own garage. front brake recall, rear brake recall, coolant leaks, ABS and TC problems, and exhaust leak. all minor problems but damn man lots of minor problems also my bike wont idol on cold start kTm has stated that its mapped that way from factory(i believe thats complete BS cause every video ive watched they dont stall out and take 5 tries to start)

[@ianparkes2538]

Test rode the bmw 900 xr i loved the looks , but so soulless and boring compared to the ktm it lacked bottom end i just felt like a passenger on it

[@bullsfan3705]

So true - just in case 😂

[@simonthompson713]

No need to yell. Sound quality is rubbish

[@sparkyobrian6417]

dont worry, just like the 1190, 1090, and 790, they will discontinue this model in no time, seems they cant stick with much

[@M4NAH1MEK0]

The usual useless comment 👎

[@jimmysenman4749]

Forced commercials. . I did wait few min for few commercials at the beginning and i said don't recommend chnl. Apparently you dont control your chnl. ,,,, obviously we don't want to watch endless commercials!

[@127834]

Quite honestly, I think that Yamaha has nailed this segment with the Tenere 700

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

Maybe off-road, but as a road-tourer (which is what most of the buyers of this model will use it for here in Europe) it's not even close.

[@127834]

@@IgnitionBikeShow appreciate the input Matt! I am definitely looking for a bike more suited to SA offroad adventure 👍

[@matdurrans3361]

@@127834 In which case the 'R' Version of the 890 should be right up your street. But... in which case, yes, the Tenere 700 is undoubtedly a proper beast of a thing.

[@bradsanders6954]

The T7 aftermarket is where the money is,guys are changing every part possible to make it into a japanese KTM.....Its cool but 60 some HP is not gonna get it on road. The fan boy frenzy over non available T7's is HUGE. None available though. I just ordered an 890-R.

[@freedoo69]

@@bradsanders6954 With all the electronic, can you repaire a ktm by yourself in the middle of nowhere ? I’m tempted by this model, but going to Africa I’m afraid that, this is not a good choice…

[@robsonenduro3316]

ugly and unreliable, capable? yes, in right hands like many bikes.

[@arnoldtm31]

Ktm always over stresses their engines. Leading to reliability issues.