KTM 790 Adventure S vs KTM 790 Adventure R - Can It Keep Up?

[@philip5798]

Great video, I like your content. Just some feedback - careful with music in your vids, your dialogue is very soft which is not a problem until the music comes on and blows our eardrums away as we cranked up the volume to hear you. This especially for us head phone users. Also, careful not to start your videos with loud music for the same reasons. Generally we prefer to hear the bikes and not music. Keep your videos coming.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Philip hey mate thanks for the feedback, unfortunately my mic batteries died during the filming of this. I had the built in mics as back but obviously quality was soft and weak and wind noise was high. Tried to cut it down and hide with more music than usual. Sorry about that. Upgraded mics and recorders since filming this because I was over the complicated recording system I HD - hopefully smooth audio from here. 850GS for next weeks video and the audio is great! Thanks again though ✌️⚡️

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Agree.

[@PeterR0035]

@@TheMotoBarista I see the same happening on other video's; extreme audio level changes, images 1 or 2 seconds out of focus when changing views, wide angle views getting 30% taken up by an out of focus rear rack of another bike, recording light levels suddenly shifting during 1 take, cutting parts out so your person suddenly jumps a few cm left or right, sometimes some grease(?) spots on the camera lens,...... apart from inappropriate music choices that might be personal choice; ...don't blame technology... sorry if this all sounds harsh but it's painful to watch at times

[@chrismithchrismith]

I bought the S because I do more tarmac than dirt, and a couple of reviews commented on the R a bit unstable at high speed. I have had the Rally Pack fitted, as well as a whole lot of after-market bling and I'm looking forward to hitting the dirt and the road on some wild camping trips at home in Scotland and elsewhere. Thanks for your review, which I enjoyed.

[@stevecrocker6904]

ditto - I wanted a slightly lighter bike to replace my 2014 Vstrom 1000, but with tubeless tyres and cruise control - which whittled down my options. The Adventure S is a more than capable replacement for someone riding sealed roads to take dirt/gravel shortcuts and back to sealed roads type of riding. My new set of slightly chunkier tyres (I have RALLY MODE too) will add more capability again. And as has been said, it's a better road bike proposition than the R version. I wonder if a lot of "ready to race" guys are dreaming more than doing.

[@JamieBroughton70]

Selling my 2016 Africa twin to buy 790 s mdl the most riding I do is 80% road 20% forest,bush tracks just upgrade to descent tyres n tech pack I'll be set.great video

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

Would have been interesting to put them on the same tires to isolate suspension and handling differences. But, this is valuable in understanding what you get out of the box.

[@TheMotoBarista]

The suspension difference is massive, no tyres will hide any of that. Though I get what you mean. ✌️

[@sebasbecu]

@@TheMotoBarista yes, but equal footing would make a better comparison. Thanks for your review, its great.

[@theEHWAZ]

Another great video Moto Barista! I have the KTM 790 ADV R and my cousin is now interested in one so I'm forwarding him this video where you do a solid job explaining each one. Thinking he is more suited for the S model for the type of riding he is looking to do in FL. I live near the N. GA mountains and glad I have the R for the off-road hill climbs and trails.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Nice dude, hope you enjoy it as much as me! My Dad just picked himself up one too so expect lots of great videos 🤟🦅

[@briano5907]

I own the 790s. I added a good bash plate, the r model high front mudguard and lower screen, and a motoz tractionator adventure on the rear and a shinko 804 on the front. I've yet to find any conditions where I need anything more. Friends on more offroad bikes, including an r, are not that far in front of me. On road, it never misses a beat and the lower seat height makes it a breeze in traffic. A mate of mine who is a much better rider than me, reckons it is very capable offroad and rates it against the tenere 700 in all areas except the ground clearance. I have only ever had the suspension kick me in the arse once or twice and I was pushing it to its limits. I think that unless you need a full balls to the wall offroader, the s will handle everything you throw at it. KTM knows how to get it right and so far, it has never let me down. For most riders, it will be more than enough.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Agreed the S is plenty for most riders - and far more advanced than the Tenere, which you would expect for the price difference. The Norden looks like a great option for this chassis too. Very excited to have a go on one.

[@briano5907]

@@TheMotoBarista the Norden will be a nice bike indeed, but without the low down fuel tank i think it will be at a disadvantage to the KTM. And here in Australia, at the time I bought mine, the KTM 790s was the same price as the Tenere 700.

[@TheMotoBarista]

@@briano5907 the Norden does have the low fuel tanks too! It just has a slightly different shape I think, but definitely has them! That’s great to get your bike for a great price, a no brainer decision over the Tenere. My 790 R was a dealer demo, got it for the same price as an S model. No brainer for me too!

[@briano5907]

​@@TheMotoBarista​Knowing that now, the Norden may be a good contender - looking forward to your review. You got the R at the same price as the S? That's a good deal. I only wish the S had adjustable suspension to dial it in better. Stay shiny side up.

[@march.4809]

Cool to watch both bikes covering the same tracks. I have the "S" version and I am loving it so far. Initially, I regretted not getting the "R". But after 2,300 miles I am sure I made the right choice for me. It's been great for exploring the less maintained roads out in the country side. Eventually, I'll put on some Mitas E07's and do some off roading.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Marc H. Nice dude, glad you are enjoying the bike. After riding them, the S is very very capable and more than enough for 90% of riders - you really need to push the R model hard in order to get the money worth out of it. Hope you enjoy and get those off-road tyres on soon so you can go explore!!!

[@alwaystwoam]

I’m in the same boat as you. Regret not getting the R but maybe because that’s all everyone talks about. I’m also shorter at 5’ 7” and the R definitely felt tall. How tall are you?

[@sritter]

Hi good review ... having just purchased a 790R and from a off-road, aggessive rider background I just LOVE this machine. The Rally mode is insane, the suspension is incredible ... maybe just the original Karoo tyres need to be changed to more chunky Tractionators or similar. So happy with it !

[@TheMotoBarista]

Cheers mate, yeh it really is an incredible machine - can’t believe sometimes how fast you can push it off-road. This one we were riding has Michelin Annakee Wild tyres - definitely provided a lot more grip and confidence.

[@bloodsimple4706]

Agree. Awesome machine, unparalleled adventure bike (R) in the dirt.

[@meder07]

At 5:35 you said "I can't keep up with you on this bike." I feel like you could have spent time just on addressing exactly your thoughts around that for this video. What are the specific differences that you noticed throughout that kind of testing and how would your experiences help those of us making a choice? For instance, at one point the rear shock appeared to bounce you upwards over successive whoops. How did the other bike respond under the same circumstance and how would you ride differently between the two bikes over the same terrain?

[@TheMotoBarista]

Hey dude, fair point I’ll break it down for you quickly here. Simply put its all about suspension- you simply can’t push the S as hard due to the suspension limits (less travel, softer spring and no adjustments). Every bump you can feel and like you said can kick the back end up and cause the front end to lose stability. If you had the S it would be for road and mainly gravel tracks and fire roads - any more technical terrain would require you to take your time. The R on the other hand keeps begging you to thrash it harder. But you are only going to get the most out of this bike if you ride aggressive and want to ride fast and technical terrain off-road.

[@meder07]

@@TheMotoBarista Awesome feedback, thanks for clarifying. Sounds like different purposes depending on at least level of activity over chosen terrain. IMO KTM did a great job here providing for a reasonable overlap but different biases. Please keep up the great work and thanks again for the reply.

[@RamiHalawani]

@@TheMotoBarista thanks dude. It makes sense now that you’ve laid it out. On the fence between the two variants but now I think the R makes more sense.

[@8andsk835]

Bought the S for 10G brand new. I chose it over the R model because I have a short inseam. I take it off road and find it more than capable of doing the job, just not as fast as the R model will do it.

[@OMGMOTO]

I am loving the look of the KTM 790 Adventure R, great comparison review, brother.

[@TheMotoBarista]

OMG MOTO such an awesome bike, definitely made for my kinda riding - had such a blast on it!

[@OMGMOTO]

@@TheMotoBarista I have been looking into the adventure bikes for sure.

[@RollModel724]

I am looking to upgrade from my Himalayan. I love it.. but moving to the US and need better highway/road performance. I liked the Himalayan off road because it was really low grunt and greats for casual speeds off road. So the S might be what I might want.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Definitely would be a great bike for you - also I would test ride the Tenere 700 as it has great low grunt too. The KTM has its power in the mid-high rpms.

[@khauwry]

I had to ask about your camera gear, the video is really good

[@TheMotoBarista]

Thanks! I use a Fujifilm XT3 and a GoPro Hero 7 on the helmet.

[@andrewmadge]

Good review, looks like you had some moisture in the ground to give them a good work out. Not for me... dirt biking, adventure riding etc. But looks great fun to have with a few mates for an afternoon somewhere off track.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Andrew Madge thanks mate! Yeh, had some rain the night before, nothing to get in the way - just enough to keep the dust down. A lot of fun and really develops your skills (even to apply on road) really fast. You know who to call if you change your mind!

[@tumbleweed-life]

For comparison you should’ve had a bike set up similar put the same tires on them and try that and if you want to rally package on the S model you can pay a little extra get it if that’s something you need

[@TheMotoBarista]

That would be nice but I don’t think dealer would be willing to that just for a video. One day I might have that influence. I will say though, nothing will hide the suspension difference between these bikes, it is massive.

[@drrider1658]

I bought the R model for the suspension though I'll never push it to the limits. Worth the money to me since I really appreciate great suspension. Plus the R has the Rally mode. A little foam windage cover on your mic will help your audio.

[@TheMotoBarista]

DR Rider yeh dude that suspension and rally mode is totally worth the upgrade - night and day difference. Had a nightmare situation with audio this time around - batteries died - foam cover blew away! Back to normal for next videos ✌️

[@RickyNotSoMartin]

Great video & comparison! Really enjoyed it!

[@TheMotoBarista]

RickyNotSoMartin thanks mate, appreciate it - really enjoying making them! 🙏⚡️

[@MattVenturesMoto]

Love these bikes, great video 🤟

[@RidetheBean]

Thanks for giving us a comparison! That trail looks like so much fun to ride, too. We just got the Yamaha Tenere 700s, so we shouldn´t look too hard at other bikes for a while ;) Love your channel!

[@ownyourworld]

The s will be a massive upgrade over my 2005 transalp lol

[@khakimzhanmiras]

Cool channel. Subbed 🤙

[@TheMotoBarista]

Miras Khakimzhan cheers bro ✌️

[@ForgivenSea]

More cowbell 3:36!

[@sedkedz4868]

Hi Moto Barista. taking into consideration only the asphalt road, when it adjusts and set the suspension on the R model properly (more stiffnes etc..), R will it be as good on asphalt as the S model? B. Reg. Paul

[@TheMotoBarista]

Yes I think so, you will be a bitter taller but with the R suspension you have lots of adjustability to get dialled in. However if I was buying an Adventure bike for mostly on-road I personally wouldn’t get the KTM.

[@sedkedz4868]

@@TheMotoBarista Thanks for replay. And what other motorcycle adventure would You recommend considering only asfalt? Maybe new Africa Twin 1100L? Reg. Paul

[@sedkedz4868]

@@TheMotoBarista also second question why not KTM? Some special reasons?

[@bloodsimple4706]

Cool vid mate. It’s obvious that the R will outperform the S off-road. Here in Europe we ride +90% on-road. And buy the R for having a blast on the remaining -10% dirt. How do the 2 models compare on-road? Can the R keep up provided proper suspensions setup and road tires. This would make a nice video. Cheers. B

[@FanOWater]

I own an R model and it is a blast on the street. Soften the suspension a bit, change tires (currently I'm running the Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires) and it will tear up any paved road and then do the same in the dirt. The bike is shockingly flickable and the transmission and brakes are superb. Only downside - I have a 29 inch inseam, can only get one foot down at a time and that has caused me to drop it several times in the dirt - but the bike topples over well too. Ha Ha

[@jimenagulla9081]

I have a 790R with the karoos still on it and it's goes well on the pavement 90+ mph is nothing for it! Off road it is really an amazing bike, the explorer suspension alone is worth the extra money.

[@bloodsimple4706]

I run the Anakee Adventures on the 790R. On tarmac they are way better than the oem Karoos. Can be pushed to the edge while still good for a fair piece of dirt. As the suspension can be dialled up with the R, it keeps quite stable even when braking hard into corners. For me the standard 790 behaves more like a road bike that turns easier (lower COG). Did not have the chance to ride the standard for longer but got the feel that it is not so forgiving compared to the R when pushed hard on the road.

[@reddog907]

Hey Michael, off reading is a blast but ride with a partner , safety in numbers , Cheers and be safe.

[@TheMotoBarista]

Rob yep, always enjoyed being off-road. Ever since I was 6 I have riding motocross with my dad, so had a lot of fun filming this with him. Think he’ll picking up an R model himself soon so we can do more of this!

[@ahmedhamid9892]

Brother, can the 790R roam around the world and compete with the African Honda, and what is better for traveling around the world?

[@TheMotoBarista]

Travelling around the world, you could do it on the KTM but the 1290 would be my choice for a bit more comfort or the Honda like you mentioned. I like the 790 for riding local (state and country wide) trails really hard which you can’t do in the bigger bikes.

[@jimenagulla9081]

People have ridden the klr650 around the world , I think the 790R is a definate upgrade.

[@soorajsaikumar]

Nice comparison 👍🏽 i love the 790 R...how are the foot pegs? Are they spacious??

[@TheMotoBarista]

sooraj sai it really is amazing! The stock pegs are a bit small and the rubber inserts are really slippery. The R I am riding in this video has the KTM rally foot pegs installed which are so so much better!

[@soorajsaikumar]

@@TheMotoBarista oh that's nice, i think rally foot pegs should be standard.

[@TheMotoBarista]

sooraj sai agreed ✊

[@ukaszcezary8870]

Quite good video, but poor audio optimalisation - you should work on it, and will be better.

[@DW-kr6iw]

R model waaaay too tall. Opted for the S……changed the tires

[@dedyarief996]

Just put off road wheel, high front fender, lower windshield and booom you got the R looks for your S model 😂 In my opinion the S suspension is already very capable off road, so no need the R"s heavy duty suspension

[@TheMotoBarista]

I know what you mean and it depends on the kind of riding that you are doing and capability. The difference in suspension is massive for me and I can ride the R so much faster because of it.

[@MikeHenrick1]

Commentary to music mix is massively mismatched. Shame

[@rocketrollsvlogs7625]

I think i can easily get away with the S. U can barely find dirt roads to ride here in Maryland.

[@bryanweber6995]

Come a little west! The Shenandoah Valley has plenty of dirt...

[@WildOn2sVlog]

Good comparison. I always enjoy the off-roading but can’t do that with my Indian lol. Well I can but 🤔 lol

[@TheMotoBarista]

WildOn2s Vlog haha, I went camping along the beach not long ago on my Sport Glide - has to tackle some sandy/gravel roads to get to the campsite - was not ideal 😅

[@WildOn2sVlog]

The Moto Barista that must have been fun. Make sure you rinsed the hell out of it. Corrosion is a pain in the butt

[@myselfyuvi]

Why such a horrible n loud music mate?! My ear drums almost come out. Would have liked to hear raw footage sound while the two of u were riding!

[@TheMotoBarista]

Sorry dude, as i have answered in toothed comments my mics died mid shoot. Tried to cover up some of the low quality of the in camera mics but that obviously failed to. Invested in a new audio set up now so future videos are all all good. Sorry again.

[@m.berrada3696]

Great review. Maybe invest in a better mic

[@TheMotoBarista]

Thanks mate - yep both mics failed on this shoot. If you check all my videos after this one you will notice huge improvement- invested in a great setup.

[@reddog907]

Ha ha reading is safe, I meant off roading

[@TheMotoBarista]

Rob I don’t know, there are some crazy ideas in books out there 😅

[@chrisssinstockholm]

I really want to watch this but the music is torture. Loud, harsh, distorted, squeky. It makes it impossible to watch. Please upload without the music.

[@TheMotoBarista]

chrisssinstockholm future videos have no music, sorry dude.