Sending my KTM 890 Adventure R at New Zealand’s best trail ride

[@999Rabs]

It boggles my mind as to how effortlessly you throw that 890 around. When someone like Adam Riemann is impressed at how you can handle your bike so easily, you know you’ve got a gift! Love these videos!!!

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@999Rabs thanks mate! Growing up a skinny lad racing KDX200’s you learn how to work with the bike not fight it

[@TazmanianDevil-y8z]

Gotta say Chris you are absolutely amazing. Riding that big 890, like it’s a small enduro. You really are a great ambassador for KTM.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@TazmanianDevil-y8z why thank you ☺️

[@DansADV]

Unreal riding! Very few people on the planet can ride a 890 like that. As a Say No To Slow customer, I can say that your videos were a big help to me and the crew I ride with. Thanks for the entertaining video.

[@bradsanders6954]

Watching Chris invariably makes some people think "I can do that!" it looks easy on a near 500lb bike. Whats funny is stock 890R suspension WILL do this, it can be smashed thru big holes and come out shining. What it doesnt do is cruise around during average everyday riding. It is one harsh MF unless the pace is picked up to "Made to race!" pace. Faster the better. Hard to travel that way.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@DansADV that’s awesome! It’s always great to hear from people that our training videos have helped. Thanks for the message.

[@CurtisBrandt]

@@bradsanders6954 Couple of things, and I should probably not do this (as one usually does not understand with whom they're speaking on the internet). First, though Chris rides what appear to be a lot of different 890s around the world, and surely knows how to set them up, the 890R he rides in NZ certainly does not have anything like stock suspension. He has shown it's the Pro stuff and likely well-valved by a specialist. In my experience, one can absolutely NOT do what Chris does, on bone-stock suspension, and come out ok. My experience with my stock '23 890R suspension was that it was harsh initially and way to soft on big hits - I had plenty of full contact bottoming on big hits, resulting in supremely sketchy situations. Revalved, it's much better (and hence why I have to be careful with your statement "stock suspension" - it certainly CAN be made to shred but my experience was, it wasn't ready for hard riding as it came off the showroom - you might mean re-valved and if so, I appreciate that).

[@marcdemonye7327]

I'll say. After nearly 25 years on streetbikes I went and bought the 1190 adv R this year. Pretty heavy for a starter, but I need a bike that's also comfortable on the roads... Been learning and training but this level seems almost impossible

[@k_plax]

Start to 5:45 looked like so much fun. Liam’s the real mvp for staying close to get the action

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@k_plax he’s the man

[@briancrumpacker]

As the skies begin to glow at 6am here in California, I click on the "loop" button so that this video never ends during my morning coffee. Cheers!

[@CurtisBrandt]

What an epic day on an 890! In such great conditions. Liam needs a raise for eating all that roost. We appreciate it, because there are not a lot of other ways to get to see a top tier rider in action for any length of time. On the trail, it's like, 0.2 seconds! LOL. Love it.

[@deldridg]

Insanely skilled riding. I think you NZ boys are born with a touch of X-factor. Thanks for putting this together. Now I won't sleep and may just have to take my little Ninja 1000 out for a late night blat! Cheers from Sydney - Dave

[@lleelwanderers]

Best 18 mins of my life spent! Breathtaking thanks for taking us for a ride. Your ADV series videos has help my riding a lot, thank you for sharing your wealth of skills and experience. Greeting from Invercargill

[@pascalo5119]

Thank you for taking us along this ride.What a good way to start the day.

[@konstantintroitskiy6749]

This is so goooood Kept a smile on my face for the whole length of this video...!

[@marcdemonye7327]

Seen plenty of video's of New Zealand, like the KTM rally and of riders posting. It looks so amazing. Definitely putting it on my bucket list

[@vickydude525]

Loved the chest mount pov starting at 11:14. Gave a feel of how you move with the bike while tackling the terrain.

[@gregorkrapez5559]

What a trails man.....and throwing 890R like that, man you are awsome!

[@whirinakii]

What great bike control both riders, hats off to riding a 890 like a 250 though, loved the feet up slide and rooster dirt @ 9.48 . Really enjoyed the footage - thank you

[@Phillip-i6c]

i grew up in murupara im from the tuhoe tribe in the 80s the forest was our playground from little kids then as teens we would ride everywhere in the forest it was open to all ,then they privatized it and made it off limits ,didnt stop us tho when you know the forest like your playground.Awesome riding vid my man,rapt to see everyone enjoying cheers

[@Mark1JT]

#4 can ride circles around me. Awesome video.

[@AndrewStokes-sk4oe]

I remember doing something like that back in the 80s in the winter, last sunday of every month in the kaiangaroa forrest. best rides ever.

[@SubuShrestha]

The little man at 16:16 is giving the bigger men a run for their money. A legend in the making.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@SubuShrestha so cool! What a lad!

[@ecalzo]

You Sir.. you are one of the BEST rider i watch!!! .. i do not ride all day like you do , i don't do it for living .. but i think you've got something since you was born.. an instinc for that!! Anyway you are amazing.. !!!! I whish i can give you an handshake one day!!! Hi from Italy

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@ecalzo grazie mille

[@ecalzo]

@@ChrisBirchNZ You're welcome.. Sir

[@AlexFBuchholzPhoto]

Wow. This riding is another world and so much fun to watch. Would definitively love to come to one of your riding workshops.

[@turbo_triple]

Rear rider POV camera angle is the best to see your off-road riding skill, expecting more videos like this angle

[@dougiep8464]

Awesome riding you get there

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@dougiep8464 yeah it’s a lot of fun.

[@paulo49252]

Great ride from the cameraman.

[@Dirtbikeadventures1]

You make that look so easy but that is some superhuman riding there. 💪

[@wazman2-73]

What a master class!! on how to ride your dirt bike in the ruts and over obstacles, I guess you never complain of havin a sore butt, I didn't see you sit down🤣 A real inspiration. Legend!!

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@wazman2-73 glad you enjoyed it!

[@Chris-nv1jw]

890 can go anywhere good show buddies💯

[@triquangpham]

hello from Vietnam Mr. Chris, awesome riding as always, love to see you review again about the new 890 and your set up. Especially the gearing setup, the 890 sound so smooth and responsive.

[@gthomas302]

I was there....ripping along on my 450 thinking I was going ok.....till a 890 blitzed passes me!! 😂😂

[@jamesbeech7332]

Absolute Legend! Straight to Good Friday next time! 🙏🏻

[@JebusFinklestein]

That little guy did a double take when you went by him, you could see him thinking THAT’S CHRIS BIRCH!!! 😂

[@martinalvarezfranciscojavier]

Something similar is what I did in my homeland, Asturias (Spain) about 20 years ago, unfortunately today it is totally prohibited and you cannot legally ride off-road. My dream is to be able to go to New Zealand and Australia to learn English and also to learn to ride a motorcycle like you... today it is just a dream and in the meantime I enjoy your videos. Thank you very much.

[@aidan5020]

Goddammit. Thats the one i skipped recently! Took my f800gsa to the previous one - waking up in a tent at neg 2 was a grest start to the day!

[@timainassaari5396]

This was really good to watch 👍

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@timainassaari5396 glad you enjoyed 👍

[@ogasi1798]

lucky beggers , what a place - wicked video too

[@pedroriding]

What a awesome ride! 😊

[@林谷裕]

Guys, very good ride skill.

[@Mark1JT]

Birchy can you send some of that "winter" to Canada for me, I'm jealous.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@Mark1JT eight degrees, pure misery 😂

[@Mark1JT]

@@ChrisBirchNZ You're certainly not helping your case! 😆

[@philgoogle1535]

Someone put a lot of work into those tracks. They look like great fun!

[@zappa248]

Awsome video as always! Is there anyway you can add the speedometer readings to them in future? I can't tell how fast you are going due to the camera angle but I think most people would appreciate this.

[@Azzafudd]

Awesome riding 👍

[@richardlennon4148]

Enjoyed seeing you there.

[@aldoponto8831]

Love your videos.!! I would like to hear from you about how to set the suspension on that bike.!! Or your preference for suspension.. Keep it up.!!

[@orlandoberry4031]

Thank you Liam. Is that the standard suspension? I’d also ask about the cams - but I’d imagine you couldn’t comment. And a big thank you for not playing music.

[@bradsanders6954]

When conditions permit, I have blasted my 890R thru huge chuckholes, like near 2 feet deep. Over giant ruts across them, and just leaned on the bike hard. Thats the only time the stock suspension truly works. Like pros set it up to do that, and it does! Amazingly well, no sense of it wanting to swap or bottom...........................the rest of the time, going camping, street riding, more casual dirt riding or fire roads..................its just plain harsh unless the pace can really be picked up. Dont hit a jeep headon! My 690R is more on the civilized, works pretty decent everywhere but does like to go faster side. No where near as harsh. Im @ 175lbs. Life time dirt rider/racer for 15 years.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@orlandoberry4031 no it’s not, it’s WP pro components set up by Solid Performance in America. The stock stuff is really good but this is on another level. Cams are good, I just got the valve clearances checked as it’s that time and all ok. 👌Happy days.

[@robgreaves2633]

Been able to do that in the forests is so cool 💪

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@robgreaves2633 they are not really forests like in Europe etc. Think massive tree factory. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of pine trees.

[@RajeshZmoke]

Smooth operator Chris 🔥

[@handsomejonny6211]

Holy crap, keep those toes tucked in! I am western Canadian, can't believe how dense the forests are there. At least some of them right? Have you ever been to Vancouver island? You would like that but I don't know the scene out there now. BIg, BIG trees. Get some footage launching over a 3 meter diameter log, on a Pacific beach. At Long Beach Tofino they are surfing. In Canada, a thousand miles north of California.

[@gerardfalco9443]

Awesome!!!! Brutaaaaal

[@PADAMOFFICIAL011]

Love from Nepal🇳🇵

[@marioanayagarcia5859]

Hello Chris, I had the honor of meeting you at the KTM Portugal rally, thank you for your incredible videos. Could you tell me what front and rear tires you have fitted in this video? . Thank you

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@marioanayagarcia5859 I think it would have been a Mitas C18 on the rear and C21 on the front

[@advmoto786]

First of all, what knee support band are you using... Must be a really good one .

[@TwoHawksHunting]

I blame Chris for making off-road look easy. It's his fault all of these old guys, like me, think they can take these big ADV bikes on the trails with no problems. 😂😅 4:16

[@BesharMohamed]

Amazing Birchie! Is that the standard handlebars?

[@superkruger]

Your riding makes me feel like I'm riding a push-bike by comparison!

[@IanGrant-y2p]

Most "good" off road riders couldn't get through that terrain on a 200cc enduro bike!! Chris makes it look easy!

[@manuel6797]

Awesome! What´s the Cameraman riding?

[@timothybroga1704]

More than likely 500EXC

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@manuel6797 350 EXC

[@manuel6797]

@@ChrisBirchNZ Thanks!

[@DukeJnr]

Hi Chris, Duke here from Nigeria, your videos are absolutely amazing, as a beginner off road rider, what do I need to pay attention to on the 890 Adv R ?

[@CurtisBrandt]

He's got an entire (affordable!) video series explaining precisely that!

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@CurtisBrandt thanks! That was going to be my answer.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@DukeJnr www.saynotoslow.nz will get you going!

[@CurtisBrandt]

@@ChrisBirchNZ I'm 52 and I've been riding since I was 7, more or less. Your series has 100% changed my riding for the better. So much more clarity and intention. I feel like I'm barely getting going. Thanks.

[@DukeJnr]

@@ChrisBirchNZ thanks I appreciate 🙏

[@woudjee2]

3:25 sooooooooooooooo true omg haha

[@phillipchandler8862]

Is that a 390 2t just cruising behind filming?

[@anthony851]

Chris rides the 890 like it's the weight of a 125. Anthony

[@robgreaves2633]

Was that the horn or ya arse at 15.39?? 🤔😂

[@markjones3425]

Chris what front tire did you have mounted for this 890 Adv R ride? Cheers

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

Mitas Enduro Trail Rally MH

[@leonardorossi5004]

Hi Chris, I'm in trouble to buy a 890 Adventure S and a 690 Enduro, what do you think about that? I'm in trouble because the first one is a bit heavy for a singletrack! What do you think?

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@leonardorossi5004 personally I much prefer the twins for adv riding. If I was going to go for a single cylinder I would rather set up a 500.

[@leonardorossi507]

Thanks a lot for your answer Chris!

[@thenirmal7918]

what is your height

[@akshay3545]

Why no new videos bro. ❓️

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@akshay3545 I’ve been very busy, I’ll get something up soon.

[@gerardfalco9443]

Mitas ??? Xtenduro trail???, or narrow tires …

[@misfitfarm1937]

I would have just rode a wheelie in the narrow spots to get through..geese… OR just before my helicopter flight to the local ER…..lmao.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@misfitfarm1937 ha ha I’ll consider it for next tkme

[@CurtisBrandt]

@@ChrisBirchNZ I totally thought you were going to haul on the bars and twist it. A nuanced approach instead!

[@alanpontone6599]

I ride a 500exc and on the trails people raise an eyebrow like it's too big for the trails. Come visit BC and show them...

[@Adventures_onTrails]

Speeded up video ?

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

Speeded up riding 😉

[@haydengleeson]

It's not called say no to slow for nothing aye Chris ​@@ChrisBirchNZ

[@danielcastrobelade6652]

Hello, I have a 2024 KTM 890R and I would like to put Motoz Rallz rear and Continental TKC80 front tires, what do you think for the countryside... and another question is about putting a 15-tooth drive sprocket on it, what do you think, thank you very much, I see a lot your videos, you are a crack 

[@Wiewel1960]

The other competitor isn’t doing bad, either 😉

[@chrisvandenbroek6765]

My DR650 would have given a fair race when it's on limiter

[@ltonkerinstein873]

Hope those 890 camshafts don’t give up on you.

[@ChrisBirchNZ]

@@ltonkerinstein873 I just checked the valve clearances and we are all good. 👍

[@CurtisBrandt]

Do you actually think CB is worried about that? Dude sells enough KTMs, I think he's probably got free "insert part here" for life. And rightly so! Worrying about doohickeys is for dudes like you and me, brother.

[@ltonkerinstein873]

@@CurtisBrandt you’re absolutely correct. It’s about visibility for the KTM customers with failed 790 / 890 camshafts. Since KTM won’t take care of us, all we can do is bring transparency.

[@martinalvarezfranciscojavier]

I think this is not a trail ride, for me this is a enduro ride.

[@bradsanders6954]

As cool as these twins are, as fast as you go on one? Out of respect for my body I bought a 690R..............my 890R either sells or becomes a gravel road cruiser.

[@Chris-nv1jw]

Get out of the way regular dirt bike👻

[@3GingerCats]

Too many people. actually make that too many Narcissists who look down on those who don't own their own businesses. I don't think I would ever consider going to one of these events

[@blairknight7793]

It's a shame Chris Birch is an ambassador for a brand that treats It's customers so poorly for their poor engineering. Videos like this are selling poor engineering to unsuspecting customers. I was one, when twice the required servicing still equates to low km failures that leave you without your bike for 6 straight months, my morals would not allow me to work with KTM.

[@IronicHyde]

16:17 Greetings master Dwarf

[@NewsMoto]

12:12 With this jungle skills, I think you can cross the Darien gap with flying colours. 🫡