4K mile Review 2024 KTM 790 ADV

Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
3,663
Location
Southern IN / North central, KY
I’ve put 4K miles on my 2024 KTM 790 ADV in the last 3 months.

So far it’s been pretty reliable! We will get to that in a minute.

Handling: The bike handles awesome! My previous bike was an XSR900 and this bike even with 50/50 tires and a 21” front wheel handles and corners better. The balance and the way it falls into a corner is exceptional.

Power: below 3k RPM the engine is fairly weak in 5th and 6th gear. After all it is only 799CC. From 4K-9K RPM the power is phenomenal. The midrange punch is really enjoyable.

Maintenance: maintenance is fairly straightforward. It’s not as easy to service as the XSR was, but it’s fairly straightforward. KTM allows access to the oil service reset reminder without visiting a dealer which is nice. It will get its 3rd oil change this week before I head out west on a 6k mile trip next week.

Reliability: Overall reliability has been pretty good. The bike uses no oil between oil changes. I have installed an aftermarket timing chain tensioner from Dirt Tricks which quiets some of that “KTM rattle” at idle. It hasn’t left me stranded. That said, the countershaft seal is starting to weep some oil. I’ve contacted the Dealer and they have scheduled me right in for a warranty replacement (common issue they said). The chain has not stretched any at all and it was running a tad tight after I put on the luggage and racks, so the CSS could have been something I caused from riding about 600mi on an overly tight chain…ooops

I’ve had one random turn signal failure error on the dash which they are going to check on. Possibly an ECU update for certain glitches.

Overall I’m happy with its reliability this far considering this is an $11k Chinese (CF Moto) assembled motorcycle.

Cost of ownership: so far the bike has been fairly affordable to maintain. I’ve spent money to change the oil 3 times with Amsoil 15w50 Metric, o-rings, and factory oil filters.

Bike gets a consistent 56MPG with mixed riding. On the highway it gets about 59MPG which is fantastic in my opinion for a 95HP bike.

Upgrades: I’ve installed the KTM Heated grips which allow control through the display and the factory controls. I’ve also installed Tusk pannier racks and Olympus panniers, a harbor freight pelican style top case, a Puig screen, as well as a vented seat cover.

In the next week I will be having the CSS replaced under warranty and a new set of Pirelli tires installed. I will be leaving on a 6k mile cross country trip. I will update with a 10k mile review and some photos in a month or two.

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What a great write up @donnyj08 . Thank you.

Sounds like a great bike as we would expect from KTM. Please keep us updated as far on the reliability.

p.s. I was just out there driving the Snake with an old friend driving his 911. First time for me and one off the old bucket list.

Have fun and enjoy your fabulous new bike!
 
What a great write up @donnyj08 . Thank you.

Sounds like a great bike as we would expect from KTM. Please keep us updated as far on the reliability.

p.s. I was just out there driving the Snake with an old friend driving his 911. First time for me and one off the old bucket list.

Have fun and enjoy your fabulous new bike!
Thank you!

We rode 421 from indiana down to North Carolina, did the snake, blue ridge parkway to Cherokee, TN and hit the tail of the dragon on the way back home.

This is the second trip to the dragon on this bike and the factory STRs grip awesome, but they are getting worn!

I’m really enjoying the bike! I love everything about it with the exception of the KTM “sound” at idle which the DT tensioner cleaned up quite a bit.

I’ll keep the forum posted after the cross country trip!
 
I have a 2023 890 Adventure R. - Do the cat delete, you will thank me.

I've only heard of problems from the Dirt Tricks tensioner. It quiets the engine but can blow seals out which is ironic given your post. That being said, at 4,000 miles mine sounds like a jar full of bottle caps being rolled down a landfill at idle. I have the 3 year extended warranty.

Ride Safe!
 
I have a 2023 890 Adventure R. - Do the cat delete, you will thank me.

I've only heard of problems from the Dirt Tricks tensioner. It quiets the engine but can blow seals out which is ironic given your post. That being said, at 4,000 miles mine sounds like a jar full of bottle caps being rolled down a landfill at idle. I have the 3 year extended warranty.

Ride Safe!


I made the mistake of not checking the chain tension after installing the luggage racks and loading up for the last trip. I rode the entire time on a completely tight chain due to increased sag. I checked it after I returned and it had literally no play 🤦🏼‍♂️. Likely I wore the seal slightly by running the chain too tight.

That said the Dealer said it’s also an extremely common leak on 790/890/901 engines and they replace a ton under warranty.


The DT tensioner can’t increase oil pressure to create leaks as pressure is controlled by the oil control spring. The DT allows oil under it just the same as the factory tensioner, it just has a better spring and ratchet system. The horror stories some relate to DT were of oil pressure switch failures which were happening on many 19-21 models regardless of tensioner used.
 
I have a 2023 890 Adventure R. - Do the cat delete, you will thank me.

I've only heard of problems from the Dirt Tricks tensioner. It quiets the engine but can blow seals out which is ironic given your post. That being said, at 4,000 miles mine sounds like a jar full of bottle caps being rolled down a landfill at idle. I have the 3 year extended warranty.

Ride Safe!
Inside the cat is the spark arrestor. Just keep that in mind if your going somewhere you might need that.

I've put over 3200 miles on my 2021 890R this week alone. It's like a giant dirt bike. A few pics from today.

Safe travels on your trip! Do you have cruise control?

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Just an attempt to make you laugh, over what I'm sure was not the plan... 🙂
Oh I know and appreciate the humour!
The bike decided it wanted to rest several times more before and after the previously attached photo.

I don't want to hijack the OPs thread. Are you on the road yet? Let us know how it's going.
 
@donnyj08
Great OP. Awesome riding experience up in the Smoky's Been going there for well over a decade.
Love the looks of that bike but one criticism! How about a nice BRIGHT photo of the bike!?!?!? :)
I think you posted it when you first got it but the ones here are awfully dark.
 
@donnyj08
Great OP. Awesome riding experience up in the Smoky's Been going there for well over a decade.
Love the looks of that bike but one criticism! How about a nice BRIGHT photo of the bike!?!?!? :)
I think you posted it when you first got it but the ones here are awfully dark.
Here is my probable luggage setup for my X-Country trip. Hopefully these pictures are a little better!

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I have the (older version) same bags:


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Very nice! I almost bought a Leftover 23 890R instead. It was another $1700.00 or so which was probably worth it. I however do no off road riding at all. I do 100% street riding and road trips. I felt the 890R was a little stiff for long days on state highways. Im also only 5’9” 30” inseam so the 890R was a little tall for me.

That is a beautiful bike!
 
Very nice! I almost bought a Leftover 23 890R instead. It was another $1700.00 or so which was probably worth it. I however do no off road riding at all. I do 100% street riding and road trips. I felt the 890R was a little stiff for long days on state highways. Im also only 5’9” 30” inseam so the 890R was a little tall for me.

That is a beautiful bike!
For sure too tall for you. I'm 6'2" and can't flat foot both feet in my street boots. Off-road boots are a bit higher so I can flat foot both feet. I realise that flat footing both feet isn't the be all end all.
I sat on a 890 Rally. The extra 30 mm of height, when off road, would definitely end in the bike being dropped more frequently.

You look ready to set off. Have you looked and the Drive Mode Dashboard V2 app for navigation? I think it's shortened to DMD2 in Google Play store. It was developed by some guys on ADVRider specifically for motorcycle navigation. It's cheap and fantastic with a la carte options like OBD2 interface and rally style route book navigation. I used it for my recent Continental Divide ride. Faultless navigation from the app. Only navigation issues were from me enjoying the scenery and riding past the upcoming turn!

Safe travels
 
For sure too tall for you. I'm 6'2" and can't flat foot both feet in my street boots. Off-road boots are a bit higher so I can flat foot both feet. I realise that flat footing both feet isn't the be all end all.
I sat on a 890 Rally. The extra 30 mm of height, when off road, would definitely end in the bike being dropped more frequently.

You look ready to set off. Have you looked and the Drive Mode Dashboard V2 app for navigation? I think it's shortened to DMD2 in Google Play store. It was developed by some guys on ADVRider specifically for motorcycle navigation. It's cheap and fantastic with a la carte options like OBD2 interface and rally style route book navigation. I used it for my recent Continental Divide ride. Faultless navigation from the app. Only navigation issues were from me enjoying the scenery and riding past the upcoming turn!

Safe travels


I will be navigating via Rand McNally! I like it old school. We are just riding and enjoying the journey. A couple weeks of no where to be other than on the bike and sightseeing! Will be hitting the million dollar highway, monument Valley, and the loneliest road in America.
 
Thanks for the post - great read. Nice bike and it sounds like you're off on a great Adventure ;-). Old school nav still has its place- I think you can absorb the "context" of the ride better with paper. Both have their place and we use both, but for long, intricate rides and for doing the many terrific route files that people publish, I find it's hard to beat e-nav.

I had to laugh at We're Metals' description of the KTM idle sound, "like a jar full of bottle caps being rolled down a landfill at idle". I had an 890 and that describes the idle sound to a "T". It was also an unmerciful all-season chestnut roaster ;-)

I'm a shaft drive fan - lube spline and change fluid once a year and good to go. We're off on a ride to Gaspe in the morning and here's my bike, ready to roll.

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I will be navigating via Rand McNally! I like it old school. We are just riding and enjoying the journey. A couple weeks of no where to be other than on the bike and sightseeing! Will be hitting the million dollar highway, monument Valley, and the loneliest road in America.
I see you're a true analog GPS (map) using gentleman!
I rode the million dollar highway on my return from the southern end of the CDR. Absolutely amazing road and scenery. Have a blast.
 
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