KTM first unveiled the 790 Adventure back in 2017 and massively raised the bar in the middle-weight ADV segment in the process. Bestowed with an impressive host of tech and features that had until then been reserved for big-bore flagship adventure models, the 790 ADV was eventually succeeded by the Austrian outfit’s 890 Adventure R only a few short years later in 2021 — at which time we assumed the 790 would be phased out, not unlike a great many of its KTM ADV predecessors. In a surprising turn of events, however, the Ready To Race brand has now announced that its revived its beloved mid-sized ADV model with the 2024 KTM 790 Adventure.
This new take on the 790 is kicked along by a modified 799cc parallel-twin with smoother power delivery and 93.87hp on tap. Fitted with a high-mount MX-style exhaust and a revised PASC slipper clutch, this twin-cylinder engine is used as a stressed member in the bike’s frame, which is a powder-coated tubular chromoly steel unit that’s been specifically engineered for long-range travel — whether on and off-road. The chassis has been paired with an advanced skid plate design, a 43mm WP APEX open-cartridge fork and a matching WP APEX mono-shock affording 7.87” of travel front and aft. Riding on a spoked off-road-ready wheel-set shod in Pirelli Scorpion STR rubber, the whole bike comes cloaked in modern Dakar-inspired bodywork that’s reinforced via a pair of underlying forged aluminum brackets, equipped with a taller, rally-inspired windscreen, and decorated in a livery that sports graphics that are applied using mold-in technology with no raised stickers or decals.
On top of the impressive go-anywhere capabilities that made it so popular upon its debut in 2017, another monumental part of what makes this adventure bike so special is its class-leading electronics package — much of which has been inherited from KTM’s larger and until now, more advanced 890 Adventure R model. This includes 6D IMU-regulated traction control and cornering ABS, as well as a special off-road ABS mode, and multiple power deliver modes, but it doesn’t end there. The bike also gets a state-of-the-art 5” TFT display with connectivity to the KTMconnect app and Turn-by-Turn+ navigation. What’s more, alongside a host of accessories and off-road bits, KTM is also offering several performance and tech upgrades for the new 790 including its Quickshifter+ and a cruise control system.
While pricing has yet to be reveled, the 2024 KTM 790 Adventure is slated to hit dealerships just before the end of 2023. Having said that, we anticipate a starting price of around $12,000 to $14,000. It also remains to be seen if the 790 will be offered in top-of-the-line factory-kitted R or Rally specs like its 890 counterpart.
