When the KTM 790 Adventure made its return to our shores a few years ago, I called it a bargain middleweight adventure bike with pedigree. Three years later, after a few updates and, more importantly, after taking the plunge on a close relative myself and putting over 10,000 km under its wheels, I’m going to say it again: the KTM 790 Adventure is one hell of a motorcycle for the money. Let me explain…
The 790 Adventure had a rather short first innings. Launched in 2019, it was effectively replaced by the bigger 890 just two years later. Whether that was KTM keeping up with the Joneses, the arrival of Euro 5, or simply a touch of KTM’s notorious launch fever, who knows? Whatever the reason, the 790 disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived.
So when it returned to the family, I suspect a few past owners, and plenty of riders who never saw the need to upgrade to the 890, breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Sometimes, bigger isn’t necessarily better. In fact, I always saw the base 790 Adventure as the clever one out of the litter, offering much of KTM’s adventure-bike DNA without demanding the price, size or commitment of the more extreme “Katooms”.
When the 790 returned in 2023, it immediately caused a stir. Priced aggressively at R199,999, it offered a specification that made some of the Japanese middleweight adventure bikes look somewhat pedestrian. Yes, it was assembled in China, and that attracted plenty of attention. But that argument has become rather tired. KTM knows how to engineer a motorcycle, CFMOTO knows how to manufacture one, and the finished product has KTM’s fingerprints all over it where they matter.
More for Less
Fast-forward to today, 2026, and KTM has sharpened the 790’s already impressive Swiss Army knife of abilities. The most significant change for me is the addition of adjustable suspension. One of my observations when I first rode the predecessor was that the WP APEX 43 mm front forks were non-adjustable. I never considered that a deal-breaker, though. KTM had set them up with a good balance between adventure riding and open-road touring, and I was genuinely surprised at how well they performed when things got rough off-road. Yes, it was on the soft side, but that’s what made the 790 a better all-rounder than the “R”.
Ok, so let’s paint the full picture for you quickly. Now the 2026 790 Adventure gets adjustable front forks, a four-year factory warranty, KTM’s Tech Pack as a standard fitment, wider and more aggressive off-road pegs and a subtle change to its white-and-orange livery. And then here’s the bit that should really get your attention: it’s R10,000 cheaper (R189,999) than it was three years ago. When you compare it to what’s on our Buyers Guide right now and consider the specification KTM is offering, there aren’t many alternatives that can give you this bang for buck.
The Middleweight Sweet Spot?
The 790 Adventure is something of a sleeper in our market, especially with South Africans being so obsessed with bigger and more expensive adventure motorcycles. “We want the 1200s, the 1300s, the Rally versions, the Double Rs and Evos.” I get it. Bigger bikes are impressive. They’re fast, comfortable and incredibly capable. The problem is that modern adventure motorcycles have become so capable that most riders will never come close to exploiting their full potential. I am the first to admit I will never fully exploit the potential of a KTM 890 Adventure R Rally, let alone the just-as-incredible 890 Adventure R, but it’s always fun to try!
For the majority of us, a good middleweight is more than enough motorcycle. In many cases, it’s actually the better tool because it remains manageable and less of a compromise for what we actually intend on using it for.
This is where the 790 makes so much sense. It has a decent ground clearance of 233 mm, which again is respectable compared to its adventure touring competition, 200 mm of suspension travel front and rear, a very accessible seat height of 840-860 mm and phenomenal two-up comfort. I find it almost as comfortable as my own Husqvarna Norden 901, and so does Meredith on the pillion seat.
The standard features alone make the bike so attractive in my opinion; we are talking about a touring screen with adjustable mounting points for height adjustment, cruise control, slip-control, up and down quick-shifter, Pirelli STR tyres, tubeless spoked wheels, an exhaust shield, a thin aluminium bash plate, tank protectors and my personal favourite, built-in storage compartments inside the rear side fairings. Doesn’t this sound like a bike you can just turn the key and disappear onto an amazing adventure with?
At this price, you could heavily personalise a 790 Adventure to your liking without getting near the price of an alternative from the Japanese or Germans. Most of the goodies are already on the bike. Add a centre stand, perhaps a tasty exhaust and some soft luggage or a roll bag, and what more do you really need?
Then there’s the engine; I’d say this was what put the 790 on the map, along with its low-slung fuel tanks and quirky design, of course. At 799 cc, producing 94 hp and 87 Nm, it obviously gives away some numbers to the 890, if you want to compare it to its stronger sibling, but when I rode the two back-to-back, I was surprised by how little difference I could feel in the real world. The 790 spins up quickly and has one of those intoxicating midranges that makes the bike feel considerably more energetic than the specification sheet suggests. Yes, you need to turn the flame up to really get the pot cooking compared to the 890, but that almost makes the 790 more fun to ride. You have to work it a little harder, and that’s no bad thing.
At highway speeds, the 790 settles into its stride nicely, and ridden with some restraint, fuel consumption can drop below 4 L/100 km, although around 4.5 L/100 km is a more realistic average. With 20 litres on board, that translates into a genuine 400-plus-kilometre range. That said, KTM has a habit of putting a little orange devil on your shoulder, and he does like to have his say.
Over the years, KTM has nearly perfected its parallel-twin line-up, and I believe this minor refresh puts the 790 Adventure back on the map. The fact is, right now there’s more reason to buy a 790 Adventure than before. It isn’t the poor man’s 890. It’s the KTM that makes you question whether you need the 890 in the first place. So, while the opportunity is here, find your local KTM dealer and take a 790 Adventure for a test ride.
KTM 790 Adventure
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