KTM 890 Adventure R 2025
The rally-bred benchmark for riders who actually leave the tarmac.
65.4/ 100
Scored within adventure, methodology here
€15,499
list price
- power
- 105 hp
- wet weight
- 215 kg
- tank range
- 435 km
The short version
The 890 Adventure R remains the offroad reference of the middleweight adventure class: 240 mm of fully adjustable XPLOR travel, a low-slung 20 litre tank that keeps mass off the steering and a 105 hp twin with rally-grade electronics. It asks a premium over the Tenere and justifies it with hardware.
Where it wins
- Fully adjustable WP XPLOR suspension with 240 mm of travel
- Low-slung tank design keeps weight where offroad riders want it
- 105 hp with cornering, offroad and optional rally electronics
Where it loses
- Costs several thousand more than its Japanese rival
- Rally-flat seat splits opinion for long road stints
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
20.0 / 25Handling and chassis
11.6 / 20Value
8.2 / 20Practicality
10.1 / 15Technology
8.8 / 10Reliability and ownership
6.7 / 10The full review
Why the 890 Adventure R is the offroad reference
KTM bills this as the most offroad-capable travel bike on sale, and the unusual thing about that claim is that reviewers who took it to Morocco and back agreed. Testers describe a commanding stand-up cockpit, a slim tank between the knees and balance that lets it be ridden like an overgrown enduro bike, which in this class nothing else tolerates for long.
The twin carries luggage, a pillion and momentum up whatever the trail becomes, with a fat midrange the long-term tests never stopped praising.
The tank is the clever bit
The 20 litre tank hangs low around the engine in a horseshoe instead of sitting up by the bars, and testers consistently credit it for the bike feeling a class lighter than its 215 kg the moment the surface turns loose. It also covers well over 400 km between stops, which matters where this bike is designed to go.
Cornering ABS, offroad modes and a TFT are standard. The quickshifter, cruise control and full rally mode remain paid options, a pricing habit KTM refuses to be embarrassed about.
The 890 Adventure R against the Tenere 700
The Yamaha costs around 4,300 EUR less and counters with simplicity and a famous valve interval. The KTM justifies its premium with suspension, power and electronics the Tenere simply does not have, plus 15,000 km service intervals of its own.
The honest complaint that survives every long-term test is the seat, which one reviewer summarised as a hard plank that standing up mercifully solves. If your rides end where the road does, this is the one. If they end at a cafe, buy the Yamaha and keep the change.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | LC8c parallel twin, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 889 cc |
| Power | 105 hp at 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 100 Nm at 6,500 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.49 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 215 kg |
| Front suspension | WP XPLOR 48 mm, 240 mm |
| Front adjustability | Fully adjustable |
| Rear suspension | WP XPLOR PDS monoshock, 240 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Fully adjustable |
| Front brake | 320 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Cornering ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 880 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1528 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 20 L |
| Claimed consumption | 4.6 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 435 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €15,499 |
| Service interval | 15,000 km |
| Valve check | 30,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional |
| Cruise control | Optional |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the 890 Adventure R
Honda XL750 Transalp vs KTM 890 Adventure R
91.8 hp vs 105 hp / 208 kg vs 215 kg
KTM 890 Adventure R vs Yamaha Tenere 700
105 hp vs 73 hp / 215 kg vs 208 kg
KTM 890 Adventure R vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
105 hp vs 40 hp / 215 kg vs 196 kg
CFMOTO 450MT vs KTM 890 Adventure R
42 hp vs 105 hp / 175 kg vs 215 kg
BMW F 450 GS vs KTM 890 Adventure R
48 hp vs 105 hp / 178 kg vs 215 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the KTM 890 Adventure R A2 licence legal?
- No. The KTM 890 Adventure R makes 105 hp (77.2 kW), and EU rules only allow A2 restriction of bikes up to 70 kW. This one needs the full A licence.
- How fast is the KTM 890 Adventure R?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 3.1 seconds, from 105 hp moving 215 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the KTM 890 Adventure R?
- About 435 km on paper: a 20 litre tank against a claimed 4.6 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the KTM 890 Adventure R?
- The KTM 890 Adventure R seat sits at 880 mm, which is on the tall side, so shorter riders should sit on one before signing anything. At 215 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the KTM 890 Adventure R cost?
- €15,499 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 8.2 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your 890 Adventure R
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.