What a difference a year makes. This time last year,KTM was on the ropes. The future looked so uncertain for the famous orange brand that some of us genuinely believed we were about to witness the demise of yet another overly ambitious European motorcycle brand. Thanks to Bajaj, KTM is still in business, but while it might seem like business as usual from the outside, change will be afoot behind the scenes. For one, ties to CFMoto are all but cut, which has brought an abrupt end to the production of the 790 bikes. So if you want a middleweight KTMadventure bike, your only option is what we feel is the most rugged-looking ADV currently on the market.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced fromKTM. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
Bad News: This Popular KTM Just Went Off The Shelves
It was one of the most capable middleweight nakeds in the market
The KTM 890 Adventure R Is The Most Rugged-Looking Adventure Bike In 2025
MSRP: $15,799
Some rugged-looking ADVs don’t always deliver on their promise. The890 Adventure R is not one of those ADVs. What you see really is what you get. It is the single most capable off-road adventure bike money can buy, and this is no exaggeration. In this case, rugged certainly doesn’t mean pretty either. It simply looks purposeful. If orange isn’t your color, there are still several other great middleweight bikes to choose from.
The Ducati DesertX Is An Italian Alternative
If you are willing to spend a little more, theDucati DesertX is arguably the best-looking bike in this space. It doesn’t just look great, either; it is also a very competent off-roader and will be more comfortable than most – if not all – middleweight adventure bikes on the street. It offers a comprehensive electronics suite that rivals the KTM in most respects, but falls short in others. Triumph also offers the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, also more comfortable on the street and also more expensive. It remains something of an alternative choice even though the Tiger 900 has been doing the middleweight ADV thing for longer than most of its rivals.
Aprilia's Tuareg 660 Deserves A Look, Too
Sometimes you don’t necessarily need to pay more. The lightweight Aprilia Tuareg 660 is one small step down in terms of overall sophistication, but in terms of off-road capability, it is right up there, thanks largely to how light it is. It occupies a unique space in the adventure bike market, sitting between the more affordable Japanese bikes and the more expensive European brands. Aprilia doesn't have the most extensive dealer network, but other than that, this bike is pretty hard to fault and is well worth a look.
The 890 Adventure R Has An Infamous Parallel-Twin
Power: 104 Horsepower
Several years back, KTM announced the790 Duke, then shortly thereafter a 790-based adventure bike. It was an all-new parallel-twin, which made 100 horsepower and complied with all the global emissions standards. A thoroughly modern engine which was supposed to be a giant killer, and a fitting replacement for the aging LC4. It was updated way faster than anyone ever expected. Suddenly, the LC8c had become an 889cc lump, and that is what we have here in the new Adventure R, with 104 horsepower.
Addressing The Elephant In The Room
Unfortunately, right from when the LC8c was first introduced as a 790, it had problems. What everyone suspected were simply teething issues with the old 790 never really got resolved, and they eventually turned into something significantly worse. Ultimately, customers were left shell-shocked as their almost-new bike would need to have its camshaft replaced. KTM pointed to an oil-starvation issue which only affected bikes made before 2020, but in reality, this problem has affected bikes that are newer, and most agree that oil-starvation is only part of the problem. This is not to say each and every bike has bad cams, but the issue is widespread, and it took KTM far too long to even acknowledge that there was an issue in the first place.
KTM Financial Woes: Everything You Need To Know About
As it stands, KTM is in deep financial troubles, and things are only getting worse
The 890 Adventure R Is Peerless Off-Road
All manufacturers have these kinds of issues. Even Honda, a company with a reputation for making some of the most reliable motorcycles in the world, had a “chocolate cams” scandal back in the 80s. Nobody is immune to such things; it is just how the company handles them that really matters, and it is fair to say KTM has not handled the issue particularly well.
The only reason people are willing to overlook this scandal is because of how good the 890 Adventure R really is. Owners love these bikes and ride them everywhere and anywhere. In terms of off-road capability, nothing compares. Not only does the 890 Adventure R offer class-leading off-road suspension, it also offers some of the best off-road electronics in the business.
Off-Road Electronics That Actually Work
In terms of features, the 890 Adventure R has cornering ABS, lean-sensitivetraction control, and a fancy TFT dash, but frustratingly leaves the quickshifter – which literally has the hardware installed – and cruise control behind a paywall. KTM's now infamous "demo mode" is another well-documented shortfall, but parking that to one side, the off-road electronics, which you do get, are fantastic. Every modern ADV has some form of off-road electronics, but most will agree that the only mode that actually works off-road is off.
The same is not true for the KTM, as the off-road electronics are so well calibrated that you can get used to them and never actually feel the need to switch them off. This is something to keep in mind if you ever get off the bike and try out a friend’s bike that doesn’t offer the same level of sophistication. On the whole, this bike is just one big contradiction. It is simultaneously the best and worst ADV on the market. To some, the risk is not worth the reward. To others, that recently announced four-year warranty might be enough of a carrot.
