2023 KTM 890 Adventure Review

The standard 2023 KTM 890 Adventure provides excellent performance at a reasonable price point – and that’s true whether you’re comparing it to the entire middleweight field or just its longer legged bro. Managing Editor, Ryan Adams reports back with his first ride impressions from the Oeste region of Portugal. 

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[pinkiewerewolf]

I recently bought a 2022 890 ADV and got the tech pack with purchase.
I’ve only ridden it the 45 miles from the dealer to home but there wasn’t any undo buffeting for me at 5’8”.
Went with the base to plant the balls of my feet.
I think this bike and I are gonna be long time friends, it fits me.

[MrAndrew]

Base bike with full tech pack equals one helluva bike. It would be good if they had riding schools like Honda where they show you how to use the high tech pack features.

[marcopollo]

Just ordered one here in western Colorado!! Wooohooo !

[bradleybaker]

I spoke with a KTM dealer and he told me that after the trial period, you can pay for the full tech package or just the capabilities you want. Also, you can go back later and add the tech upgrades you didn’t get at the end of the trial period. Makes sense.

[defylifeadventure]

Why is ever one of these videos from the press event just an advertorial. No-one says anything bad about the bikes. Reminds me of all the reviews of the original 790 and 890, with all the press praising the suspension, only for owners to get hold of them and find the suspension on both the standard and R to be extremely harsh. The stock tyres get a few paragraphs, but that's the least important thing on the bike, people will chop and change tyres to suit their riding.

[davidsizemore]

For what your paying for the bike all the riding modes should come with it. When you have to buy the modes after the demo runs out it's a way to nickel and dime their customer to death. I'll would just go buy a bike that comes with the riding modes without having to pay extra.

[lesavanturededanny]

The tech pack upgrade has been like this in a lot of countries for about 8 years. I had to pay for the upgrade and even crash bars that come stock in some countries. So this problem is not new or a problem. Just paid the extra $800 for the complete upgrade and stop complaining.

[RiseRyder]

I'm really torn between this and the Aprilia Tuareg for my next bike.

[ResQ]

My heart telling me yes, but my brain pushing me to jap

[houseofroos]

Would love to see more videos from you all, like once per week. Other Youtubers are eating your lunch.

[marcusgeorge]

IMO, at this price, considering the features are already on the bike it should just be stock. However, KTM are just being a bit smarter simply to make more money. Nice review, thank you.

[RatBike]

I would not buy one until KTM explains the camshaft failures detailed on the enthusiast sites.

[MrTmax]

Thanks for the review, The whole game they play with the tech package is the only reason I need to never buy from that brand. Fortunately there's plenty of other options out there, and likely more reliable.

[JohnJay]

I'm interested in this motorcycle and other KTM models, but it's hard to trust KTM.

[dkf]

TFT displays are a cost saving measure. Don't praise them like they are better than analogue gauges.

[dcryder]

Did KTM just adopt the LCD and software from the Norden 901?

[royarnab]

KTM please bring it to India. What's the point of demo mode if people can't even try the bike. 1250GS, Tigers sells like hotcake here; this will too.

[jaynadler]

When a journalist is helping companies move in the subscription direction, I really question the quality of the publisher. There is no way the presenter (or anyone who actually rides bikes) actually thinks that a bike that one day has all its features and the next day, if you want to use it, you need to pay more, is a good thing. The new bike sounds awesome. All the tech is built in and comes with it. Even with all the awesomeness, there is no way I am going to pay for a bike or car and then pay for it again. We as consumers should protest this new, ugly, marketing direction with our wallets and not buy from manufacturers who think their clients are idiots and who charge us for things that are there and ready to go from the factory.

[TheArchitectJC]

Interesting to have DRM in a vehicle but I guess they had to find some way to make the whole package worse.

[joeblow]

somebody barfed a Lego set on the engine