KTM 790 Adventure S vs KTM 790 Adventure R - Can It Keep Up?

The KTM Adventure 790 is one of the most celebrated mid-sized adventure bikes of 2019. Even through 2020 it remains the king of dirt. The question is how do the two models compare? Is the KTM Adventure 790 S good enough for most off-road riding? Who would benefit in the suspension and electronic upgrades that the KTM 790 Adenture R offers? I took both bikes out with my Dad to see how the two bikes compare.

Let me know in the comments below which bike suits your kind of riding!

My name is Michael, I am The Moto Barista. On this channel my mission is to inspire others to ride motorcycles through my own adventures, bike customization + bike reviews! If that sounds like the kinda thing you're into - you should hit the subscribe button! Your support is greatly appreciated! Ride safe + have fun + drink damn fine coffee!

[philip]

Great video, I like your content. Just some feedback - careful with music in your vids, your dialogue is very soft which is not a problem until the music comes on and blows our eardrums away as we cranked up the volume to hear you. This especially for us head phone users. Also, careful not to start your videos with loud music for the same reasons. Generally we prefer to hear the bikes and not music. Keep your videos coming.

[chrismithchrismith]

I bought the S because I do more tarmac than dirt, and a couple of reviews commented on the R a bit unstable at high speed. I have had the Rally Pack fitted, as well as a whole lot of after-market bling and I'm looking forward to hitting the dirt and the road on some wild camping trips at home in Scotland and elsewhere. Thanks for your review, which I enjoyed.

[SWTrailsAndWheels]

Would have been interesting to put them on the same tires to isolate suspension and handling differences.  But, this is valuable in understanding what you get out of the box.

[theEHWAZ]

Another great video Moto Barista! I have the KTM 790 ADV R and my cousin is now interested in one so I'm forwarding him this video where you do a solid job explaining each one. Thinking he is more suited for the S model for the type of riding he is looking to do in FL. I live near the N. GA mountains and glad I have the R for the off-road hill climbs and trails.

[march.]

Cool to watch both bikes covering the same tracks. I have the "S" version and I am loving it so far. Initially, I regretted not getting the "R". But after 2, 300 miles I am sure I made the right choice for me. It's been great for exploring the less maintained roads out in the country side. Eventually, I'll put on some Mitas E07's and do some off roading.

[sritter]

Hi good review ... having just purchased a 790R and from a off-road, aggessive rider background I just LOVE this machine. The Rally mode is insane, the suspension is incredible ... maybe just the original Karoo tyres need to be changed to more chunky Tractionators or similar. So happy with it !

[OMGMOTO]

I am loving the look of the KTM 790 Adventure R, great comparison review, brother.

[briano]

I own the 790s. I added a good bash plate, the r model high front mudguard and lower screen, and a motoz tractionator adventure on the rear and a shinko 804 on the front. I've yet to find any conditions where I need anything more. Friends on more offroad bikes, including an r, are not that far in front of me. On road, it never misses a beat and the lower seat height makes it a breeze in traffic. A mate of mine who is a much better rider than me, reckons it is very capable offroad and rates it against the tenere 700 in all areas except the ground clearance. I have only ever had the suspension kick me in the arse once or twice and I was pushing it to its limits. I think that unless you need a full balls to the wall offroader, the s will handle everything you throw at it. KTM knows how to get it right and so far, it has never let me down. For most riders, it will be more than enough.

[andrewmadge]

Good review, looks like you had some moisture in the ground to give them a good work out. Not for me... dirt biking, adventure riding etc. But looks great fun to have with a few mates for an afternoon somewhere off track.

[RickyNotSoMartin]

Great video & comparison! Really enjoyed it!

[RollModel]

I am looking to upgrade from my Himalayan. I love it.. but moving to the US and need better highway/road performance. I liked the Himalayan off road because it was really low grunt and greats for casual speeds off road. So the S might be what I might want.

[andsk]

Bought the S for 10G brand new. I chose it over the R model because I have a short inseam. I take it off road and find it more than capable of doing the job, just not as fast as the R model will do it.

[tumbleweed-life]

For comparison you should’ve had a bike set up similar put the same tires on them and try that and if you want to rally package on the S model you can pay a little extra get it if that’s something you need

[RidetheBean]

Thanks for giving us a comparison! That trail looks like so much fun to ride, too. We just got the Yamaha Tenere 700s, so we shouldn´t look too hard at other bikes for a while ;) Love your channel!

[meder]

At 5:35 you said "I can't keep up with you on this bike." I feel like you could have spent time just on addressing exactly your thoughts around that for this video. What are the specific differences that you noticed throughout that kind of testing and how would your experiences help those of us making a choice? For instance, at one point the rear shock appeared to bounce you upwards over successive whoops. How did the other bike respond under the same circumstance and how would you ride differently between the two bikes over the same terrain?

[drrider]

I bought the R model for the suspension though I'll never push it to the limits. Worth the money to me since I really appreciate great suspension. Plus the R has the Rally mode. A little foam windage cover on your mic will help your audio.

[khauwry]

I had to ask about your camera gear, the video is really good

[ownyourworld]

The s will be a massive upgrade over my 2005 transalp lol

[bloodsimple]

Cool vid mate. It’s obvious that the R will outperform the S off-road. Here in Europe we ride +90% on-road. And buy the R for having a blast on the remaining -10% dirt. How do the 2 models compare on-road? Can the R keep up provided proper suspensions setup and road tires. This would make a nice video. Cheers. B

[reddog]

Hey Michael, off reading is a blast but ride with a partner, safety in numbers, Cheers and be safe.