For some reason, KTM delayed announcement of the 2021 890 Adventure standard model after announcing the Adventure R and Adventure R Rally two weeks ago. In any event, here it is, and it should be available in U.S. dealers next month.
In addition to the 90cc larger engine, other changes are made to the 2021 model. The details are in the following press release:
MURRIETA, Calif, – KTM North America, Inc. is pleased to introduce the new 2021 KTM 890 ADVENTURE, complete with more engine grunt, improved handling, added suspension adjustability and rider-focused technology to form the right tool for endless road or gravel exploration – further proof that the ride doesn’t need to end when the road does.
It has never been a better time to reach out to the world on a bike. Getting from A to B quickly and efficiently has always been important, but to do it aboard a machine carrying KTM’s READY TO RACE DNA takes the experience to new levels. A new model for 2021, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE takes the lightweight and sporty characteristics you’d expect from a KTM ADVENTURE motorcycle to deliver a supremely capable adventure tourer – both on and off the pavement.
The KTM 790 ADVENTURE formed a robust basis for KTM engineers to begin their search to offer more – much more – while still maintaining that resourcefulness, light touch and confidence-inspiring handling. The new 889 cc compact engine raises horsepower and torque figures while the 20% extra rotating mass of the crankshaft improves engine character at low revs and adds to its already impressive corning capability. The KTM 890 ADVENTURE also comes with a refined and stronger clutch to cope with the boosted performance.
A new WP APEX rear shock offers greater customization potential through a new rebound damping adjuster and an additional hand adjuster for spring preload. The suspension matches the rest of the chassis configuration in placing the bike firmly between use for the tarmac and the trail.
Want the thrill of the gravel and breaking traction? Then count on 200 mm of suspension travel, Dakar Rally-inspired ergonomics that mean the bike is comparably slim, light and manageable with an accessible seat height, a low fender, a 5.3-gal (20-liter) tank and KTM MY RIDE with navigation.
Prefer the flat expanses of the road? The KTM 890 ADVENTURE has Adventure-spec tires, a full-size TFT dashboard, Cornering ABS, Motorcycle Traction Control and Motor Slip Regulation, a seat that is adjustable in two heights and a strong, yet lightweight, subframe for passenger or baggage.
A range of KTM PowerPart upgrades means that Cruise Control (with the handlebar switch now provided as standard), a Quickshifter+ (with optimized settings), heated seat and grips together with a wide compliment of luggage widens the travel potential of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE even more.
KTM 890 ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS
- New engine with 90 cc added displacement
- Improved performance with increased power
- Better rideability thanks to 20% increased rotating mass
- Stronger clutch adapted to increased performance
- Engine knock control system (use of low Octane fuel)
- High-quality WP suspension components and new rear shock
- Reworked front and rear brakes for added control
- Improved ABS and MTC settings
- Anodized wheel hubs instead of powder coated
- Handlebar switch with Cruise Control button (software additional)
- Weight optimization, thanks to compact motor and fuel tank
- Slim profile, refined ergonomics and new graphics
- Travel-ready with two-part, adjustable seat and low fender
- KTM MY RIDE app giving access to music, calls and, with an optional app, navigation
The KTM 890 ADVENTURE will be arriving at authorized KTM dealers from November 2020 onwards. For more info, visit www.ktm.com.
I absolutely love my 790, great bike. I don’t want to pay extra for 16 lbs more weight. KTM is the master of weight reduction. Other companies should follow their lead.
And they said the VStrom was ugly! 😉
Would not be so bad if the bug head was hack sawed off, and replaced with instrumentation close to the triple clamps, behind a round head light. Body has softer lines than usual for KTM, just needs a color. Chevrolet muffler is always ugly on a motorcycle and in the way. Other than the fact a 650 VStrom costs less and does the same thing, it is a go. Oh yea, needs a FLAT seat especially off road, going down hill.
KTM 690 single For The Win. Excess weight (& excess technology) is an evil mistress.
My road and off-road bicycles run tubes by preference as does my DR650.
In the mountain bike world I never heard of anyone that gave a serious audition to tubeless tires and preferred to go back to tubes.
The only time I have is for wheels and/or tires that are unreliable without them. There are some fat bike tires that are totally reliable with tubes that flat easily when run tubeless.
Other than that, tubeless is the way to go.
Dirt bikers are another story. Not only are most of them unwilling to try a tubeless solution. But many of them run seriously thick ultra heavy duty tubes.
I have yet to try a tubeless solution on any of my dirt bikes. I haven’t seen one that appeals to me yet. I’m kind of surprised that the dirt bike industry hasn’t copied the ideas of the bicycle industry. You can easily say the the bicycle industry is on Gen two or three while the dirt bike industry is still struggling to come up with something that isn’t either mouse or sort of Rube Goldberg.
A lot of dirt bikers really struggle swapping tires. The designs employed by the bicycle industry would make swapping tires more difficult. That might be why the dirt bike industry is dragging their heals.
For years I would go to a spring trail ride event and swap tires for any one of my friends who would bring me their wheel. I usually did about ten or twelve the first night. Don’t get me started on some of the KLR guys.
Mick, I’m one of those guys who has done my own tires for years and uses a No-Mar changer setup. But I fully admit I hate doing dirt bike tires with tubes. Always seemed I’d cut the tube during installation maybe 25% of the time. And yes, I used UHD tubes because of the jagged rocks and freshly chopped up tree roots.
Since Tubliss, it hasn’t been an issue for me. I haven’t had a slice or puncture in 10 or so years either.
I carefully tune my tire irons so the curve that catches the rim doesn’t have much material beyond that point.
You can ruin a lot of time and tubes with off the rack tire irons. Some of the might as well have teeth.
Ice racing tires are really nasty. Super stiff, often frozen, and zillions of sharp edges. There are reasons that I watch for extra sets of wheels.
I run tubeless on my Christini 450E and my mountain bike.
The Christini 450E uses the Tubliss system just like I used on my Honda 450X before it. I run a wide variety of terrain in Texas, so it’s nice to not pinch flat when I run 8-9 psi.
The MTB, a Trek Y300 (yes, very old), use true tubeless wheels and tires, not the tubeless ready stuff. It’s harder to seat the bead on these wheels. And by design, the true tubeless tires are also a slight bit heavier than a standard tubeless tire. But you don’t need tubeless rim tape and sealant. I bought a ton of Kenda Small Block 8s because I figured these kinds of tires are going out of style. Everyone else in the world seems to be fine with the added expense of strips and sealants so true tubeless tires just didn’t gain acceptance in the MTB world, likely because the tire selection is less and the price is higher, but offset with the added materials of the “ready” style. But I think a lot less of a selection was the issue and really a fault of the manufacturers for not committing.
I wouldn’t go back to tubes on either. I just carry a patch kit for both.
Geez! I think I have a set of Small Block 8s on my mothballed Ti 29er.
I didn’t know that they were anything out of the ordinary. I rode that bike a lot in NL, less so in Paris. I don’t know if I have ridden it in anger at all here in NH. Oddly enough because the tires don’t work here all that well.
I’m going to bring that one to join my 300XC in Minnesota where I do the bulk of my dirt biking. I keep my stuff in Duluth where there is a lot of nice MTB trail.
Best guess is if they were considering to hold off on this 890 adventure and release the Norden 901 first. The latest Norden pictures show the same suspension length shorter than the EICMA show bike.
It looks like a nice bike. When I started riding, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, we expected to be able to ride off-road/off-pavemnt on occasion, even though most of my riding was on pavement. It’s nice to see this part of the market expand. Personally, I have little to no interest in deep off road explorations, but there are times I’ve had to turn my “street” bikes around because they just weren’t really happy with dirt, or even graveled roads. This KTM would be my upper limit size-wise for a dual-purpose, street-focused ADV bike, but it looks quite interesting.
I’m holding out for the increased displacement 920 model which will be here next next year which will render this one obsolete….but maybe I should wait for the 935 model the year after that….decisions
Displacement creep is indeed a cruel mistress…
It will be a 990. And it will be ground-breaking. Oh, wait. 😉
Weight?
I mostly still use tubes on and off road. I like the easy repairability and dislike the mess of tubeless. That’s just me. My Scott hardtail has carbon wheels and tubes. Go figure.
Bicycles ? ? ? Two strokes / Four strokes, High wing / Low wing, Pistols / Revolvers, what the heck. Tubes are better on low pressure dirt motorcycles, tubeless run cooler on pavement. Go figure.
103HP. SRP: $13,100.
Hi Dirck! Have you heard for fact whether it will be tube or tubeless wheels? They seem to have omitted that important (to me) item in the above press release. This bike will not see much off road and does not need to ride on bicycle wheels but if some feel that they need ’em, make ’em optional.
Or not.
Because now the previous generation bikes will be blown out the door at fire sale prices, including the 1290 series (new versions of that are coming soon). Progress thy middle and last names must surely be “Planned” and “Obsolescence”. Regardless of the wheels KTM makes a fine motorcycle and many here and in the real world may well take advantage of what their adventure series have to offer. I wish them well.
Tubeless
Bicycles in anything like an adventure configuration come with tubeless ready wheels now. All you need to do is add your favorite sealant and hit the trail.
Few cyclists use tubes now days. You are going to have to find some other conveyance to denigrate in the wheel department.
Sorry. Time moves on.
My point was valid and not just to me, Mick. Why not concentrate on this bike being too heavy or not powerful enough or any other of the myriad moronic stuff usually pointed out here by the ifonlies? 😉
I have the ability to pay for what I want and need (within reason!) as I am certain you must. “…some other conveyance to denigrate”. LOL! I suggest you hold out my friend for the KTM 990. The past is about to be replayed but this time it’ll be all about the “Return of a Legend…The KTM 990 Adventure!!!!” Perhaps that will suffice for the sAdventure riders around the world because as nearly everyone bought into a couple of decades ago with Harleys, riding a “legend” makes you one.
This KTM is a nice bike and now that Dirck has confirmed the use of tubeless it is nicer and to me, more worthy of my hard earned money.
But I will give the “inferior” 790s a closer look-see now that they are passe’ due to not enough whatever the heck hipster’s ego feed upon these days, LOL! Seasoned citizens need to watch our money, don’tcha know.
Later.
Not enough power is never a thing for me. Too much weight is totally a thing for me on all off the rack street bikes.
That’s why I make my own from bikes sold as off road only bikes. You get about enough power, mine’s about 60hp, and you get insane amounts of less weight. It’s just my thing. And yes, my personal street bike has tubes. All but one of my motorcycles uses tubes.
On bicycles, if you are an enthusiast, you are generally going to spend the extra money to go tubeless. Bicycles are not sold off the rack tubeless because you have to add sealant to the wheels about once a year. I have a recalcitrant wheel on one of my bicycles. That one bike has tubes. I should really pry my wallet open and get a more cooperative wheel for it. But I already have two recalcitrant rears for that baby. The bike gods seem to want me to maintain one bicycle with tubes. They have been nice to me thus far. So I humor them.
My wife picked out and likes the one tubeless, and heavy, and ugly IMO, motorcycle. She’s one of the other gods that I have to humor.
It does have decent ergos and a loveable engine. I had one just like it for the five years that I lived in Europe. I actually repatriated the center stand that the EU models had.
My beef with the bike in the article, other than the weight, is the gas tank and everything forward of th triple clamps. I always thought that the worst thing about a boxer engine was the physical location of the cylinders. Why on earth someone would want a boxer gas tank is beyond me.
Yes many mid to upper end bicycles, and you can read that as well over $1000 up to $10k+, do often come with “tubeless ready” wheels. With additional cost and preparation you can then buy some new tubeless tires.
No it is not “common” amongst “most” cyclist, it is simply available much like for ADV motorcycles. And, usually at additional cost.
Tape over the spokes, tubeless valve, sealant and significantly more air volume to seal the tire bead.