Whatever else, adjustable suspension is a must IMHO.
The 790 without it I tried was horrible compared to the Norden with.

Not sure about the other bits.

 

This is why i'd consider a new shape 890 because I know I had to adjust it when I rode it, but those are still out of budget.

The adjustable version on the Norden is also the same on the new 890 but not the nonadjustable stuff on the old 790/890

I was toying with the norden too but for some reason insurance is a solid 400 quid higher and again, still not quite in budget.

 

You do get a few KTM extras as standard, I think. The FE Huskys tended to be KTM 6 Days spec.
I just loved the look of the Norden - it was more adventure where the KTM was more look at me racy. Very much an evolution of my 690 in some ways. It also felt more comfortable on my racing snake posterior.

 

You've not listed the road-riding you want to do, or have to do in order to get to the "off-road".
Nor what the off-road is - greenlanes? gravel? Welsh slippery madness?

Just on what you've typed I'd be looking at a Husky 701. More comfort and more forgiving than the 690.

And for an Adventure model choice, .... well I own the 990 for a reason....

 

You've not listed the road-riding you want to do, or have to do in order to get to the "off-road".
Nor what the off-road is - greenlanes? gravel? Welsh slippery madness?

Just on what you've typed I'd be looking at a Husky 701. More comfort and more forgiving than the 690.

And for an Adventure model choice, .... well I own the 990 for a reason....

My mistake, the 990 was a serious contender but for some reason insurance is astronomical...

So road riding specifics:

Must be able to do 200 mile motorway trip with relative comfort (thus cruise control, and the reason why 690/701, whilst I really really like them, are not quite making the cut)
Should be ok to carry a weekend's camping worth of gear without noticing/interfering with offroad ability.
Fast sweeping twisties but no knee down action, basically be able to keep a good "healthy" pace without feeling like I'm pushing on too hard.

All year round riding ofc.

I know the 890 sips fuel so the 790 must be similar and that fuel economy is a big +

As for off road riding:

Basically anything, gravel fire roads to rocky/slabby trails found up here in the peak district/yorkshire area. Attached image below of the sort of terrain I'd say i'd encounter the most frequently:

No idea of image source but this is sort of what's typical when it's not just gravel:

Bonus points for being good in mud, which i know the 890 is because of that low slung fuel tank,doesn't tend to pitch, just slide off ruts vertically instead of toppling over.

But! I wanna be able to get into areas / sections that require a bit more than this. And also want something that's confidence inspiring and doesn't chatter like it's about to fall apart...

Edit to add:

Basically i want a bike that when I'm out and about and i see a trail going up into some random place, i can just go like "hey i wanna see where that goes" without worrying I'll hit something i can't cope with or get myself in trouble, but a bike I can also enjoy just bimbling about on a day out with the mates...

 

Kove 800X Rally....

 

Lol... seen that post, and actually not a bad shout... I'm absolutely not against going into the brand, even the CFmoto stuff interested me but it wasn't cheap enough for what it was... Do want a bike I can buy within the next few weeks tho 😂

The Kove is just a KTM 790 motor too isn't it?

 

I'm not really joking on the Kove, just have a look at the specs 800X RALLY_ADV_MODEL_KOVE MOTO

If my money, that's where I'd be seriously looking. Or a T7 if you are concerned on the Chinese company thing.

 

I'm not really joking on the Kove, just have a look at the specs 800X RALLY_ADV_MODEL_KOVE MOTO

If my money, that's where I'd be seriously looking. Or a T7 if you are concerned on the Chinese company thing.

T7 is a no go for me due to the shit suspension on the stocker, and the lack of any electronics, + its soooo fucking top heavy... That's the main reason I want a KTM adv, weight low down is a game changer, not necessarily for handling, but for how the bike reacts when you hit a rut... The Tenere and top heavy bikes like it (africa twin for example) tend to grab at the wheels and flop over, whereas the 890 I noticed prefers to literally slide at the wheels whilst remaining upright instead of pitching over. This stability in sideways interferences is what makes it so beginner friendly, along with class leading suspension in the R...

Last but not least, a good nick T7 is not any cheaper than a 790/890...

I'm absolutely not against the Kove, I'd buy it if it was for sale... I believe in warranty, and Kove proved themselves in my eyes... Not sure about what sort of electronics it provides but if the weight is true for real then i'm willing to compromise..

 

Worth a look. I think @fozzy17 knows the importer pretty well, go tyre kick one?

 

Can't find pricing on any of them tbh, how much for the various versions and what's the difference? Kove site is pretty bare for them at the moment...

Either way realistically i'm still looking at the original scenario early 790R, early 890S or new 790S

 

I will ask the dealer if he plans on getting the twin adventure bike

 

The cfmoto stuff looks the bizz

 

the 450MT looks promising but the 800MT range looks a bit too soft and road oriented, + it loses all the benefits of the 790 platform, the low slung fuel tank, the 21/18 wheels, and it weighs a fair bit more...

Mind you i'm out here thinking the 790/890S are too road focused haha

 

Anyway you have a pretty tricked out early 790R don't you @fozzy17? What do you think it needs desperately if I buy an unmolested version? I know you said you don't see the point to the newer ones, but would you even consider a non R model?

Things I know I'll want:

Bash plate upgrade
Decat (pennies on aliexpress when last seen)
Bark busters
And potentially a slightly more protective screen

 

Yes my mate just bought a none r 790 version 23 plate I think it was 7k bargain

For me heated grips, rally mode and quick shifter , and wide pegs the stock ones are shit , arrow decat and a pipe , and decent hand guards, not much else , unless you are going off-road, you can't beat the power parts one , doesn't fix to engine , brackets on pegs

 

Yes my mate just bought a none r 790 version 23 plate I think it was 7k bargain

For me heated grips, rally mode and quick shifter , and wide pegs the stock ones are shit , arrow decat and a pipe , and decent hand guards, not much else , unless you are going off-road, you can't beat the power parts one , doesn't fix to engine , brackets on pegs

I can't disagree that the brand new 790s are on some insane deals but I feel like I'll be left wanting in the off road department...

And you hit the nail on the head with the extras, i want rally mode, QS is a MUST, heated grips would be a big big bonus..

Re off-road ergonomics I didn't have an issue with the stock 890 pegs but it's something I'll fettle with anyway... Same with bar risers... How does that unbranded scotts damper working out? In fact how much of a difference do steering dampers make off road? I haven't really ridden an offroad bike properly with one on... I mean some of the big ADVs i've ridden had them but as we know most stock steering dampers do fuck all apart from stop a straight up death wobble from a wheelie..

 

You could go Ali express on decat , save quite a bit of weight just there, and you get rid of the heat with stock decare

 

So far so good but if I am honest I pulled the KTM apart Christmas time to fit a rebel x tower got about 80% done and work started on my extension (finishing tomorrow thank fuck just building control) then had I think influenza A which has had me in and out of hospital for two months and absolutely fucked me , now have two inhalers so first ride was on the weekend and felt horrible, tell off the kove twice literally didn't have no strength , but today is the best I've felt for a few months

 

The newer shape is a lot better looking

I didn't think a lot of the R suspension especially on the road very stiff but obviously better off road , I found the rear shock crap , maybe I could of tinkered more but I found it would hop on on climbs and not hook up , the cone valves transformed it , different bike , I have seen a few seconds hand ones for sale , and bikes with them fitted for not much more money, if you can find them

 

The newer shape is a lot better looking

I didn't think a lot of the R suspension especially on the road very stiff but obviously better off road , I found the rear shock crap , maybe I could of tinkered more but I found it would hop on on climbs and not hook up , the cone valves transformed it , different bike , I have seen a few seconds hand ones for sale , and bikes with them fitted for not much more money, if you can find them

I'm sure it's something I can fettle with but the S being non adjustable basically means I HAVE to upgrade the suspension, whereas the WP XPLOR stuff is decent enough and provides all the adjustment for someone my skill level would want, I'm a bigger bloke and as i said I just don't wanna clatter around and bottom the suspension out everywhere. Sitting on an R I found the suspension is definitely stiffer than the S but not so much that I'd find it uncomfortable, in fact if anything maybe better on the road for less pitching and weaving??

I'm pretty set on wanting an R but I was wary of it being an early 790 and people saying horror stories or some important update that makes the later gen a lot better? But if the issues and niggles are still present on the other 2 models then whats the downside if any?

 

James isn't going to be importing the big koves , he's rally bikes, the 450,s

 

If your road biased get a S it's still good just a bit gayer

The world raid T7 is a gód looking bike mate just bought one, and they do one with a stock tank but tricker suspension, no horror stories on those , apart from welded subframe

 

How is your ‘mate’ getting on with the T7?

 

He's on his second, he loves it, he had the launch .odel now the raid, lovely looking thi g I. Blue, no fancy electronics just abs and I think Bluetooth, possible top heavy with a full tank

 

The tenere in my mind is a solid 2k more than what it's worth, both new and used... Yamaha wanting 10k for a base model is laughable when the base 790 with a tech pack can be had brand new for at least 1k less and it's a more powerful, more advanced, better handling bike...

The 890s and the 790Rs are then just in a league of their own compared to it...

I haven't ridden it so ofc I'm chatting shit, but imo the Tenere Extremes with the upgraded suspension but still small fuel tank have just made the top heaviness worse by raising the bike even more... and to top it off it has a ridiculous seat height...

And most importantly for someone that's not Pol Tarres, it doesn't crash well and is extremely hard to pick up as opposed to the 790/890

 

The tenere in my mind is a solid 2k more than what it's worth, both new and used... Yamaha wanting 10k for a base model is laughable when the base 790 with a tech pack can be had brand new for at least 1k less and it's a more powerful, more advanced, better handling bike...

The 890s and the 790Rs are then just in a league of their own compared to it...

I haven't ridden it so ofc I'm chatting shit, but imo the Tenere Extremes with the upgraded suspension but still small fuel tank have just made the top heaviness worse by raising the bike even more... and to top it off it has a ridiculous seat height...

And most importantly for someone that's not Pol Tarres, it doesn't crash well and is extremely hard to pick up as opposed to the 790/890

Yeah
But the Yamaha won’t suffer cam trouble like a 790/890
Solid bikes and you can always upgrade the suspension
The 790/890 Xplor suspension isn’t actually cutting edge & top end stuff

 

A few things I found with the yam was it looked cheap in places , rearsets and footpegs , also shock linkage

 

It's still a no go... I'm sure it's a good bike and solid for those that have the skill to use it and spend money on it, but i'm not buying a 7k standard tenere to then fit 2k suspension on it and still not have cruise control or TC or a quick shifter and god forbid I bin it...

The extreme has a seat height of 910mmm which is ridiculous... I could barely keep it upright, whereas the 790/890R for more suspension travel and slightly higher ground clearance is a piece of cake to handle.

I don't know what people see in it because it's been well agreed that the 890R is better both off road and on road, I think it must be the charm of "japanese made and robust" but as much as people moan about KTMs they're a lot better built than credit is given for...

For reference for 7.5k i can get an unmolested 790R with some goodies on it, full techpack, heated grips, cruise control, QS, bash plate already upgraded and maybe even some luggage...

I wanna just clarify again this is a bike that'll spend likely 80% of it's life on road, but 20% is going to be proper off road and with how much I ride that's not an insignificant amount of offroad time so I want a bike that's good for it. Even if the Tenere is great off road, it's missing a lot of amenities and spec of the 790/890 that I'd definitely miss...

As i said if the same decent looking teneres were 5k, not 7k, I might consider it, but as it is right now, they're horrible value...

 

Why do you think they’re achieving £7k+
Depreciation must be great because it’s still achieving good residual value - great for owners
If you’re doing 80% on the road, I would be choosing something else altogether
What are your feelings on the widely reported camshaft issues on the 790/890’s ???
Does it not concern you ?
If you want good value, get a CF moto 800 on offer with alloy boxes at ..£6799

 

Just find the extra for 890r, may cost more but also hold higher residual value, so by the time you flog it the TCO would be very similar- its all i consider.

Mate who has 2 BMW on PCP at any one time tells me how shit KTM resale is....

...if I sold my 1290 tomorrow and factored in loss on 1190 I bought in 2016 I am £9.5k down in 8 years, he lost £7k on a fully loaded GS in 18 months.

Buy the right bike, on the right deal and it will serve you well, or you risk buying 790, deciding its shit and either being stuck with it or losing your 👖 trading it back for an 890.

You already know what you want so just look for the right deal - a bit of patience helps here.

 

It's a big difference for an 890R, especially a new shape... 790s are around 6.5-7.5k for a decent example, the cheaper 890Rs i've seen are like 9.5-10.5k

My mate has found one on FB marketplace at a dealer for 8.5k with full tech pack that looks promising though but it has basically nothing with it, whereas most of the 790s already have all the goodies i want to get on one anyway.

 

Here is a couple I've been looking at:

The basic 890R, 8.5k:

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A well fettled clean, basically new, later 890R, 9.5k

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Pretty standard 790R with low miles and some solid upgrades, basically as i'd put it but doesn't seem to have Cruise:

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Another fettled 790R with loaadddsss of extras with it, including a spare set of 19/17 wheels with road tyres, bit bonus.

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A cheap 790R that looks like it's had some appropriate use, again with a good array of bits I'd want done to it

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Another cheap solid 790R with some decent goodies.

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Ideally I wanna reduce the amount of money I have in the bike and the amount of tears if I damage it lol, aside from the fact insurance is also cheaper if the value is lower i'd prefer to keep it at or around 7k but i'm willing to go up to 8.5k for a really really nice example...

 

I would absolutely not buy any 790/890 parallel twin until KTM have sorted the issue with shagged cams, and that's almost certainly never going to happen with old ones.

 

It's an issue that affects a very small amount of bikes... Same issue that BMW had on all their S1000 engines from 2013-2017...

 

Look on the bright side, if you buy one with shagged cams at least you’ll struggle to crash it.

 

Tbh even if I do I'm not terribly worried, I'll get the same warranty I had on my 1290 and that'll deal with it, worth the peace of mind on any bike imo, especially if you're putting on the miles like me.

 

Pardon our interruption...

 

Looks ace apart from the fact that it's 12.5k 😂