KTM 890 Adventure
2024 KTM 890 Adventure: 105 hp adventure bike, 889 cc LC8c twin, 200 kg without fuel, no longer sold new in France. Full specs and press reviews.
At a glance
The KTM 890 Adventure is KTM's middleweight adventure bike: an 889 cc LC8c parallel twin with 105 hp and 100 Nm, 21- and 18-inch spoked wheels and 200 kg without fuel. It is no longer in KTM France's range, which replaced it in 2025 with the 790 Adventure while keeping the 890 Adventure R; this page covers its last model year, 2024, whose last recommended retail price listed by KTM France is €15,349 (bikes in stock). Reviewers praised its lively, strong engine, benchmark electronics and rare precision for a bike with a 21-inch front wheel, but criticised paid options (quickshifter, cruise control, Rally mode), a high price, a non-adjustable screen and a sometimes imprecise quickshifter.
World press review
Meta-score
10 sources
Press ratings
More comfortable, better protected and better suspended, top-notch engine and electronics; quickshifter sometimes imprecise under load, shortcuts disabled in Rally mode, options to unlock and a high price.
Still one of the sportiest adventure bikes, polished engine, more comfortable suspension, ABS linked to ride modes and an excellent quickshifter; non-adjustable screen, short travel for hard off-road riding, paid options.
Excellent engine, chassis and ergonomics; low handlebars off-road and a rear brake lever set too far in.
One of the sportiest adventure bikes in the segment, improved in comfort, instruments and design; non-adjustable screen and a weave at high speed off-road.
Smooth and powerful engine, ergonomics suited to all sizes, exemplary interface; quickshifter lacking smoothness.
2021 test (alongside the 890 Adventure R): class benchmark, 890 engine free of the 790's flaws, impressive off-road electronics; screen causing buffeting, too many options, firm seat.
2021 test (alongside the 890 Adventure R): low-rpm torque, rider aids and throttle connection superb, moderate fuel consumption; screen buffeting, average brake bite, paid options.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
No review covers the 2024 model year, which only changes the colours: seven of the ten reviews used here cover the technically identical 2023 model year, and three the 2021 launch model, before the facelift but with the same engine and frame. Motorcycle.com gives it 89.5/100 and Caradisiac 16.5/20 (2023 model year), MCN 4/5 (2021 model year), hence a meta score of 84/100. Le Repaire des Motards, 1000PS, Moto.it, Motociclismo and SoyMotero (2023), Visordown and BikeSocial (2021, tested alongside the 890 Adventure R) reviewed it without a numeric score.
What reviewers like: a powerful, strong and smooth engine (Motorcycle.com, Caradisiac, MCN, Moto.it, SoyMotero, BikeSocial), benchmark electronics (Motorcycle.com, Visordown, BikeSocial, SoyMotero), sportiness and precision rare in the class (1000PS, Motociclismo, Caradisiac), comfort and suspension improved since 2023 (Le Repaire des Motards, 1000PS), wind protection among the best (Caradisiac), a low seat and ergonomics that suit all sizes (Motorcycle.com, SoyMotero); 1000PS finds the quickshifter excellent.
What they criticise: paid options for the quickshifter, cruise control or Rally mode (Motorcycle.com, Le Repaire des Motards, 1000PS, MCN, Visordown, BikeSocial), a high price (Caradisiac, Le Repaire des Motards, MCN), a sometimes imprecise or unrefined quickshifter and an uneven gearbox on the test bikes (Le Repaire des Motards, SoyMotero, Motorcycle.com), a non-adjustable screen (1000PS, Motociclismo) that caused buffeting before 2023 (Visordown, BikeSocial), low handlebars for standing (Caradisiac, Moto.it), short suspension travel for hard off-road riding (1000PS, MCN), a weave at high speed on gravel (Motociclismo) and reliability that could be better (MCN).
Key quotes
"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."
"With its 890 Adventure, KTM thus offers a big, sporty and capable adventure bike with agility close to that of mid-size multi-cylinder trail bikes. That is why it wins us over, test after test!"
"It’s a fine handling, spritely tourer that will also breeze rocky trails, but it’s a little too heavy for anything more spirited, especially for the inexperienced."
"Playful and easy, its overall effectiveness will help swallow a somewhat high price."
"It remains one of the sportiest adventure tourers on the market. Hardly any other middleweight adventure bike with a 21-inch front wheel can be ridden as fast, as hard and as precisely as the KTM."
"Excellent for those who want to travel (the Power Parts range includes accessories dedicated to overlanders) but also for adventouring and for never really stopping, thanks to a weight that is not excessive, a well-sorted chassis and an engine with simply perfect delivery."
"The KTM 890 Adventure is one of the sportiest models in the segment, in both engine and chassis."
"I dare to write, without fear of being wrong, that the 2023 KTM 890 Adventure is among the three best on the market. It delivers what it promises: it is compact, light and powerful."
"There is nothing in the middleweight adventure sector that can come close to the 890 in terms of sheer ability."
"A great bike, now with market leading performance. It’s just a shame some of the extras don’t come as standard."
Pros
- Lively, strong and smooth 105 hp LC8c twin
- Benchmark electronics (IMU, cornering and Offroad ABS, traction control)
- Rare precision and agility for a bike with a 21-inch front wheel
- Adjustable WP APEX suspension and comfort improved since 2023
- 840 mm seat, lower than the 890 Adventure R’s
- 19.5-litre tank and moderate fuel consumption
Cons
- No longer in KTM France’s range
- Quickshifter, cruise control and Rally mode are paid options
- High price
- Non-adjustable screen
- Sometimes imprecise quickshifter
- Low handlebars and short travel for serious off-road riding
Our review
Is the 890 Adventure still on sale?
Not new from the range: KTM France’s Adventure line-up offers the 890 Adventure R, the 890 Adventure R Rally and the 790 Adventure, but no longer the standard 890 Adventure. In its November 2024 press release, KTM presents the 2025 790 Adventure as the successor to the 890 Adventure, positioned below the 890 Adventure R as a more affordable model. There is no 2025 model year of the standard 890 Adventure: the 2024 is the last one. Its page, absent from the range, remains online for bikes in stock. This page covers the 2024 model year.
How much did it cost?
The last recommended retail price listed by KTM France for the 2024 model year is €15,349 including VAT, excluding registration costs, for bikes in stock; the 2023 model year was listed at €14,599. Two colours are offered, orange (orange tank sides, white rear panels) or black with orange touches. The low-seat 890 Adventure L only existed in 2021 and 2022; KTM France mentions no 35 kW version for the A2 licence.
What did the 2023 facelift change?
The 2023 model year received a 450 Rally-inspired front end, a taller screen, a two-piece seat with softer foam, a WP APEX fork adjustable for compression and rebound, Bosch 9.3 MP ABS linked to the ride modes, a revised 5-inch TFT screen, aluminium engine protection and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres. The 2024 model year only changes the colours; the 2024 owner’s manual gives a 19.5-litre tank, against 20 litres in 2023.
How good is the engine?
The 889 cc LC8c parallel twin (90.7 x 68.8 mm, 13.5:1 compression) gets Bosch fuel injection with ride-by-wire, a knock sensor, a slipper clutch and a six-speed gearbox. KTM claims 105 hp (77 kW) at 8,000 rpm and 100 Nm at 6,500 rpm in its 2023 press kit; the 2024 page only gives the torque. Motorcycle.com, Moto.it and SoyMotero praise a powerful, smooth engine, BikeSocial generous low-rpm torque. Motorcycle.com nevertheless finds it lively even in the softest map.
How does it ride?
The chromoly steel trellis frame uses the engine as a stressed member, and the low-slung tank wraps around the engine. The 43 mm WP APEX fork and the linkless WP APEX shock (preload knob) offer 200 mm of travel according to KTM, 195 mm according to the manual. KTM claims 200 kg without fuel and a 1,509 mm wheelbase; Motorcycle.com and Moto.it report a claimed 215 kg fully fuelled. 1000PS believes no 21-inch-wheeled bike in the class can be ridden as fast and as precisely; MCN finds it a little heavy for serious off-road riding, and Motociclismo notes a weave at high speed on gravel.
What electronics?
The six-axis IMU manages cornering ABS, Offroad ABS activated automatically in Offroad and Rally modes, and lean-sensitive traction control, which also handles wheelies. Street, Rain and Offroad modes, the 5-inch TFT screen, the steering damper and LED lighting are standard. Rally mode, Quickshifter+, cruise control, MSR engine-braking control, KTMconnect connectivity and tyre pressure monitoring are optional; a Demo mode activates them for the first 1,500 km. Almost every reviewer regrets these paid options.
Fuel consumption and maintenance
KTM publishes no homologated fuel consumption on its pages, only CO2 emissions of 103 g/km; the foreign press reports a claimed 4.5 L/100 km. Motociclismo recorded about 5 L/100 km at a brisk pace, giving a range of nearly 390 km from 19.5 litres. The manual calls for an oil change every 15,000 km or every 12 months, and a valve clearance check and spark plug replacement every 30,000 km.
Who is it for?
The 890 Adventure requires a full A licence. It suits riders who want a versatile adventure bike, fast on the road and capable on gravel, with a lower seat than the 890 Adventure R (840 mm against 880 mm); for serious off-road riding, KTM keeps the R and its 48 mm WP XPLOR suspension with 240 mm of travel.
Where does it come from?
The 890 Adventure replaced the 790 Adventure (2019-2020), KTM’s first LC8c twin adventure bike, in 2021, with an engine enlarged to 889 cc, a crankshaft with 20% more inertia and Euro 5 compliance. The 2023 facelift preceded its replacement, in 2025, by a 790 Adventure with a 799 cc engine that takes over its adjustable WP APEX suspension.
Recalls
No recall was found for the standard 890 Adventure with NHTSA, Safety Gate or RappelConso. In 2024 MCN reported allegations of premature camshaft wear on some LC8c engines, to which KTM responded publicly; no official campaign was found.
Specifications
| Displacement | 889 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) @ 8,000 rpm (KTM 2023 press kit; the 2024 KTM page does not list power) |
| Torque | 100 Nm @ 6,500 rpm |
| Weight | 200 kg (without fuel, KTM and 2024 owner's manual) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 1.90 |
| Seat height | 840 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 19.5 L |
| Fuel consumption | 4.5 L/100 km (KTM claim reported by the foreign press; cycle not specified) — CO2 103 g/km |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 15,000 km or 12 months — Valves: 30,000 km (KTM 2024 owner's manual) |
| Engine type | LC8c parallel twin, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 rocker-actuated valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled |
| Cooling | liquide |
| Transmission | 6-speed, chain drive, PASC slipper clutch |
| License | A |
| MSRP | €15,349 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 90,7 x 68,8 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 13,5:1 |
| Fuel system | Bosch electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire, knock sensor |
| Valve train | DOHC, 4 rocker-actuated valves per cylinder, chain-driven |
| Max power RPM | 8000 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 6500 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Euro standard | Euro 5 |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Chromoly tubular steel trellis frame (engine as stressed member), chromoly tubular steel rear subframe |
|---|---|
| Rake angle | 25.9 ° |
| Trail | 107.8 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1509 mm |
| Ground clearance | 224 mm |
| Front suspension | 43 mm WP APEX open-cartridge upside-down fork, adjustable compression and rebound (clickers on the fork caps), 200 mm travel (195 mm according to the manual) |
| Rear suspension | Linkless WP APEX monoshock, adjustable preload (tool-free knob) and rebound, 200 mm travel (195 mm according to the manual) |
| Front brake | Dual 320 mm floating discs, four-piston radial calipers |
| Rear brake | Single 260 mm floating disc, two-piston caliper |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 (Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR) |
| Rear tire | 150/70 R18 (Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR) |
| ABS system | Bosch 9.3 MP cornering ABS (6-axis IMU), Offroad ABS activated automatically in Offroad and Rally modes, switchable |
Electronics & rider aids
| Riding modes | Street, Rain, Offroad, Rally (optional) |
|---|---|
| Traction control | Yes |
| Anti-wheelie | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional two-way Quickshifter+ |
| Cruise control | No (Optional: switchgear button fitted as standard, paid software feature) |
| Dashboard | 5-inch colour TFT, bonded mineral glass, automatic brightness |
| Connectivity | KTMconnect (Turn-by-Turn+ navigation, music, calls) with the optional Connectivity Unit |
| Other features | 6-axis IMU, Lean-sensitive MTC traction control, switchable (9 levels in Rally mode), Offroad ABS linked to ride modes, MSR engine-braking control (optional), Demo mode: software options active for the first 1,500 km, Steering damper, Tyre pressure monitoring (optional), USB and 12 V sockets, Full LED lighting |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Adventure: upright, wide adjustable aluminium handlebars, two-piece seat adjustable to two heights (840 / 860 mm) |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | Tall fixed screen (not adjustable), hand guards |
| Max total weight | 450 kg |
The 890 Adventure offers an upright adventure riding position, with wide adjustable aluminium handlebars and span-adjustable levers. Its two-piece seat can be set at 840 or 860 mm according to KTM France (830 or 850 mm according to the owner’s manual); KTM offers heated (830 / 850 mm) and Rally (825 or 865 mm) seats as accessories, as well as a 25 mm lowering kit. Motorcycle.com likes being able to reach the ground more easily than on the R, and SoyMotero finds the ergonomics suit all sizes. The tall screen is fixed: Caradisiac ranks its protection among the best, while 1000PS and Motociclismo regret that it is not adjustable. Caradisiac and Moto.it find the handlebars a little low for standing off-road, and Moto.it finds the rear brake lever set too far in. The permissible total weight is 450 kg.
Ownership & maintenance
About 5 L/100 km (Motociclismo, 2023 test at a brisk pace); over 60 UK mpg, i.e. under 4.7 L/100 km (BikeSocial, 2021 test)
L/100km
Real-world consumption
~~390 km (calculated: 19.5 L tank / about 5 L/100 km recorded by Motociclismo)
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 15,000 km or every 12 months |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 30,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 30,000 km |
| Chain | Tension checked and chain lubricated at every service; chain, rear sprocket, front sprocket and chain guide checked every 15,000 km (520 X-Ring chain) |
KTM’s 2024 owner’s manual specifies a first service at 1,000 km, then an oil change with filter and strainers every 15,000 km or every 12 months, and air filter replacement every 15,000 km (checked more often in dusty conditions). Valve clearance is checked and the spark plugs replaced every 30,000 km; brake fluid is replaced every 24 months and coolant every 48 months. The 520 X-Ring chain is adjusted and lubricated at every service, and the drivetrain checked every 15,000 km; the spokes are retightened after 1,000 km. MCN estimated the annual servicing cost at £300 in the UK. For bikes in stock sold from 3 February 2025, KTM France offers a Premium Manufacturer Warranty of up to 4 years, provided services are carried out by an authorised KTM dealer.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM 890 Adventure | €15,349 | 105 hp (77 kW) @ 8,000 rpm (KTM 2023 press kit; the 2024 KTM page does not list power) | 200 kg (without fuel, KTM and 2024 owner's manual) |
| Husqvarna Norden 9012026 | €14,699 | 105 hp | 204 kg (without fuel) |
| BMW F 900 GS2026 | €14,500 | 105 hp | 219 kg (kerb) |
| Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro2026 | €17,395 | 108 hp | 228 kg (wet) |
| Aprilia Tuareg 6602025 | €12,300 | 80 hp | 204 kg (kerb) |
| Suzuki V-Strom 800DE2026 | €11,299 | 84 hp | 230 kg (kerb, full tank) |
Generations
Compare →- 790 Adventure2019 – 2020
799 cc · — · — · 196 kg (without fuel)
KTM's first LC8c parallel-twin adventure bike, unveiled at EICMA 2018: 799 cc engine derived from the 790 Duke, low-slung 20-litre wraparound tank, 21/18-inch wheels and WP APEX suspension.
- 890 Adventure2021 – 2022
889 cc · 105 hp · 100 Nm · 200 kg (without fuel)
Engine enlarged to 889 cc and Euro 5 compliant, crankshaft with 20% more inertia, stronger clutch, knock sensor, new WP APEX shock adjustable for rebound and preload, 6-axis IMU.
- 890 Adventure (restylée)2023 – 2024
889 cc · 105 hp · 100 Nm · 200 kg (without fuel)
Facelift: 450 Rally-inspired front end, taller screen, more comfortable seat, fork adjustable for compression and rebound, ABS linked to ride modes, revised 5-inch TFT and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres; the 2024 model year only changes the colours.
- 790 Adventure (remplaçante)2025 – today
799 cc · 95 hp · 87 Nm · 203 kg (without fuel)
Presented by KTM as the successor to the 890 Adventure: 799 cc twin and adjustable WP APEX suspension taken from the 890 Adventure; a 790 Adventure had already been sold alongside the 890 Adventure in 2023-2024.
Compare with this generation →
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 790 Adventure2019 – 2020 KTM's first LC8c parallel-twin adventure bike, unveiled at EICMA 2018: 799 cc engine derived from the 790 Duke, low-slung 20-litre wraparound tank, 21/18-inch wheels and WP APEX suspension. | 799 cc | — | — | 196 kg without fuel |
| 890 Adventure2021 – 2022 Engine enlarged to 889 cc and Euro 5 compliant, crankshaft with 20% more inertia, stronger clutch, knock sensor, new WP APEX shock adjustable for rebound and preload, 6-axis IMU. | 889 cc | 105 hp | 100 Nm | 200 kg without fuel |
| 890 Adventure (restylée)2023 – 2024 Facelift: 450 Rally-inspired front end, taller screen, more comfortable seat, fork adjustable for compression and rebound, ABS linked to ride modes, revised 5-inch TFT and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres; the 2024 model year only changes the colours. | 889 cc | 105 hp | 100 Nm | 200 kg without fuel |
| 790 Adventure (remplaçante)2025 – today Presented by KTM as the successor to the 890 Adventure: 799 cc twin and adjustable WP APEX suspension taken from the 890 Adventure; a 790 Adventure had already been sold alongside the 890 Adventure in 2023-2024. Compare with this generation → | 799 cc | 95 hp | 87 Nm | 203 kg without fuel |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
No known recalls for this model.