KTM 890 ADVENTURE R - 2022

If the best places are the toughest to reach, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R is the right machine to take you there. Boasting a new engine with increased capacity and added performance, this is a serious travel-capable offroad motorcycle ready for extreme escapes off the beaten track. Using its vast race knowledge and experience, KTM delivers a real-world package aimed at the rider who wants to explore the outer limits of every adventure.

ENGINE
The most notable upgrade over its predecessor is the engine. Pumping out impressive power, the engine in the KTM 890 ADVENTURE range boasts a spate of upgrades – most notably, a significant jump in power and torque. Improvements to electronics and pre-muffler also ensure it meets the strictest emissions regulations. This, paired with a 15,000 km service interval and low fuel consumption, makes it ready to hit the long road.

CYLINDER HEAD
The DOHC cylinder head contains twin chain-driven camshafts and two spark plugs (one per cylinder). The camshafts are assembled, making them lighter than forged camshafts, while the cam profile has been developed to create an especially torquey engine. 1 mm larger intake and exhaust valves as well as reworked ports which have been flow optimized to maximize airflow also aid in delivering peak performance. A new balancer shaft in the cylinder head located between the camshafts matches the increased RPM and increased rotating mass, while a knock sensor has also been fitted to detect knocking combustions and allow for lower octane fuels – perfect for round the world travel. 

PISTONS
Lighter, forged box pistons with three piston rings connected by a plain conrod bearing, combine with a DLC coated piston pin for reduced piston weight and less reciprocating mass. Piston cooling is also taken care of by two jets per piston, instead of the previous one per piston. The rotating mass of the crankshaft has been increased by 20% for improved engine behavior at constant speed. In addition, it is beneficial for cornering stability without losing the agile riding feeling.

RIDE-BY-WIRE
KTM’s ride-by-wire system electronically translates the throttle commands of the rider into optimum throttle valve positions for the specific riding situation.

GEARBOX
The 6-speed sequential gearbox gets faster shifting thanks to shorter shift lever travel, lighter spring action and quicker Quickshifter+ technology, while the teeth on 4th, 5th and 6th gear are glass bead blasted for improved reliability. Quickshifter+ – optional on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R – allows for clutchless up and downshifts throughout the rev range. 

PASC CLUTCH
Adapted with new friction plates and improved cooling to the increased power and torque, the Power Assist Clutch (PASC) on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R serves a dual role. Not only is it a slipper clutch, preventing rear wheel chatter under hard deceleration, but also reduces the hard force needed when changing gears, allowing the clutch lever to be actuated with only one finger – saving you energy while riding. 

OIL CIRCULATIONS
Oil circulation is based on a compact semi-dry sump system to minimize friction losses. The oil is actively pumped out of the crankcase, clutch housing and gearbox, which ensures that oil does not unnecessarily flow through the engine. The oil sump is integrated into the oil pump housing, together with two pumps (one scavenge, one pressure) and a pressure regulation valve. To cool down the oil, the engine is equipped with a larger oil cooler.

CRANKCASE
New horizontally split crankcases allow for the engine’s increased bore but remain high-pressure cast from aluminum. This allows for reduced wall thickness, weight savings and optimized surfaces, offering the engine designers more freedom in their design. The open-deck cylinders are integrated into the crankcase.

CRANKSHAFT
A rotating mass increase of 20% means this forged, one-piece crankshaft improves engine behavior at a constant speed, reducing any interference from centrifugal forces. The 435-degree firing order also produces a sound similar to that of the larger LC8 engine, which makes the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R feel like one of its V-twin ADVENTURE brothers when cracking the throttle open.

CONRODS
All-new conrods feature a trapezoidal V-shape top-end which reduces oscillating masses and supports higher the revvy nature and higher power output of the motor. The top-end bearing is also fitted with a bronze conrod bearing instead of a DLC coated top-end for longevity. 

BALANCER SHAFT
When punching out those long days in the saddle, linking up tough offroad stages with sections of tarmac, uncomfortable engine vibrations are kept to a minimum thanks to two new balancer shafts, one in front of the crankshaft and the other in the cylinder head between the two camshafts.

CYLINDER
The nicasil-coated aluminum cylinders are an integral part of the sleeveless engine casing. The open deck cylinder construction allows for optimal cooling, improved production tolerances, and reduces the potential for cylinder warpage during production. The bore of the cylinders has increased from 88 mm to 90.7 mm for increased displacement together with a longer stroke.

EXHAUST
Stainless-steel and ready for adventure! The exhaust system on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R boasts a reworked pre-muffler with an efficient catalytic converter to meet the latest Euro5 emission limits. The whole design is focused on centralizing masses, which also improves the exhaust system’s ground clearance.

AIR FILTER
The KTM 890 ADVENTURE R features easy air filter accessibility for cleaning and servicing, even if you’re out in the most remote location while on a ride. The airbox is located under the seat with the intake at the rear of the bike. This means that in addition to easy air filter access, the seat and tank could be kept low and the bike could be made narrower where it counts: in the leg area. It has also allowed better positioning of the electronics to keep mass centralized.

COOLING
During extreme offroad exploration, it’s important the LC8c engine keeps its cool to ensure its advanced power and performance are maintained. Thanks to the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R ‘s design and advanced cooling technology, riding for hours in hot conditions is no problem. 

FRAME
The overall geometry of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R was developed for light handling, and comfort on long distance exploration missions – with unchallenged offroad capability. Strength was a big consideration in the design, so a tubular Chromoly steel frame is used with the engine acting as a stressed member to reduce weight and overall size. All design and engineering innovations are focused on being compact and light.

SUBFRAME
Featuring an even more lightweight and solid construction than its predecessor, the subframe is fully-loaded for adventure. The motorcycle beneath you needs to be built to last. The steel trellis subframe was developed to be compact, lightweight and also strong enough to carry a full load of luggage as well as a passenger under the hardest conditions while extreme adventure riding.

SWINGARM
The signature die-cast, open-lattice swingarm is precisely manufactured and has been optimized for stiffness and stability while still offering excellent flex characteristics. By using a direct link for the rear shock, complexity and parts are reduced. The relatively long swingarm aids in traction, stability and suspension setup.

WHEELS AND TIRES
The KTM 890 ADVENTURE R ‘s spoked 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels are specifically developed to handle hardcore offroad exploration. Fitted with Metzeler KAROO™ 3 adventure tires, the wheels are heavy-duty, lightweight and feature new anodized hubs (instead of powder-coated). With decades of experience and success in the toughest offroad and rally raid events, you can charge off into the most remote wilderness with full confidence. The standard wheels are tubeless – with the option of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. For the most extreme riding, optional KTM PowerParts wheels are available which are slightly narrower and closer to enduro competition wheels – which allow for the hardest of hardcore riders to fit mousses.

SUSPENSION
When setting off on an adventure ride, there are many variables that can influence the bike’s handling performance. Rider weight, extra luggage, fuel volume and whether there is a pillion passenger or not – all have to be considered before racing off. Thankfully, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R comes with high-quality WP suspension that for 2021 gets an updated set-up. With the additional benefit of adjustable rear pre-load, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R can be further refined to suit most typical riding scenarios, conditions and situations.

STEERING DAMPER
To aid stability, a steering damper is fitted for those times when you’re pushing hard on the tarmac or powering across rough surfaces on route to your destination. Don’t worry; it doesn’t interfere with serious offroad riding.

TRIPLE CLAMPS
Made from high-strength forged aluminum, the triple clamps ensure excellent stability, with just the right amount of flex to provide feedback from the chassis. A redesigned aluminum steering stem has also been used to reduce weight and increase overall strength. 

FRONT FORK
The WP XPLOR 48 mm fork, with 240 mm of travel, has outstanding response and damping characteristics for extreme offroad use. They are fitted with a spring on both sides but feature a separate function for each fork leg: compression damping on the left, rebound on the right. This enables the forks to be easily adjusted on the fly with the twist of a dial on the top of the forks to suit a variety of offroad riding conditions. Also, a sealed hydro-stop guarantee excellent resistance to bottoming-out.

REAR SHOCK
Keeping the rear-end in check is a WP XPLOR shock with 240 mm of travel for the most extreme offroad conditions. Suspension can be individually setup for pre-load, (high and low speed) compression and rebound. The WP XPLOR PDS rear shock uses KTM’s trademark progressive damping system, which allows progressive damping without using a linkage system. Bottoming resistance is provided by a second piston, which works together with a closed cup towards the end of the stroke and is supported by a shock spring.

BRAKES
Improved for 2021, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R boasts twin 320 mm diameter brake discs with 4-piston, radially mounted calipers up front, and a 260 mm diameter brake disc actuated by a double-piston floating caliper in the rear providing superior feedback and stopping power. A new stainless steel brake hose on the rear also helps combat brake fade on long downhill sections. The rear brake features new, isolated pistons in the caliper in conjunction with isolation plates between pads and pistons in order to gain more heat stability. In addition, the fitting of the brake hose on the rear caliper is made of stainless steel to reduce heat in the brake hose.

FUEL TANK
The tank is also made of highly durable materials and is highly impact-resistant, as proven by the similar tank concept successfully used in the extreme race conditions of the Dakar Rally by the KTM Factory Racing team. The ultimate result is a best of both worlds: a slim feel of a smaller offroad bike with the exceptional fuel range of over 248 miles (400 km) on the open road.

HANDLEBAR
An aluminum, tapered handlebar allows maximum control while affording riders a comfortable riding position. The handlebar can be mounted in six different positions, which results in 30 mm of adjustment range for the perfect reach. 

FOOTPEGS
Whether it’s all-day riding while standing or sitting, the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R ‘s strong footpegs have been developed for superior ergonomics and to accommodate street or offroad boots in a wide range of conditions. The footpegs have rubber inserts for added comfort, which can be removed for a more offroad feel. 

SEATS
The single piece, offroad style seat was developed to allow maximum freedom of movement, grip and comfort needed for long days in the saddle. The two-part seat of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE also fits the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R should you choose more comfort over performance. 

WINDSHIELD
The KTM 890 ADVENTURE R has a low-profile, adjustable windshield which enables the rider to move around the bike more freely when in the necessary offroad standing position. This sleek windshield offers an unobstructed view directly ahead, even when the screen is covered in dirt. The higher KTM 890 ADVENTURE model’s windshield can also be used on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R as an optional extra, for those riders who prefer more wind protection. 

TFT DISPLAY
The 5-inch, full-color and state-of-the-art TFT display has been designed to give riders all vital information at a glance ensuring they spend more time with their eyes on the road. The display’s configuration allows for some customization and automatically adapts to variations in environmental light. A shift indicator is also included, causing the rev counter to blink when it’s time to kick it up a gear.

LED LIGHTS
LED lights are used on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R as the main headlight and taillight. LED lights offer great illumination and visibility. The design of the headlight mask was inspired by the KTM 450 RALLY motorcycles, providing improved visibility and reducing the overall volume of the cockpit when attacking offroad terrain.

RIDER AIDS
Electronic rider aids provide more control, performance and enjoyment to the rider under a wider range of circumstances. Designed to enhance your riding experience, the latest ABS and MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) technology, along with different ride modes, is tailored to allow you to easily adjust the various rider aids to suit a range of riding conditions. These features can be selected, deselected and utilized to get the most out of the technology and equipment across a much wider range of terrain.

MTC
KTM’s Motorcycle Traction Control – or MTC – has been improved for 2021, using two separate controllers to measure rear wheel slippage and lean angle pitch to calculate the optimal amount of traction for every terrain and situation. The result is smoother traction control with less abrupt and barely noticeable intervention at the throttle bodies. For the more adventurous, however, the traction control can be turned off completely.

CORNERING ABS
KTM’s cornering ABS system allows riders to always use the full power of their brakes while the system adjusts brake pressure to match the lean angle of the motorcycle. This means more predictable braking across a wider range of conditions and scenarios. It can also be turned off for more control in offroad conditions.

OFFROAD ABS
Maximum braking power with minimal intrusion. Braking demands are very different in offroad terrain from the predictable grip of asphalt. By selecting Offroad ABS, the ABS function is deactivated on the rear wheel, while the front wheel ABS intervention is reduced and lean-angle sensor data is ignored to accommodate the intuitive riding style needed when reigning in speed on the dirt. This allows riders to lock up the rear wheel, which can be used to steer into corners with better control and regulates the pressure on the front brakes to provide balanced and confident stopping power on the most adventurous terrain.

OFFROAD RIDE MODE
Offroad Ride Mode puts the power down in tricky terrain by using sophisticated sensors to adapt the power delivery through the ECU for effective and confidence-inspiring offroad use. Peak horsepower is reduced, throttle response is softened and wheel slippage is increased to allow for a more dynamic ride on loose surfaces. On such low-grip surfaces, a certain amount of wheel slip is needed to ensure forward motion. This feature allows riders to break traction to a fair degree and to facilitate rear-wheel steering. Anti-wheelie is not used in this mode, so riders can easily lift the front wheel to clear obstacles. Unlike some other modes, Offroad Ride Mode is not lean-angle sensitive, meaning that traction control does not intervene when a rider uses a berm, dune or rut to negotiate a tight turn. 

RALLY MODE
Available as an option on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R, the Rally Mode allows the rider to adapt the character of the bike more freely. Rally Mode unlocks an almost instant throttle response and allows for 9 levels of wheel slip control, with 9 being comparable to Rain Mode. With these settings, the slip adjust can be very precisely matched to the condition of the surface, the skill level of the rider and the requirements of the ride. Reducing slip levels can also help in conserving tires for longer when taking on further-reaching or longer-lasting rides. Updated on the new model, the Rally Mode has been optimized for a wider range of riding surfaces, allowing – for instance – more wheel spin in deep sand conditions.