Adventure Unbound
There is an old saying that it's much more fun to ride a small bike fast than to wrestle a big bike slowly. The 890 Adventure is one of those Goldilocks bikes—not too big, not too small, but just right for its intended purpose. It has enough power to get you to your off-road adventure by road and is light enough to tackle just about any terrain you can throw at it without breaking you physically and emotionally.
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To mark a special pricing occasion, we were given an 890 Adventure to go and thrash around like an orange-haired stepchild, and after a few days of hard riding, this is what we found.
2025 KTM Adventure Rally is a go!
Styling
Rally-inspired design is the current design language of travel enduro bikes. The 890 Adventure wears a tall tower-esque headlight/screen assembly reminiscent of the current 2R race bikes competing in world rally raid racing. Notably, the 890 wears its front fender high up, and the bright white and orange body work is much more compact, allowing for greater rider mobility and suspension clearance.
Our test unit was fitted with a Remus aftermarket exhaust, available from KTM PowerParts and gave the 890 a delicious bark when winding out. The spoked wheels complete the off-road racer look.
Engine and Drivetrain
The 890 Adventure's 889cc 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, parallel twin water-cooled engine produces 77kW and 100Nm. The rear wheel is powered by a chain-driven 6-speed sequential transmission controlled by a sequential shifter.
The 890 rides on aluminium-rimmed, spoked wheels with an 18-inch diameter in the rear and 21-inch at the front, allowing precise wheel placement off the beaten path. The 320mm dual front brakes and corresponding 4-piston callipers at the front and 260mm single rear setup will bring the 890 to an abrupt stop.
Tech and Features
The tower's pride of place is a 5-inch TFT screen that feeds back information to the rider from the Tech Pack, which allows you to set up the bike for riding conditions, rider modes, and engine controls.
Now available on the 2025 model is a connectivity unit that allows you to connect to your smartphone and the KTM Connect app, which mirrors your phone for navigation, Music, Incoming calls, and KTM Roadside Assist.
Let's Ride
The engine doesn't so much roar to life as it does loadly bark with a few quick throttle blips. The 890 leaps forward with astounding power and traction, behaving like a leashed animal. You can feel the power bubbling beneath the surface, but it's controlled, and that's what makes the 890 such a joy to ride. Standing up on the pegs gives you a fantastic amount of agility, even on very uneven terrain, and it does feel like a big dirt bike.
Fuel consumption is also impressive, with KTM claiming just 4.4 L/100km. We managed that almost spot on, even while winding it through the gears using the quick-shifter. The seat looks uncomfortable but is surprisingly cush, and you can do extended distances without fatigue to the rear.
Model and Pricing
| KTM 890 Adventure R (2025) | R 295 999 |
| KTM 890 Adventure (2024) | R 289 999 |
KTM has a limited-time offer on the 2024 890 Adventure R—buy now at R 289 999 on easy finance with a free Tech Pack while stocks last. Customers can also enjoy up to R 20 000 Trade Assist when purchasing. Contact your local KTM dealer today for enquiries.
4-year warranty
* Pricing correct at time of publication - Subject to change without notice
Pros and Cons
- Exceptional Offroad performance
- Rally Mode
- Torquey Engine
- Rally inspired design language
- Engine generates a lot of heat
- Screen height is akward for peaked helmets
Verdict
The 890 Adventure is a fantstic machine that delivers an exceptional ride. It has a low centre of grvity which makes handling it over tough terrain a breeze. The addition of all teh elctronic wizardy that keeps the wheels in contact wit the ground just elevate the ride to new heights. We highly recommend the 890 for its ability to handle various terrains, from highways to single-track trails, and its intuitive handling, even for less experienced riders. If you are looking for something a little extra we can highly recommend teh Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition for the same reasons!
