KTM: 790R vs 990R

In the final few hours of 2019, my comparison review of KTM's 790R vs 990R went live. I can think of several bikes that stand out as exceptionally memorable, but the KTM 950/990 platform has always remained in a class by itself... until this review.

While I was fortunate to spend a great deal of time aboard the 790R well beyond a typical press launch scenario, I've vastly more miles over the years on 990 bikes, and over 70,000 miles of mostly gnarly terrain on my personal 950 Adventure S. It requires a truly exceptional motorcycle to shake that kind of experience, and this review is the first to have apparently done so.

The future appears bright for the adventure touring realm... here's to more of this in 2020!

https://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/ktm-790-adventure-vs-ktm-990-adventure/

Gear involved over this extensive test included the following:

Klim Motorcycle Troy Lee Designs KTM USA Alpinestars Motoz

Arai Firstgear TCX Boots Nikon Wolfman Luggage

Trail Tech Revit Continental Tire Hepco-Becker Pirelli Tire

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The 2005 950 Adventure S. My first personally-owned LC8:

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Prior to the original LC8 being released, I owned several LC4 machines. This proven single-cylinder design would become the root of KTM's first twin cylinder motorcycle. Perhaps the subject of a future story...

This 2003 KTM 640 Adventure was purchased from legendary racer Larry Roeseler following a shoot for Dirt Bike magazine. Here seen riding it home from his shop in Hesperia, California: