after over 60 hours off-road on my ktm 500 exc without any problems whatsoever I think I won't be afraid of buying new adventure bike from ktm.


here is the clip of this 790 adventure, and I agree yamaha T7 don't stand chances as it will be too heavy.

https://world-raid.com/the-bike/

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

With all of the electronic wizardry going on these days, I'm not fully comfortable with either of the offerings from Yamaha or KTM. I've had friends with electronic throttle by wire get stuck at full throttle. I have had friends with electronic suspension get stuck with the suspension locked in it's hardest settings. If I had the luxury of owning multiple bikes, perhaps this wouldn't be an issue, but usually I don't.

My pockets are not deep enough to fix any of those bikes out of warranty.

both bikes look promising, I'm liking the flat seat on the yamaha so you can get your weight back.

However I still think both these bikes will be out of my reach for height,weight and cost.

Really hoping for a KTM 390 Adventure or a bigger engine in the CRF Rally format

Has there been much news about the 390 ADV? I haven't heard much, although admittedly I have been focused on the bigger machines.

No news but it seems such a shame the 390 engine has been around long enough for them to develop it into something great. It would be a hit in the Indian Market and I'm sure plenty of worldwide sales would follow. I really thought KTM would have put some money behind this bike

My guess is that they've been rolling a lot of R&D money into their big bikes and middleweights. The 1190/1090 group underwent some changes, the 1290 has seen fairly consistent revisions and the 790 is the first parallel twin motor for them. I'm sure that took some time.

790 parallel twin engine is also used in Duke 790 so it's good it will be better tested but still getting first year model with new engine type is risky for any longer trip I believe. More safer option here is Yamaha T700 as engine is well proven in MT07 for years.

Why you think so? Duke 790 weighs 169 kg, by no mean it's a heavyweight bike and with 105 HP it's a killer combination. Obviously 790 adv will be a bit heavier but not much. MT07 weighs 181 kg. Anything below 200 kg with that much torque and power is fine with me.


p.s.
I start to think many simply prefer very light bikes just because of the price,
and then they justify all shortcoming of such choice for themselves.

Very likely the Yamaha's engine might be more reliable. I was beginning to say that I doubt a company like KTM would release a powerplant that had any major defects or weak points, but then I remembered the 1190's airbox that sucked in sand and dust and caused catastrophic engine failures on low mileage, $16,000+ flagship bikes.

As for taking a longer trip with a first model year bike, I agree with you there. I would give the bike some time before embarking on any big journey.

All good points ... I'm sure there are examples of electronics failures on modern bikes ... but in my experience these systems are pretty tough now, well tested and mostly reliable long term.

Can they really withstand abuse of long range travel far from the dealership?
I still have some worries in that regard. Diagnostics can be difficult and 3rd world shade tree mechanics may struggle to fix the problem without dealer support and computers.

But many have done RTW on modern bikes at this point, done OK, some have had issues.

Russia/Mongolia pioneer Walter Colebatch comes down firmly on high tech/F.I. side, apparently mostly embraces these new technologies on travel bikes.

I believe Walter is now riding mostly KTM, (??) having left his BMW X Challenge behind a few years ago. But please up date me if I got this wrong, I don't follow him closely now.

But I wonder how much longer can I continue traveling on an outdated, Carb'd, non ABS bike that has NO electronic aides?

Then there is cost. I'm sure both Yamaha's T7 and KTM 790 will sell well enough, for sure a few owners will do RTW on them.

But like the big KTM's or BMW GS's, the initial buy-in into the "club" is a bit exclusive, being likely in $12K to $15K USD price range. Compared to top of the line GS ($25K USD) or KTM ($20K USD), that is "Cheap" But to many, a big investment and certainly not a "budget bike".

For me, it could be years before a lower cost "Used" version of either appears, so in the meantime I make do with what I've got ... and hope that KTM's 390 Adventure is really good and also that Honda drop a modern 350cc engine into the CRF Rally.

I was super pumped about BOTH these bikes. My wife got tired of me showing her pictures! The T7 really had me going for a while, and a while, and a while................
I realize timing is everything but they BOTH LOST ME!! And not JUST me. I have been following these two for a VERY LONG TIME and for me the waiting IS OVER!! The T7 should have been available NOW! I seriously would have had a look but I bought a new 2017 Husqvarna 701 enduro instead. I needed a bike NOW! I didn't want to have any regrets however so I simply reminded myself that the Husqvarna WILL BE LIGHTER and I'm thinking easier to work on in so far as engine access. Yamaha-KTM........ you lost another one.

And the wait continues...and continues....and continues..

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Absolutely. Many of the new electronics packages are very reliable. The LC 1200GS comes to mind, as it's very much computer powered and there have been plenty of world tourers on those bikes. That bike came out in 2013. I'm with you though. If a throttle cable snaps or the bike is running poorly, there's a very strong possibility that I'd be able to fix my own "analog" bike. If there's electronic suspension, rider modes and electronic throttle then I'd be at the mercy of any dealership. EFI doesn't worry me, nor does ABS. Beyond that, for my style of riding, I can do without it.

I think he got one of Lyndon Poskitt's 690 KTM Factory ex-Dakar bikes. Lyndon did a custom build for him if I remember correctly. It begins with sourcing a hard to find rally bike and then having Lyndon wave his magic wand over it. I'm pretty sure you're looking at a $20k plus setup including the donor bike.

For your lifetime and mine at least. Most of the bikes that I've seen sold in Latin America that aren't big names are carbed and are very basic. I would imagine that it's the same in many other developing countries. It'll be a long long time coming.

I buy used. I've only bought two new bikes, both were here in Honduras and both bikes cost me under $4k USD (which is why I was able to afford them without financing). Otherwise, all of my bikes in the USA have been used. If you hunt, you can find 2016 Africa Twins already for $10k, and that bike is only a few years old now. Prices are only going to get better and better. (not that I want an AT, but just as an example) Some people can afford to buy new, and when they move on, it works out for me.

I think that the 390 ADV will come some time after the 790 ADV. I don't know if it would make sense to have them come out in quick succession.

they not really lost you, you bought technically a KTM

but I agree, they recently started to introduce new bikes very slowly and way too early before they can actually sell it. I guess they envy Africa Twin success with that strategy. But some are not too patient and lose interest.
Let see, 1 year or more prototyping and teasing, then 1 year to make it available plus another year or so to fix all the issues. Again new AT is perfect example. People don't have time today for this games.