One of the most popular machines in KTM’s lineup, the 790 Adventure, is getting some changes for 2025 that should make it handle better and streamline production to boot.
Right up-front, the biggest change is a new suspension—in front and back, the 790 now has the same setup as the larger 890 Adventure. There’s a fully-adjustable 43 mm WP Apex open-cartridge fork. It’s a split-function fork, which “separates the compression and rebound damping between the two fork legs thanks to rebound and compression damping adjusters on the top cap of each fork leg. This allows for a more precise setup when riding two-up or more extreme offroad trails.” We’ve seen this sort of thing on many other bikes over the past few years, particularly Honda’s street-oriented CBR and CB models. Now the 790 falls in line as well.
As for the shock, it’s also a WP Apex-series component, with 200 mm travel. The rebound damping is adjustable, and there’s a hand adjuster to help you dial in the spring preload, making it much easier to adjust your bike’s rear end for situations where you add or subtract the weight of luggage or a passenger.
There are changes beyond the suspension, particularly to the bike’s fueling system. There’s a new set of Dell’Orto throttle bodies with integrated knock sensors. This means you can use fuel with a lower octane rating and the bike won’t self-destruct, which is a good thing if you’re traveling in areas where regular-test fuel is all that’s available.
KTM says the 790 Adventure’s bodywork is updated, with your choice of orange or white paint for next year. The rest of the bike is basically unchanged, with the same electronics package that comes with Demo Mode baked in, allowing you to try all the features (adjustable-on-the-fly electronics for Rally Mode, etc.) for free for the first 1,500 km. After that, you’ve got to pay to play, although basic features like the leaning-sensitive ABS and TC system are included with the base MSRP.
The new machine will be at dealers in coming months; KTM recently announced a production slowdown/shutdown in Austria while it dealt with its financial troubles, but since the 790 is made in China, it should not be affected.
