First Look: 2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

The excitement over the 2023 new models is growing – can you feel it? And the big bike firms are dropping a series of little amuse-bouche appetisers, before we proceed directly to the intravenous injection of class-A hot-poop new bikes at the Cologne and Milan shows next month.

Treats like this: the 2023 KTM Adventure 890 R.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

The current bike is a cracking middleweight adventure tourer, with a solid dose of hardcore offroad ability, sharp styling, and the firm’s corking 105bhp 889cc parallel twin LC8c motor. For 2023 though, it’s been updated with new bodywork, revised suspension, posh electronics and even more offroad skillz.

That bodywork might look a little familiar: it’s ‘inspired’ by the KTM 450 Rally race bike, so that means a proper upright ‘stance’, with aggressive lines from the headlight and screen back, and a tough alloy sump guard.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

It’s also got a proper front mudguard: any ‘adventure’ bike with a close-fitting front fender is useless when the going gets tough in the dirt, because it will quickly get clogged with mud. This Adventure R has its 21” front wire-spoked wheel proudly out in the breeze though, showing its intent clearly from the off. The fuel tank, seat unit and fairing panels are also all new.

Suspension is, of course, by the firm’s own in-house suspension marque, WP, with XPLOR forks and rear monoshock, both fully adjustable, and retuned for better comfort and feel. Also uprated with more offroad ability are the stock Mitas tyres shown on the launch bikes.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

There’s a slew of updates to the electronics, starting with the dash, which is now via a five-inch full colour TFT LCD display rather than the monochrome displays of old. The charging connectors are higher-power USB-C standard now, and the sat-nav integration is also improved in the screen.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

KTM’s added more capability to the electronic rider aids package as well, with off-road ABS integrated with the ‘Off-road’ riding mode rather than a separate setting. There’s also an optional ‘Rally’ riding mode with more extreme dirt settings, available at an extra cost.

What’s a little strange is that the bike also comes with a ‘demo’ mode, which turns on the optional electronic features for the first 1,500km, so you can try them before you buy them. We’d feel a bit peeved that there were fancy options locked inside an ECU on a bike we just bought, but they get turned off unless you pay more cash later on.

2023 KTM 890 Adventure R

But maybe it’s the way things are going, and people will be happy to go along with it. We’d be chinning the dealer to unlock absolutely everything before we bought the thing mind…

There’s no price or availability on the new KTM 890 Adventure R as yet: but we’d expect around £13-14k and to see them in the dealers by the end of the year.

2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R HIGHLIGHTS

// Reworked bodywork & fairing inspired by the KTM 450 RALLY

// New windshield offering improved airflow

// Reworked suspension settings for reduced long-distance fatigue

// Upgraded 5” TFT display with USB connection & new pictograms

// Improved ABS components with new modulator (9.3 MP)

// OFFROAD ABS linked with OFFROAD MODE & (optional) RALLY MODE

// New & more offroad oriented tires (INT models)

// Updated turn-by-turn plus navigation system

// Introducing the DEMO MODE functionality

// Handlebar switch with hazard warning

// LED indicators (US models)

// New engine protector