KTM

A collection of 37 posts

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ADV Bikes Without Success

When the BMW R 80 G/S was unveiled for the first time in Avignon, France, on September 1, 1980, none of those present could have guessed it would become a milestone in motorcycle history. Even three weeks later at the IFMA motorcycle exhibition in Cologne, Germany, the first mass-produced

News

Bajaj Gets Green Light to Completely Take Over KTM

India’s Bajaj Auto shook the motorcycle world recently when it announced that it had received regulatory approval for its takeover of KTM. Soon, the iconic Austrian motorcycle manufacturer’s business and production decision will be called from Pune, India. In late October, Austrian financial regulators gave the green light

News

KTM Delays Release of Next-generation ADV Motorcycles

KTM has announced that it will be delaying the release of its next-generation street and adventure motorcycle models. The beleaguered motorcycling icon has pushed the introduction of the new bikes into the 2026 model year. The production delay affects the KTM 990 RC R, 990 Duke R, 1390 Super Adventure

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R & Enduro R

Punching Above Their Weight In the ADV category, where bikes often lean too far toward the street or trail, KTM might have once again found the sweet spot. With the release of the 2025 390 Adventure R and 390 Enduro R, the Austrian brand (despite its recent financial turbulence) is

Motorcycle Review

2024 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S: Tarmac to Trails

Every flat tire has a silver lining. Actually, not all of them, but it does sometimes apply. Case in point—I was geared up, packed up, and ready to roll out for a combination project involving a couple bikes, a tour feature, and a dedicated review. Yet, the moment one

News

KTM Launches New 2025 390 Adventure Lineup

KTM is venturing off-road with its new 2025 390 Adventure range of motorcycles. Consisting of two bikes, the lineup has something to offer to adventurers whether they prefer gravel or pavement. The 2025 390 Adventure R and the 390 Adventure X are both nimble middleweight motorcycles capable of tackling a

News

KTM Unveils New Automatic/Manual Motorcycle Transmission System

If a motorcycle has an automatic transmission, is it still a motorcycle or a scooter? This question has proved divisive among riders, but motorcycle manufacturers seem to be firmly in the “still a motorcycle” camp. We’re saying that due to the number of bike makers introducing semi- or fully

Motorcycle Review

2024 KTM Duke Lineup

KTM is very good at staying on-brand. From the motorcycles coming out of the company’s factories to the lively events focused on the pure joy of riding, and even the culture oozing from every person donning that sweet racing jacket full of sponsor logos, there’s something electric in

News

2024 KTM SX-E 2

There’s that period in a young rider’s life when a balance bike becomes a toy but they’re not quite ready for a full-on motorcycle. Enter the 2024 KTM SX-E 2. This 64-pound battery-powered minibike slots in to fill that gap. Its electric motor produces 36.9 lb-ft

News

KTM Resurrects the SMT with New 2024 KTM 890 SMT

The KTM 990 SMT was a highly popular “supermoto tourer”—and then it disappeared in 2013. The developing ADV bike market, together with the Duke model line, ate up the SMT’s relevance and KTM eventually put the motorcycle to rest. For years, KTM enthusiasts have been scrambling to find

News

The Ultimate Hyper Naked: KTM 1290 Super Duke RR Returns

By the time you’re reading this, there’s a good chance the 2023 KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is already sold out. KTM has announced that it will produce only 500 units of the 2023 Super Duke RR, a follow-up to the popular 2021 model. The new model promises

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KTM SM-T: A New Generation of Touring Travel

In 2009, eager to stuff their LC8 V-twin into more motorcycles, KTM gave us the 990 Supermoto Travel or SM-T. It was more supermoto than traveler, but the upright riding position and perfect ergos meant you could absolutely crush the miles connecting twisty roads. The SM-T didn’t quite fit

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2023 KTM 890 Adventure

KTM chose Portugal as the place to show off the 2023 base model of the 890 Adventure. It couldn’t have been more suitable. The country’s winding paved roads, interlaced with various off-road sections, run the gamut from skittish hard-pack to lush loam, from deep sand to tree-lined rock-strewn

News

2023 KTM 390 Adventure: The Same Compact Adventurer

Despite its compactness and affordable price, KTM 390 Adventure is a fully capable race-derived machine with an impressive electronics package. For 2023, KTM has given the 390 Adventure a facelift and new tires—because it doesn’t need much else. The most striking update are the new graphics. The black-and-orange

Events

KTM Adventure Rally Heads to Norway

Adventure motorcycling enthusiasts had better start learning how to ride like a Viking. This year’s KTM Adventure Rally is heading north to the land of the fjords. The 2023 KTM Adventure Rally takes 150 intrepid KTM riders to Norway on July 24-28 to tackle the Scandinavian country’s spectacularly

News

KTM Introduces 2023 1290 Super Adventure R

Are you ready for Adventure 2: Adventure Harder? KTM sure hopes so, as the Austrian bike manufacturer has announced the 2023 1290 Super Adventure R. The second-generation 1290 Super Adventure R is designed for the hardcore off-road warriors who want to wherever they please, no matter the terrain. The 2023

News

KTM Introduces the Unique 2022 890 Duke GP

What’s black and orange and built for twisties? Why, it’s the 2022 KTM 890 Duke GP. This latest addition to KTM’s Duke lineup sets itself apart visually with its striking colorway, new passenger seat cover, and GP-derived livery. Still unmistakably a KTM, the bike has an aggressive

News

KTM and Brabus team up to make the Brabus 1300 R

Since 1977, the BRABUS name has been synonymous with luxury, handcrafted exclusivity, and performance. Known globally among enthusiasts for the creation of high-performance supercars and as automotive individualization experts for over four decades, BRABUS has since also established itself in the marine sector through its series of exclusive day boats.

Buyers Guide

2021 Holiday Buyers Guide

The RoadRUNNER annual Holiday Buyers Guide showcases top products in our December issue. Now we are bringing you the guide digitally, so it’s even easier to shop for amazing moto-inspired holiday gifts! ABUS Granit Detecto XPlus™ 8077 The 8077 is as state-of-the-art as the machine you drive. Made of

Nov/Dec '21

Comparison: Yamaha Ténéré 700 vs KTM 990 Adventure

> There are varying approaches to designing a motorcycle, and naturally, there are people that prefer each approach. Some prefer sport bikes, while others prefer cruisers, but regardless of the flavor, it’s becoming common to see motorcycles equipped with more and more technology. Many are equipped with a slew

Jan/Feb '21

Review: 2020 KTM 890 Duke R

> The newest Duke is pointed up an enticingly twisty road, tugging at its leash. It begs to scamper and effortlessly lunges up the hill, its motor’s bark rising briskly before being interrupted momentarily with a pop from its quickshifter. A corner looms, and hitting hard on the brakes,

Jul/Aug '19

Review: 2019 KTM 790 Adventure/790 Adventure R

> We’ve heard about KTM’s plans for a midsize Adventure model from as early as 2013. In the meantime, we have seen the 1190, 1290, and 1090 introduced, and during this time the Austrian manufacturer has worked feverishly on the 790. Project managers and engineers attended KTM’s

Sep/Oct '18

Comparison: 2018 KTM 1090 Adventure R / 1290 Super Adventure S

> Both of these adventurers suffer from an enviable identity crisis. Either one can roam into the other’s terrain and feel quite at home. The crossover gap between the two machines widens in direct proportion to the difficulty of the terrain. The KTM 1090 Adventure R Wants to be

May/Jun '18

Comparison: 2017 Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L & 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Jim’s Riding Impressions 2017 Honda Africa Twin CRF1000L This Africa Twin had the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which allows either completely automatic gear shifting or pushbutton sequential shifting. The combination of a torquey two-cylinder, liter-sized engine and the DCT’s propensity for upshifting at relatively low RPMs, when in

Jul/Aug '17

Review: 2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R

> It’s the most off-road-capable model bearing the Adventure name. The 1190 is no longer, having been replaced by the 1290 Super Adventure R with an increase in displacement. Visually, the Super looks similar to the 1190. The lighter, more agile 1090 Adventure R is more enduro than travel