If you wanted a KTM 890 Adventure R Rally, I hope you paid your deposit and got your name on the list—because the 2024 lineup is all pre-sold now, KTM says.
At the start of September, KTM announced the much-upgraded Rally model would open up pre-orders on the 20th. With 700 machines offered to the global market, you might have thought you had a few days’ grace in getting an order in. Surely they couldn’t sll drll out that quickly, could they?
Narrator: They could.
After only three days, the entire 2024 run was snapped up, says KTM. That’s most impressive, considering the bikes sold for $21,499 plus taxes and fees in the US market (extrapolate your own local pricing off the exchange rate, if you’re in another country). Some of those bikes were sold internally for KTM’s own usage, but still that’s impressive.
If you’re bummed that you missed out, there is a faint glimmer of hope knowing that KTM did start a wait list, in case anyone changes their mind in coming weeks, before their bike is delivered.
Photo: KTM
What’s the stir?
Why all this fuss about the 890 Adventure R Rally? Most likely, ADVers were excited to finally buy a factory up-specced adventure bike that was actually available in the States. So many of these models have turned out to be Europe-only over the years that the chance to order one here in North America has become a rare thing.
Plus, the bike will come with truly impressive hardware. As we told you when it was first announced:
KTM says this is essentially an 890 Adventure with a bunch of rally raid-spec parts thrown on. As their press release puts it, “comparable components to 2023 Dakar Rally winner Kevin Benavides’ Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 450 RALLY bike, is the most offroad-capable, two-wheeled adventurer on the market.”
Bold words, but KTM backs it up with a WP XPLOR PRO 7548 fork, which uses cone valve internals—stuff that was only available on factory racebikes in the very recent past. In back, there is a WP XPLOR PRO 6746 shock, which is also from WPs Pro Components series. Front and rear suspension systems offer 270 mm of travel, compared to the 200 mm of travel with the standard 890 Adventure model.
Other new hard parts include a rally-style seat and footpegs, robust 21-18 wheelset (for off-road toughness), Supersprox-Stealth rear sprocket, and carbon-fiber engine guards with other protective add-ons.
The engine itself appears to be unchanged, as is usually the case with these special-edition models—this removes the possibility of issues with emissions regulations. However, there’s a new Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, which will at least remove weight. The 890 Adventure R Rally also comes with trick electronics such as leaning-sensitive ABS and traction control, turn-by-turn navigation, a choice of ride modes and the other features KTM bundles with its Tech Pack and Connectivity Unit.
Buying this machine pre-built means a lot of time saved, instead of spending the cash and hours putting it together yourself. For performanc-minded adventure riders who have the money to spend, a bike like the 890 Adventure R Rally is exactly what they’ve been looking for.
