Battle Royale! Post up yer epic head to head bike comparisons here!

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Shuswap

Member
Wow, glad I'm not too seriously looking at the 790. If the engine is weak in the grunt dept that seals the deal for me. Engine is the heart of the bike. Seemed a lot of hype that hasn't produced good results....with a fault list like that. What is also interesting is the lack of good comments respecting important details like handling, predictability, precision steering, etc.
 
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leebob

Member
It all depends on where you are coming from and what your expectations are. I love my 790, but my last bike was a Wee Strom and I don’t ride single track, or even overly technical two track. For me the 790 was a step up. 94 HP in a 460 lb bike is more than enough get up and go, although it could be distributed more effectively for an off-road machine.

The bean counters did pretty well for me, I’m no Chris Birch, never will be, and I am happy with a bike that is set up more for adventure touring than dualsport or enduro riding. Not saying the 790 is without it’s quirks, it has its fair share, but this bike has given me more smiles per mile so far than any other motorcycle I’ve ridden. There are plenty more out there who feel as I do , just as there are those who feel as Offworlder does. Horses for courses, good thing there’s plenty to choose from.
 
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offworlder

Moderator
Dont let my "jaded" :p perspective deter you. As per @leebob's point- the 790 is a HUGE step up for many, and thats great. I was "cursed" with having come from the ultimate adventure bike - the 990. Alas...

That being said, I give you a seriously fixed/farkled 790:
IMG_1415.JPG
 
Pieter Mey

Pieter Mey

New member
Glad I joined again and read this thread! I still have my 2010 990 R in South Africa and have travelled extensively all over there with it. Was a member here from 2007 till 2009 but had to sell my WR450F sadly and went away for a few years. I want to buy a bike again here now, and was thinking of the 790 R, if I can ever get my hands on one. But now have seen this and it makes me doubt it. Anyone here have any knowledge if KTM will actually make an 890 R? Was also thinking of the expected Husqvarna 901 Adventure bike - just cannot find any info on either of these bikes. Want to buy once more and willing to spend the bucks, but want to do my homework and be patient if need be. Any thoughts?
 
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offworlder

Moderator
790 may already be a relic, as 890 is coming next year. Sadly, there's also some evidence they'll be made in China and/or India.
Depending on how/what you ride - if you know of the greatness of the 990, you'll only be disappointed with the 790. If your needs are simpler, and you dont expect/require the unparalleled reliability/simplicity/out of the box readiness of the 990, then a 790 R may suite you fine.
 
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offworlder

Moderator
Provided yer talking 950 adventure and not 950 Super Enduro, they're near identical, save for the 950 is carb'ed, and the 990 is fuel injected. Pick yer poison, although the FI 990's were well sorted post 2010'ish...
 
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leebob

Member
It’s an 09 Super Enduro R. Looks like a pretty sweet bike to me. Thought Pieter might be interested if he didn’t want to wait for an 890 and wasn’t interested in a 790. Its on Kijiji,....09, just over 4000km, senior owned, $10,350 obo. If I was independently wealthy I’d buy it just because?,.....but I’m happy with what I have for now, so it’s there for the taking?. It just seemed like a decent deal compared to the 990s I’ve seen.
 
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leebob

Member
Lol, shows you what I know:oops:! I think I’m gettin’ the pitch’ur though?
Somehow I think this one may not have been ridden as intended?
 
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