THE WORLD’S
HEAD-TO-HEAD
BIGGEST BIKING MONTHLY!
On Two Wheels
KTM’S KT T 790 VS YAMAHA’S ADVENTURE TENERE 700
Crowning the new KING of ADVENTURE
TAKE US SERIOUSLY!
Biker groups call on government to help PROMOTE motorcycles and scooters
Legendary Learners:
Aprilia’s RS125
Specialist Spotlight:
Milenco
Ridden:
Mash Bla ack Seven Tw wo Fifty
Bag g a biking bargain
SIX ISSUES FOR £15 (OR 5 DIGITAL ISSUES FOR £9.99)
TIME ON YOUR HANDS? Subscribe to one of these great magazines for a special price.
Quote: MSL275 or CMM275 (offers expire July 31, 2020) Call 01507
529529 (Opening hours 8.30-5pm Mon-Fri)
NEWS 3
TAKE US SERIOUSLY! Biker groups call on government to recognise the role of bikes and scooters during the coronavirus crisis
A coalition of the UK’s largest biker organisations has submitted a White Paper which calls for the Government to recognise the role of motorcycles and scooters during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The coalition includes the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Vintage Motorcycle Club (VMCC), the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) and the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), and together they’ve commissioned a White Paper which was submitted to the Secretary of State, Grant Shapps. It has also been submitted to the three devolved administrations. The document calls for the Government to take the role of motorcycles and scooters into account, as the UK continues to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. More specifically, the White Paper: ■ ■
■
Breaks down how the crisis is affecting motorcycle and scooter riding Considers conditions under which motorcyclists and scooterists can continue to ride safely during the five Alert Level phases Outlines the case for a government-supported code of
■
■
■
guidelines for riders to maintain social distancing Establishes the need for reviewing how current restrictions affecting riding can be lifted in future lockdown phases Outlines the case for encouraging the use of motorcycles and scooters – in addition to walking and cycling Opens the discussion on policy which could help to encourage commuters to take up riding motorcycles and scooters – to help them avoid public transport in line with government guidance.
Despite initially ignoring motorcycles and scooters as alternatives to walking and cycling during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, on May 12, Mr Shapps said during a debate: “Motorcycles are an enormously important way of getting around— 2.7 billion miles were travelled by motorcycle in 2018, the last year for which we have data. “We are working on a number of projects, including sorting out potholes, which are a huge problem for people on motorcycles and other two-wheeled vehicles. I also
encourage him—at whatever age—to adopt the electric motorbike.” His statement came in response to a question asked by Julian Lewis, MP for New Forest East and member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Motorcycling. He said: “As an alternative to using public transport during the crisis, what assessment has my right hon. friend made of the desirability of ageing bikers like me once again using motorcycles for travelling to work, and will he be taking any steps to incentivise motorcycle usage as the lockdown is gradually eased?” And with Mr Shapps recognising the role of motorcycles and scooters, the coalition of biker groups believes that now is the time to open discussions with the Department for Transport. Speaking about the submission of the White Paper, MAG chair Selina Lavender said: “A new transport normal can only be achieved by consensus of all road user groups. “We look forward to consulting with the Government to ensure that motorcycles are given their rightful position in that new normal.” VMCC chair Bob Clark said: “The VMCC is the UK’s largest motorcycle club, although the average age of our membership is nearly 70. Our
members are thus perhaps more concerned with adherence to the guidelines than may be the case with other segments of the population. “However, for us, motorcycling is more than transport, and is often the physical and mental exercise essential for our members’ well-being. The VMCC seeks confirmation that those of our members who are fit and healthy can both remain within the law and enjoy the motorcycling that is their chosen form of exercise.” TRF chair Mario Costa-Sa commented: “The TRF Code of Conduct provides a key role in training trail and adventure riders, and compliance with COVID guidance is no exception. “Trail Riders want clarity; they look to us as leaders of the largest motorcycle groups to interpret and communicate the Government’s public message.” BMF chair Jim Freeman commented: “The time has come for the motorcycle to shine as a serious urban alternative to public transport, cycling and walking. “For many, the typical public transport journey is too far to be walked or cycled. “The car takes up far too much road and parking space.”
Bosch reveals CRASH detection technology for motorcycles
Bosch has just launched its new Help Connect emergency call system that’s been designed specifically for motorcycles and scooters. The Help Connect system works to automatically call Emergency Services when it detects an accident. Admittedly, it’s not the first system of this kind. BMW’s had its own eCall system for years and DGuard unveiled its SOS
MoreBikes, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529529 Editor Ross Mowbray
system a couple of years ago, but if Bosch is getting involved there’s a good chance we’ll see this technology being rolled out on a wider scale in the not-toodistant future. The Help Connect system actually uses Bosch’s existing MSC motorcycle stability control. Its inertial sensor unit measures acceleration and angular velocity a hundred times a second, which means the Help Connect system
Editorial design Fran Lovely Publishing director Dan Savage Publisher Tim Hartley Email editorial@morebikes.co.uk Production editor Mike Cowton
receives up-to-date information on the bike’s current position and angle of lean. An integrated crash algorithm will also determine whether or not a motorcycle has been involved in an accident, or if it’s just been dropped in a car park. But if the Help Connect system does determine that there’s been an accident, it’ll transmit GPS information directly to the Bosch Service Center, and if necessary,
Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising Mirela Vulaj 01507 529409 and Chloe Jones 01507 529575 Advertising deadline for August issue July 2, 2020 Distribution 01507 529529 Marketing manager Charlotte Park Commercial director Nigel Hole Customer services number 01507 529529
to the Emergency Services. For now Help Connect’s only going to be available in Germany, but Bosch does have plans to make it available in other markets.
Telephone lines are open Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm Call 01507 529529 or visit classicmagazines.co.uk/MB10 or email subscriptions@mortons.co.uk MoreBikes is published monthly on the third Friday of the month by Mortons Media Group Ltd and printed by Mortons Print. Subscribe to MB and just pay the postage!
Support the NHS with Wemoto’s NEW charity t-shirt Wemoto’s just released d its latest charity t-shirrtt – and this ye ea ar, it’s donating the t profits to the e NHS. Over the past five years, Wemoto’s been donating the profits from its charity t-shirts to the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club, but this year it’s chosen to raise funds for the financially stretched NHS. ‘The Motorcyclist’ t-shirts are a tenner a piece. To get yours visit: www.wemoto.com
Honda’s social distancing BACK TO WORK scheme We know that two-wheelers are perfect for social distancing. But in response to the Government advising commuters to avoid public transport where possible, Honda’s created a new Back to Work scheme with some healthy savings on offer across its range to help showcase the advantages of motorcycles and scooters. For more information visit: www.honda.co.uk
Ducati’s Superleggera V4 is COMING
Ducati’s CEO, Claudio Domenicali, has shared a snap of the Superleggera V4 as it gets ready for the final phase of testing. It’s been a bit of a wait, but Ducati’s limited edition Superleggera V4 is almost ready. First shown to the world in February, the carbon fibre sportbike has just got to get through some high speed testing at Nardo and then it’ll be going into production.
MB recommends bikesafe.co.uk
Independently proven pick up: 67,717 copies
4 NEWS
A nod from the Editor* "Always look on the bright side of life..."
Ross Mowbray
Finding positives It’s been a bit of a bleak few months, hasn’t it? We’ve been through the ringer – be it physically, mentally or financially – but we’re still here. Ok, so things aren’t quite back to normal yet, and it feels like we’ve still got quite a way to go before they are. But we’re getting there. Here at MoreBikes, we're out on the bikes again; testing and putting plans together for the rest of the year. It's good to be back. The motorcycle and scooter industry has had a tough time, too. But it looks like it might still have something to smile about. As the country gets back to work, manufacturers have been hard at work shouting about the benefits of two-wheeled travel, offering a wide range of discounts and deals to entice new riders into our world. And it seems to be working. It should be an easy sell, right? Given the choice between squeezing on to a packed train or bombing through traffic in total control – where would you sooner be?
*Acting Editor
Triumph Motorcycles to cut 240 UK jobs Triumph Motorcycles is to cut 400 jobs worldwide, 240 of which are in the UK. The Hinckley-based factory said the cuts are the result of a big drop in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic. Triumph’s HQ is Hinckley, but it’s also got factories in Thailand and assembly operations in Brazil and India. Currently it employs around 1,000 people in the UK and 2,500 people around the world. That means the losses equate to a 6.25% reduction in staff numbers. Speaking about the news, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Executive Nick Bloor said: “These are not only challenging times for everyone as individuals, but also for the company. No business could have anticipated the scale of the coronavirus crisis and its economic consequences.
Yamaha Europe’s Marketing Manager, Paolo Pavieso, has hinted that there’s a chance we could see a Yamaha TMAX off-roader in the next two years. Ok, the project’s not actually been given the green light yet, but it certainly wouldn’t come as a surprise if it does go ahead. Honda’s X-ADV has sold good numbers across mainland Europe, and Yamaha’s surely after a bit of the action.
“The pandemic has caused significant damage to the global motorcycle market and, sadly, we have to respond and react accordingly as both a responsible employer and as a business that invests for the future. “These are not easy decisions to
make, especially when individuals’ livelihoods are affected. However, regrettably the scale of impact of Covid-19 necessitates us to restructure now in order to protect the long-term health and success of the Triumph brand and business.”
SPY SHOTS: Bimota’s KB4 CAUGHT testing on the road Bimota’s eagerly anticipated KB4 has been caught on camera while out testing, and we’ve got our hands on the shots, thanks to our friends at Young Machine Japan. The spy shots offer a decent look of the bike, and confirm that the compact KB4 will combine a hybrid aluminium and steel frame with upside-down forks, a single rear shock and a
Yamaha’s OFF-ROAD capable TMAX?
double-arched aluminium swingarm. It’ll also get a monobloc-type front brake, a reasonably chunky fuel tank and a single headlight wrapped in a retro sportbike-style front fairing. It’s good to see that the KB4 styling’s not unlike the prototype image that’s been floating around the web for a few months. Let’s hope the paint scheme matches up, too.
Stafford Classic Bike Show POSTPONED
The April Stafford Classic MotorCycle Show has now been postponed until October. The show will be joining forces with its ‘sister event’ and will take place at the Stafford County Showground on October 10–11. For more information on how to get your hands on a ticket, visit: www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com
NEWS 5
YOU can RIDE a Moto2 race bike at the Red Bull Ring Fancy a few laps of the Austrian GP racetrack?
The Red Bull Ring in Austria is offering bikers the chance to blast round the track on a KTM Moto2 race bike. The Red Bull Ring has added five purebred Moto2 race machines to its fleet for 2020. And you can ride one. Kicking off in June, you can swing your leg over one of the 130hp KTMs alongside experienced instructors who’ll give you the inside line on how to get the best out of the bike at the Austrian race track.
There are four unique packages to choose from. There’s a 15-minute experience which’ll set you back €190; there’s a 30-minute package which costs €350; while the Gold and Silver packages will get you three and one hours’ riding – at a price of €890 and €600 respectively. Pretty cool, right? For more information on how to get involved, visit the Red Bull Ring website at www.projekt-spielberg.com
YOU can BOOK a provisional ferry crossing NOW TT 2021
Provisional ferry crossings are now available for next year’s Isle of Man TT. And you can book a spot NOW. With the cancellation of this year’s Isle of Man TT as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, all eyes are now on 2021. If you want to watch one of the most spectacular race events in the world, you can lay down a deposit and book a provisional ferry crossing right now. To hold your spot for next year’s TT, you’ll have to outlay a deposit of £60/€72 if you’d like to take a bike (or any vehicle for that matter), but if you want to travel on foot, it’ll set you back £15/€18. It’s worth noting that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable – and then you’ll be notified of the full price of your fare by the end of January 2021.
MotoGP: No WILDCARD rides in 2020 News has been circulating about wildcard rides in MotoGP for a few weeks, but an official statement has been made which confirms that The Grand Prix Commission has made the call to drop them for the 2020 season. It’s not a massive surprise, as this year’s racing will likely be going on behind closed doors, and wildcard riders would pose an unnecessary risk. The same also holds true for extra mechanics and engineers. Basically, it’s going to be a slim-line paddock when the MotoGP season does finally manage to get underway. That does mean that Jorge Lorenzo will not get to race for Yamaha this year, as has been widely rumoured, and it also means that respected test riders Sylvain Guintoli, Stefan Bradl and Michele Pirro will not race as wildcards for their respective factories. There’s still been no official confirmation from MotoGP organisers about when the action will get underway, but at the minute there’s speculation that the season will kick off with a double header at Jerez in July.
6 WHITE DALTON Th he MB legal co olumn is co ompiled by m managing pa artner Andrew ‘Chef’ P Prendergast and his bike-riding barristers and ssolicitors at W White Dalton M Motorcycle S Solicitors. The firm deals with personal w injury claims and its sister a company, company Motor Defence Defenc Solicitors, deals with all the motoring offences. White Dalton lawyers have a vast knowledge of bike law, and they have full bike licences, too. They don’t act for insurance companies or the prosecution. White Dalton is Britain’s premier specialist motorcycle law practice, and if its professionals don’t know the answer to your question, there probably isn’t one. Don’t rely on the advice from your insuranceappointed solicitor, get proper independent advice. For road traffic offences, call the Motor Defence solicitors on 0800 280 0912. For non-offence cases, call White Dalton motorcycle solicitors on 0800 783 6191.
Need advice
If you need advice on a biking-related legal question or query, email mail@whitedalton.co.uk. The best Q&A will be published in MB, in confidence, of course.
Q&A
Q
Our specialist motoring solicitor Andrew Prendergast guides readers through their legal trials and troubles
About three years ago, I got proper clumped by some dozy townie who decided to move out to the sticks. You know the sort, posh 4x4, wax jacket, plum in his mouth. So one Saturday morning, the townie pulls straight out of his gated driveway and smashes into my leg, bouncing me off into a ditch. I broke my leg and to be fair, he did take me to hospital, ran me home and admitted liability straight away. I was six weeks in plaster for my broken tibia and ankle, and needed physiotherapy. Anyways, I instructed a local solicitor (another posh toff as it goes) to run my case. I told him and the medical expert I couldn’t work again, and he put forward the claim to Mr. Townie’s insurer. However, it turns out Mr. Townie grassed me up for working (I’m a scaffolder by trade) and they have videos of me working on site. I had planned on getting at least £100,000 and started an extension on my house on the basis of that. However, my solicitor has told me to accept the £10,000 they are offering, as if not I will have to go to Court. I’m up for going to Court if need be as everyone ‘over-eggs the pudding’ a bit, don’t
For more info, go to:
they. I’m also thinking of giving Mr. Townie a slap. He’s worth a few quid and insured so I don’t see why he grassed me up. What do you think?
A
I think you need to give your head a wobble. A man makes a mistake and knocks you off, takes you to hospital and admits blame. In return, you attempt to make a fraudulent claim to build an extension. Behave. I’m surprised the insurer has offered you anything at all. My advice is accept the offer and thank your lucky stars you are not up to your neck in the brown stuff as far as the law is concerned. If this had come unravelling in front of a Judge, s/he would have found you to be ‘fundamentally dishonest’ in accordance with the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015; chucked out your whole claim (even the honest bits) and you could have ultimately ended up in prison.
Q SOLICITORS
www.whitedalton.co.uk
Please help! I’ve been having a battle with my insurer. I have fully comprehensive insurance on my Triumph Street Triple. As is standard with fully comp, I can ride other motorbikes as long as I don’t own them. My girlfriend has a Suzuki Bandit that needed an MoT so I offered to run it round to the local garage. As I pulled into the industrial estate, a van suddenly stopped in front of me and two lads jumped out of the side door. One flashed a machete and the other pushed me off the bike. With that the bike and van were gone. Thankfully I wasn’t hurt. However, as for the
bike, my insurer has refused to pay out as I was only covered to ride my girlfriend’s bike third party only. As it was stolen, they reckon I’m not covered. That can’t be right can it, as I am fully comp on the Triumph? I feel like I’ve effectively been robbed twice.
A
This makes my blood boil. Thieving scrum bags. However, I’m glad you are here to tell the tale. Bikes can be replaced, but people aren’t always as lucky. As for your insurer, I’m afraid it sounds like they have done nothing wrong.It is commonplace to be able to ride other bikes that you do not own on a thirdparty basis under your own fully comp policy. Therefore, whilst it pains me to tell you, if you have not insured the risk of your girlfriend’s bike getting nicked whilst you’re riding it, I’m afraid your insurer is correct.
OUR TOP PRODUCTS
Each month MoreBikes features a range of new gear to help YOU find the best value kit on the market.
RST Ventilator-X Gloves
RRP: £40 / www.rst-moto.com The Ventilator-X is RST’s lightweight touring glove made from breathable K300 mesh with soft touch Amara for comfort and protection. Its four knuckle vents direct airflow over the back of the hand and underneath the CE-certified protector for all-round cooling. A secure hook & loop fastening and double layer palm reinforcement add extra protection to this breathable summer to ouring glove. Best of all, they’rre reasonably prriced, too.
Sena Momentum EVO Smart Helmet RRP: £379 / www.sena.com
That’s right. Sena’s making helmets now. In fact, the Momentum EVO is the first helmet to integrate its own premium Mesh Intercom technology. It’s a clever bit of kit with built-in speakers, a microphone and Bluetooth connectivity allowing riders to safely take phone calls, listen to music and even hear turn-by-turn GPS directions. It also comes with Wi-Fi integration, which allows for automatic firmware updates.
Tucano Urbano Rivs Jacket RRP: £300 / www.tucanourbano.com
The Rivs jacket is a black leather jacket typical of Tucano Urbano’s classic Italian design. There’re stretch panels at either side of the back for a comfortable fit and there’s a detachable vest inside, quilted with thermal polyester padding. CE-Class A approved, the Rivs jacket has shoulder and elbow armour, plus a pocket for a back protector. It also features handy tank protector flaps on the top and bottom of the metal zip.
Richa Yorktown Jacket RRP: £349.99 / www.nevis.uk.com
Oxford Biker Tool Kit Pro
£30 / www.oxfordproducts.com No matter how reliable your bike is, it’s never a bad idea to have some tools to hand in case something needs a little fix or adjustment. Or you can just look like a hero when your mate’s bike needs attention... That’s where Oxford Products’ comprehensive 27-piece premium motorcycle tool kit comes in. The tools feature ergonomic, soft gel handles, which are comfortable to use, and steel sockets, extension bar and hex keys are chrome vanadium for a durable life. There’s also a miniratchet handle with robust mechanism, which requires just five degrees movement to fasten, and a 20mm adjustable mini spanner. The tools come in a compact storage case – ideal to keep under your rear seat – which folds down to 18.5cm x 10.5cm x 4cm.
The new Yorktown jacket has perforated leather panels for optimal ventilation and a detachable and washable thermal lining for those cooler days or dusk rides. D3O® protectors are included as standard at the shoulders, elbows and back, and there are adjusters on the waist and zippers on the sleeves, as well as two outside pockets. On the inside of the jacket, the lining is made of Richa vintage cotton and features a dedicated pocket for a mobile phone and another inner pocket.
Oxford Women’s Original Approved Denim
£120 | www.oxfordproducts.com Oxford Women’s Original Approved Denim are a pair of single-layer, quickdrying, lightweight jeans. But despite thaat, they still meet the A AA A CE-certification for safety. The jeans are built specifically for life on two wheels, from new yarn and fibre technologies to new finishes and dying techniques. Highly durable Armourlite denim maintains a vintage look and softness, and a polyamide fibre in the weave adds a hardwearing material originally developed by the military for parachute cords. Two-way stretch and quick dry technologies are added for extra comfort.
Kovix KBL Alarmed Padlock RRP: £95 / www.thekeycollection.co.uk
The Kovix KBL Alarmed Padlock is ideal for securing garages and sheds, or it can be used to lock a bike when partnered with a heavy-duty chain. The lock itself has a strong stainless steel body with double-locking 16mm sliding pin system, and inside the lock body is a weatherproof alarm module, with an on/off switch, for times when silence is golden. When armed, a 120db alarm will sound if the padlock is moved.
PRODUCTS 7
8 FIRST RIDE: KTM 790 ADVENTURE AND YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700
KTM’s 790 Adventure and Yamaha’s equally long-awaited Ténéré 700 took contrasting routes in search of middleweight adventure bike supremacy – so which one ended up ahead? WORDS: Roland Brown PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Chapman
FIRST RIDE: KTM 790 ADVENTURE AND YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700 9
B
ikes like these make plenty tyy of sense. Open-class adventure bikes have sold in huge numbers of late, but as their performance and sophistication have increased, so too have their size, weight and cost – creating an obvious gap for smaller, lighter and less expensive alternatives. A mid-capacity tyy dual-purpose model has long seemed logical from KTM, whose multicylinder range began in 2003 with the Dakar racer-inspired Adventure 950. Since then the firm’s Adventure V-twins have grown to 1290cc, leaving a sizeable gap to the single-cylinder 690 Enduro R. The 790 Adventure splits the difference neatly. Meanwhile, the obvious question for Yamaha is why did this latest in a long line of Ténérés take so long? The 689cc MT07 led Yamaha’s comeback in 2014, soon sparking retro and sportstouring spin-offs. But this latest Ténéré arrived five years behind, following an extensive and
delayed development programme. The two firms reached very different answers to the key question of where in the road/off-road space to pitch their parallel-twin contenders? KTM decided that a single model would not suffice, partly because their Ready To Race philosophy demanded an ultra-capable off-roader. This became the Adventure R, allowing the standard 790 Adventure, tested here, to have more of a road-going focus. By contrast Takushio Shiraishi, the Ténéré’s project leader, regarded making two separate models as “cheating”. Conscious of the Ténéré’s desert-race heritage, he decided to put his bike’s priority “maybe 80 per cent offroad and 20 per cent on-road”, even though he accepted that most riders will leave Tarmac only rarely. The firms also took contrasting approaches to technology gy. y KTM, always at the forefront with electronics, specified multiple riding modes and an Inertial Measurement Unit to allow cornering ABS and multi-level traction control. Yamaha continued with their MT-07 theme of simplicity tyy and value for money, giving up glamour, but gaining a significant advantage in price. Before starting this test I’d expected to be
able to pick a winner, but having ridden the two bikes back-to-back it’s clear that choosing one in isolation would be misleading. They are both excellent all-rounders; extremely good at what they do. But despite the obvious similarities they’re very different. My ride to the photo session summed up the difference. For the morning run from Hertfordshire to the location near Peterborough I was aboard the Ténéré, and enjoyed its gentle charm and sumptuous ride quality tyy as it lolloped down some local back roads then up the A1. I found my eye drawn to every field entrance that I passed, tempted by the prospect of what adventure might lie beyond. Aboard the KTM on the way home, it wasn’t gravel tracks that caught my eye, but every smaller road with the promise of bends and the potential to exploit the bike’s performance. Before long my patience had been exhausted, and I’d turned off the main road for a B-road thrash home that was less direct and infinitely more entertaining. Of course, the KTM would also have made an excellent job of tackling any dirt tracks and the Yamaha wouldn’t have been left far behind on a twisty tyy road.
10 FIRST RIDE: KTM 790 ADVENTURE AND YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ 700
The KTM has a more road-going feel than the Yamaha
But the scenarios that appealed most highlighted their personalities. The 790 Adventure is happy to venture offroad if asked, but despite its name it’s almost more of a sports-tourer than an adventure bike. The softer, less powerful and more relaxed Ténéré 700 is a genuine allrounder that can’t decide whether it prefers Tarmac or dirt. There’s also a significant difference in price. The Ténéré’s relative simplicity and Yamaha’s shared platform policy have allowed a price of £8999, despite a £600 increase since the summer. With the Adventure costing £11,099 (the Adventure R is £11,999), that still gives the Yamaha a substantial advantage of £2100. Arguably, this puts it in a different part of the market to the KTM. On the other hand, if you slid off the Ténéré on a greasy road because it didn’t have cornering ABS or traction control, you could do a lot more than two grand’s worth of damage… For me the choice would depend on whether this was to be an only machine. If so, unless I was planning heaps of off-road riding I’d pick the KTM, which is close to being all the streetbike I’d need, with the bonus of some ability on the dirt. If I owned a powerful roadster, the Yam would make a brilliant second machine for off-roading and much more. It’s not a kop-out to conclude that either of these bikes is potentially the winner. Financial considerations aside, it’s down to you to decide what type of riding you enjoy and are likely to do. In contrast to the
trail-riding first day that emphasised the Ténéré’s versatility, my time with the 790 Adventure was initially confusing. After the tall, slightly squashy Yamaha I’d become used to, the KTM felt low, firm and more like a conventional roadster than an adventure bike. Immediately after setting off on the 790 I was aware – and appreciative – of its superior performance. Its 94bhp engine revved more freely, and every time I glanced at its speedo the bike seemed to be moving 10mph faster than the Yam would have been. That ride was also slightly frustrating, because although the Adventure handled well on twisty roads, it didn’t steer with quite the ease I’d expected, let alone that of its relation, the 790 Duke. Perhaps that was inevitable, given that it’s 15kg heavier than the Duke and has a 21-inch front wheel instead of a 17-incher. But I hadn’t expected the Adventure to feel slightly harsh, its firm rear shock passing on bumps that the Ténéré wouldn’t even have noticed. On smooth roads the Adventure worked much better, and the more I rode it the more I appreciated its many attributes rather than worried about its few rough edges. It certainly has a clear edge over the Yamaha on performance. Its dohc parallel-twin engine is detuned from Duke spec, but still has a 22bhp advantage, added to which the Austrian bike is over 10kg lighter. At a standstill their differing sizes and shapes were striking. The
Adventure seemed shorter and wider, thanks to its pannier-tank design that sees fuel held on either side of the engine, lowering the centre of gravity and seat height (830-850mm). From that seat the view is of a fairly slim screen, slightly raised one-piece bar with standard hand-guards, and a TFT dash that is more colourful and informative than the Yam’s. It shows which of the three riding modes (four if you add the optional Rally to the standard Street, Offroad and Rain) has been selected using the switch on the left handlebar. The Adventure might not be a typical adventure bike, but it’s very much a KTM, feeling eager, free-revving and aggressive as it charges forward at every opportunity.
Full-colour dash of the KTM is all singing, all dancing
With more electronics you need more switches, but they are clear, easy to use and good quality