By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
KTM 790 Adventure (MY2023) vs 790 Adventure (MY2025)
At the entry of a tight tarmac bend, the 2023 KTM 790 Adventure doesn't hesitate and its front snaps onto a clean line. On the 2025 KTM 790 Adventure, there's a steering damper working on the bars as you turn in. The bars stay quiet as the bike leans over.
So which one do you buy?
The 2025 790 Adventure has the edge if…
Real off-road capability
Nose ahead: 2025 790 Adventure
On a washboard dirt road, the 2025 790 Adventure edges in front. The difference is more suspension adjustment. It's close, so ride both on gravel if you can.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: 2025 790 Adventure
The 2025 790 Adventure nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. Most of that is better suspension. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
What makes each one tick
2023 790 Adventure
Beneath the 2023 790 Adventure's adventure bodywork there's a road bike, with stiff springs and a tipped-forward perch that pull it toward asphalt. Pushed hard into a corner, the chassis answers at once and holds its arc with the same calm at walking pace. The brake lever hauls the bike down with real modulation, and the ABS doesn't cut in before it's needed. Twisty pavement wakes it up.
Nils rode the 2023 790 Adventure in Carinthia and Styria in 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
2025 790 Adventure
There's no wander in the 2025 790 Adventure at high highway speed, and long stretches stay comfortable. The twin answers the throttle with a strong shove through the middle revs and spins up willingly from there. It's easy to meter in dirt. The long-travel suspension soaks up moderate dirt.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2025 790 Adventure has the lower seat: 33.1 in (840 mm) vs 33.9 in (860 mm).
- Manually Adjustable Front Suspension: standard on the 2025 790 Adventure, not offered on the 2023 790 Adventure.
- Steering Damper: standard on the 2025 790 Adventure, not offered on the 2023 790 Adventure.
Which one for the way you ride
Look at commuting, long days, and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2023 790 Adventure
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Best traction control in class
- Range that catches you out
- Rev-happy, hard-pulling twin
- Sharp and willing on tarmac
- Strong brakes, honest ABS
Trade-offs
- Suspension quits off-road
- Bars too low standing up
- Notchy, imprecise gearbox
- Features locked behind a paywall
2025 790 Adventure
What owners say
Strengths
- Punchy and Flexible LC8c Parallel-Twin
- Capable Off-Road Foundation
- Comprehensive Electronics Suite
- Confident Highway Stability
What they share
- Displacement
- 799 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 95 hp (70 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear tire
- 150/70-18
- Ground clearance
- 9.2 in (233 mm)
- Front travel
- 7.9 in (200 mm)
- Rear travel
- 7.9 in (200 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 2023 790 Adventure | 2025 790 Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.9 in (860 mm) | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| 2023 790 Adventure | 2025 790 Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) |
| 2023 790 Adventure | 2025 790 Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 5.3 US gal (20.1 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2023 790 Adventure | 2025 790 Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| Navigation | Standard | Option |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
