By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Enduro vs Adventure
KTM 690 Enduro R (MY2019) vs Yamaha Tenere 700 (DM07)
KTM 690 Enduro R vs Yamaha Tenere 700: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
Drop the KTM 690 Enduro R into a rocky trail and it's nimble while the long fork swallows each hit. The Yamaha Tenere 700's tall front wheel rolls right through.
So which one do you buy?
The 690 Enduro R has the edge if…
Real off-road capability
Nose ahead: 690 Enduro R
Off the pavement, the 690 Enduro R asks a bit less of you. The difference is more suspension adjustment. The gap won't matter much on easy gravel.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: 690 Enduro R
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the 690 Enduro R. Put it down to better suspension. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
The Tenere 700 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Narrow edge: Tenere 700
Day to day, the Tenere 700 works out slightly cheaper to own. The saving is small.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Small edge: Tenere 700
For your first season, the Tenere 700 makes slightly more sense. Thank more comfort and easier controls for that. Fit and confidence at a standstill still come first.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Tenere 700
The Tenere 700 edges it for the daily grind. That comes from easier everyday riding and lower running costs. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
Which one's the smarter buy
Different classes, different trade-offs
The 690 Enduro R and Tenere 700 sit in different classes, so neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
690 Enduro R
On a technical climb, the 690 Enduro R's light steel trellis frame lets it flick from rut to rut, and it doesn't fight the bars. Pavement won't fluster the chassis. A washed-out ledge sinks straight into the WP XPLOR shock.
Tenere 700
There's a lively snap every time the Tenere 700's cable throttle opens up the crossplane twin. On loose dirt, every squeeze of the brake lever leans on mechanical grip and your own skill to bring the bike down. It's the tires doing the work. The twin's low-end grunt shoves it out of sandy hairpins.
Nils rode the Tenere 700 in 2020, in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2021, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Pyrenees in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tenere 700 has the lower seat: 34.4 in (875 mm) vs 36.8 in (935 mm).
- The 690 Enduro R makes more peak torque: 54 lb-ft (74 Nm) vs 50 lb-ft (68 Nm).
- The Tenere 700 has the larger fuel tank: 4.2 US gal (16 L) vs 3.5 US gal (13.3 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
690 Enduro R
What owners say
Strengths
- Lightweight and off-road capable
- Advanced electronics for a big single
Trade-offs
- Questionable long-term reliability
Tenere 700
What owners say
Strengths
- Engaging CP2 parallel-twin engine with broad torque
- Outstanding off-road capability for a middleweight adventure bike
- Simple, analog character with minimal electronics
- Excellent value for money
Known problems to check before you buy
690 Enduro R
- Electrical gremlins (stator, wiring harness) Corroded connectors, failing stators, and chafed wiring harnesses have been reported, causing intermittent electrical cutouts and charging system failures.
- Recall 21V792000: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:SLAVE CYLINDER Recall 21V792000 KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2018-2020 690 Enduro R, Vitpilen 701, 701 Enduro, 701 Supermoto, 2019-2020 690 SMC R, Svartpilen, 2018-2019 690 Duke, and 2020 701 Enduro LR motorcycles. The bellow-style gasket on the clutch slave cylinder may have been damaged during manufacturing, which could cause the clutch to become inoperable and not disengage when the clutch lever is pulled in.
- Fuel pump prone to failure The in-tank fuel pump is a common failure point, often triggered by contaminated fuel or heat, causing the bike to stall or not start. Many owners carry a spare or replace with an aftermarket unit.
Tenere 700
- Front brake caliper mounting bolt recall (select 2022 models) Recall 23V472000 Certain 2022 Ténéré 700s were assembled with incorrect front brake caliper bolts (thread length too short). Repeated removal could damage threads, risking caliper detachment and brake failure. Yamaha recall #990168 / NHTSA 23V-472 affects 211 US units built July–Aug 2022.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 5-year-old 690 Enduro R with a 5-year-old Tenere 700.
- 690 Enduro R
- about $8,300
- Tenere 700
- about $7,700
At five years old, the KTM 690 Enduro R sits around $8,300 while the Yamaha Tenere 700 lands near $7,700. That gap isn't meaningful. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak torque at
- 6,500 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
Where the spec sheets split
| 690 Enduro R | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 36.8 in (935 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| 690 Enduro R | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 693 cc | 689 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder | Parallel twin |
| Power | 75 hp (55 kW) | 73 hp (54 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,000 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 54 lb-ft (74 Nm) | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) |
| 690 Enduro R | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.5 US gal (13.3 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| 690 Enduro R | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 140/80-18 | 150/70-18 |
| Wheelbase | 59.3 in (1506 mm) | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 10.4 in (265 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.8 in (250 mm) | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 9.8 in (250 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 690 Enduro R | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
