KTM 790 Adventure vs Yamaha Tenere 700 Review

The KTM 790 Adventure and Yamaha Tenere 700 are proof of a growing arms race within the motorcycle industry. Adventure riders are getting more adventurous, so naturally the bikes must evolve to suit.

Manufacturers are scrambling to produce touring machines with improved off-road capability. Weight reduction and rally styling are in vogue, with the big mothership cargo carriers taking a back seat. All of this has resulted in hot competition in the mid-capacity adventure segment.

At the forefront of this battle-royale, is KTM and Yamaha. With 27 Dakar wins between them, both manufacturers are well versed in the art of rally, so it’s no surprise that each is gunning to build the most extreme dual-sporter possible.

Through sheer fate, or maybe just a lot of emails, the KTM 790 Adventure and the Yamaha Tenere 700 ended up on the doorstep of bikesales HQ at the same time. These class-leading machines are both extremely capable, but how do they compare?

To find out, we set sail for the Riverina, spending the night in the small township of Barmah on the banks of the Murray River. The trails along the Mighty Murray, and the grand old river red gums of the Barmah National Park, provided the perfect backdrop for this comparison.

Different strokes

First, a disclaimer – this test involves the standard KTM 790 Adventure. The natural rival for the Yamaha Tenere is the off-road focused KTM 790 Adventure R, winner of the 2019 bikesales Bike of the Year award.

On the surface, pitting the supposedly road-focused 790 Adventure against the Dakar-inspired Tenere 700 didn’t really seem fair. But when we dug a little deeper, we realised these two machines are more closely matched than you might think.

Both the KTM 790 Adventure and the Yamaha Tenere 700 were unveiled at EICMA in 2018, but the Tenere took a bit longer to get here.

First rumoured in April 2016, the Tenere 700 didn’t arrive until late 2019, after three years, two concepts and a worldwide marketing campaign. Aussie fans weren’t dissuaded by the wait though – the Tenere 700 was the bestselling bike in the country through the first three months of 2020.

The 790 Adventure arrived in mid-2019, but was overshadowed by its arguably more-talented sibling, the 790 Adventure R. On paper though, the pair aren’t all that different. The biggest difference is suspension. The R version packs longer-travel WP Xplor gear, while the standard has WP Apex equipment.

The standard version also has a taller windscreen, lower front fender, two-piece seat and road-focused Avon Trailrider tyres. There are also some slight changes in geometry, but that is largely a result of suspension differences.

Both machines use the exact same chassis, and the exact same LC8c engine, the powerplant used in the KTM 790 Duke. In fact, the engine was designed with all three bikes in mind, rather than just being transplanted from the Duke.

What the standard 790 Adventure lacks off-road, it makes up on-road, giving it a point-of-difference over the 790 Adventure R. But the Tenere 700, like the 790 Adventure R, is an off-road focused machine, which makes for an interesting comparison against the standard 790 Adventure.

Head to head

When you break it down, the 790 Adventure and the Tenere 700 offer two very distinct purposes in the adventure-bike world. One is designed to be a road bike with some off-road ability, and the other is designed to be an off-road bike with some on-road ability. But when one crosses over into the other’s territory, the results are surprising.

The biggest disparity between the KTM 790 Adventure and the Yamaha Tenere 700 is the price. The Tenere checks in at $15,499 plus ORC, while the 790 Adventure, at $19,695 plus ORC, is over $4000 dearer. This difference is likely due in large part to the KTM’s far more advanced electronics, which we’ll get to later.

Both machines come with parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engines. The higher-capacity 799cc LC8c in the 790 Adventure is a lively and quietly aggressive motor. It puts out 95hp at 8250rpm and 88Nm at 6500rpm. The 689cc Tenere engine is smaller and certainly more docile than the KTM, but it is very smooth for a twin-cylinder engine, and has linear and predictable power. It puts out 72hp at 9000rpm and 68Nm at 6500rpm.

Yes, the Tenere’s maximum output doesn't quite reach the heights of the 790 Adventure, but the Yamaha engine is perfect for off-road use, where predictability and low-end grunt are desired. While the KTM’s aggressive nature is a blast on the road, the Tenere’s lack of vibration makes it a pleasurable experience on the tarmac too. The optional Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres fitted to our Tenere did hamper its sealed-road performance though (standard fitment is Pirelli's less aggressive Scorpion Rally STR).

Suspension matters

There is only 10mm difference in suspension travel between the two bikes, but the Tenere 700’s fully adjustable KYB fork and shock take the cake here. Set up perfectly for off-road use, the Tenere soaked up rough terrain like an enduro bike. You might find its limits at race pace, but for simple trailriding, the KYB set-up was confidence inspiring.

The Tenere still worked well on road, although the taller nature of the bike and that little bit of extra wheel travel mean you won’t set any tarmac records. But that’s not what the bike is designed for (like we had to say it).

The 790 Adventure’s WP Apex suspension was clearly more limited off-road, but it performed better than we anticipated. It was quicker to bottom out on the big hits, but when ridden at a leisurely pace, the reasonably firm set-up handled the dirt well.

Once the trails ended and the road began, the 790 Adventure definitely found its mojo. The suspension gives a fine level of feedback, and it feels a lot more stable due to its lower stance. While the Yamaha’s tarmac ability is nothing to frown at, it struggled match the KTM’s sporty nature on the twisties.

Electronically speaking

Electronically, the 790 Adventure and the Tenere 700 are night and day. Yamaha’s philosophy was to keep things simple. A basic, digital LCD screen contains only important information, and a single button labelled ‘Off-Road’ disables ABS. And that’s it. No fancy gadgetry or ride modes – just one button.

The KTM on the other hand comes with a 7-inch colour TFT dash, switchable ABS and traction control, and four standard ride modes. The menu system is a little complicated at first, but once you familiarise yourself, everything is easy enough to find. The left-hand switch block allows you to switch between displays and select different options. It is somewhat fiddly, especially when you attempt to change ride modes or switch ABS off on-the-fly. But the level of customisation is very impressive, and the TFT screen is glorious to look at.

Unfortunately both bikes suffered from a small inconvenience. When you kill the engine, any changes made to ABS, traction control or ride modes are reset. This means that if you switch ABS off to ride off-road, and then kill the engine, you have to go back and make the changes again. Obviously the Yamaha’s simple design makes it a little more bearable than the KTM, but it is still not ideal in either case.

Which set-up is better comes down to a matter of personal preference. The KTM definitely allows for more adjustment, and packs more safety features, but the simplicity of the Yamaha will certainly be an attractive prospect for some.

Comfort battle

Another point of difference between the 790 Adventure and the Tenere 700 is the ride height. There is no other way to say it – the Tenere 700 is bloody tall. I am six-foot (183cm) and I found the 880mm seat height to be a stretch. There are options for a lower seat, however, so shorter riders needn’t be put off. The KTM’s lower stance (850mm seat height) is much more user-friendly and lends itself to better tarmac performance, but it does sacrifice some ground clearance, which is a slight hindrance off-road.

Despite the Yamaha’s height, it actually provides a comfortable riding position. Taller riders will appreciate the extra leg room and the high handlebars, while the seat is narrow but still comfy on long rides. The KTM feels a little more cramped, but that works better on the road. It puts you closer to the tarmac, which gives it more of a road-bike feel.

When standing the Tenere 700 feels like a dirt bike. The high handlebar, narrow seat and narrow bodywork make standing a very natural position. Standing on the 790 Adventure was a little less comfortable. Taller riders will find themselves hunching over to reach the lower handlebar, and the footpegs were not the best suited to the job either (the rubber inserts are removable, however).

One big disparity is fuel range. On our ride to Barmah and back, we found the Tenere 700 averaged 5.2lt/100km compared to 4.6lt/100km for the KTM 790 Adventure. That's not a huge difference in itself, but the KTM's tank does carry an extra 4lt, with a total of 20lt, versus 16lt for the Yamaha. This meant the Yamaha achieved a safe working fuel range of around 280km, while that figure increased to over 400km on the KTM.

Little wins

Another very minor win for the KTM is its fuel cap. It hinges away from the rider, making it much easier to get the nozzle on the fuel pump in. The Yamaha doesn’t have a hinged fuel cap, making it more susceptible to being dropped in the dirt. Our 790 Adventure also had an optional bi-directional quickshifter fitted, which the Yamaha lacks. And the Tenere's instruments vibrate significantly, especially when off-road – another win for the KTM.

But the Tenere 700 has a better luggage carrying system. Four recessed tie-down points make it super easy to strap a bag to the back. The 790 Adventure still has a solid luggage rack, but it takes a little more thought to tie down a bag. The Tenere also has a very attractive quad LED headlight, and a tall rally-like screen keeps you out of the wind – both of these get the points over the KTM.

The verdict

Trying to split these bikes is near-impossible. It largely comes down to the intended purpose. The 790 Adventure feels more like a road bike with some dirt capability, and the Tenere 700 feels more like a dirt bike with some on-road capability. But even then, both bikes handle the other's specialty surprisingly well.

The Tenere 700’s price is very attractive. For $4000 less than the 790 Adventure, you get a very reliable machine that is able to take you far from the beaten track. But the 790 Adventure’s tarmac ability is much more suitable for those hoping to use the bike on a day-to-day basis. The joker in the pack, of course, is the 790 Adventure R. The R combines the best of both, albeit for a higher price ($20,995 plus ORC).

There is no real winner here (a cliché, I know). The reality is that these two bikes lend themselves to different uses. If you are looking for a bike to park in the shed and take out for grand adventures with plenty of off-road work, the Tenere 700 is for you. But if you want a do-it-all machine that is equally adept at the daily commute as it is exploring come the weekend, you better take a look at the 790 Adventure.

Neither of these bikes will disappoint, but they do sport differences when it comes to intended usage and of course pricing. Our pick? We'll take one of each!

Specs: 2020 KTM 790 Adventure

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke DOHC parallel twin
Capacity: 799cc
Bore x stroke: 88mm x 65.7mm
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection with 46mm Dell’Orto throttle body

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 95hp (71kW) at 8250rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 89Nm at 6500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Slipper

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Chromium-Molybdenum steel trellis frame, powder coated
Front suspension: WP APEX 43mm, 200mm travel
Rear suspension: WP APEX monoshock, 200mm travel
Front brakes: 320mm discs with Brembo four-piston radial calipers, ABS
Rear brake: 260mm disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper, ABS
Tyres: Avon Trailrider

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed dry weight: 189kg
Seat height: 850mm
Wheelbase: 1508mm
Fuel capacity: 20 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $19,695 plus on-road costs
Test bike supplied by: KTM Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres

Specs: 2020 Yamaha Tenere 700

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled eight-valve parallel-twin
Capacity: 689cc
Bore x stroke: 80.0mm x 68.6mm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 72hp at 9000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 68Nm at 6500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet multi disc
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel double-cradle
Front suspension: KYB 43mm upside-down telescopic fork, fully adjustable, 210mm travel
Rear suspension: KYB monoshock, fully adjustable, 200mm travel
Front brakes: 282mm wave discs with Brembo four-piston calipers
Rear brake: 245mm wave disc with Brembo caliper
Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion Rally (std: Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR)
Tyre sizes: 90-90-21 front, 150/70-18 rear

DIMENSIONS
Rake: 27 degrees
Trail: 104mm
Claimed wet weight: 204kg
Wheelbase: 1590mm
Ground clearance: 240mm
Seat height: 870mm
Fuel capacity: 16 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $15,499 plus on-road costs
Colours: Ceramic Ice, Competition White and Tech Black
Bike supplied by: Yamaha Australia, yamaha-motor.com.au