KTM Adventure Tyre Size
| Model | Years | Front Tyre Size | Rear Tyre Size |
| KTM Adventure 50 Mini | 2003 – 2007 | 2.50 x 10 | 2.50x 10 |
| KTM 390 Adventure | 2020 | 100/90/19 | 130/80/17 |
| KTM Adventure 620 | 1997 -1998 | 90/90/21 | 130/80/18 |
| KTM Adventure 640 | 1999 – 2007 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
| KTM 790 Adventure | 2020 – | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 790 Adventure R | 2020 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 890 Adventure | 2020 – | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 890 Adventure R | 2020 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 950 Adventure | 2003 -2006 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 990 Adventure | 2006- 2013 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 1050 Adventure | 2015 – 2019 | 110/80/19 | 150/70/17 |
| KTM 1090 Adventure | 2017 – 2018 | 110/80/19 | 150/70/17 |
| KTM 1090 Adventure R | 2017 – 2018 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 1190 Adventure | 2013 – 2016 | 120/70/19 | 170/60/17 |
| KTM 1190 Adventure R | 2008 – 2019 | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 1290 Super Adventure | 2015 – 2019 | 120/70/19 | 170/60/17 |
| KTM 1290 Super Adventure R | 2020 – | 90/90/21 | 150/70/18 |
| KTM 1290 Super Adventure S | 2020 – | 120/70/19 | 170/60/17 |
| KTM 1290 Super Adventure T | 2017 – 2019 | 120/70/19 | 170/60/17 |
| KTM Enduro 500 | 1982 – 1984 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
| KTM Enduro 600 | 1987 – 1993 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
| KTM Enduro 660 | 1999 -2007 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
| KTM Enduro 690 | 2008 – 2019 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
| KTM Super Enduro 950 | 2006 – 2008 | 90/90/21 | 140/80/18 |
KTM Adventure History
KTM’s Adventure series was born in 1997, with the launch of the 620 Adventure, derived from the popular Enduro series. The 620 used the LC4 single-cylinder engine and had a look similar to KTM’s rugged Dakar bike. To complete the hardcore desert racer look, the road bike also had two programmable trips and you could buy a roadbook holder as well as an – at the time quite innovative GPS connection.
A year later KTM launched the 640, and the capacity increased from 609cc to 625cc. Gone were the low-slung exhaust and KTM re-routed them to sit high up. The 640 is probably the best-known of the KTM single-cylinder range and that’s partly because the bike was so well made, it ran for 10 years, finally being replaced in 2008.
Meanwhile in 2003, KTM launched the 950 Adventure which was powered by the 942cc 75-degree LC8 engine and featured 75% of the parts used in the prototype bike that won the Paris Dakar the year before.
The 950 engined KTM won the Paris-Dakar in 2002 and that event plus a few other hardcore rallies were the proving ground for the 950. So by the time it was launched to the public, the 950 Adventure was a well proven engine.
In 2007 the 990 Adventure was launched. It featured fuel injection and a capacity hike to 999cc. KTM released the 990 Adventure in S, R and Dakar versions with varying seat heights, wheel sizes and different suspension.
In 2013, the 1190 Adventure was launched. An all new bike, it combined raw-v-twin power with top of the range electronics. With KTM’s roots in serious off-road racing, the 1190 Adventure was never going to be shy off road but its on-road prowess made it a real hit with the public, who wanted adventure looks and a bike that could tour in comfort. Towards the end of the 1190’s run the electronics package was improved and cornering ABS was introduced. There was also an 1190R version which was aimed at off-road riders and it featured a 21″ front wheel and an 18″ rear wheel, which helps make the bike more capable off-road.
In 2015 KTM launched the 1290 Super Adventure and in 2017 the T model was introduced. T stands for Touring and this version came with a taller screen, heated grips and KTM’s factory luggage as standard. The Super Adventure boasted a 1301cc engine, 30-litre fuel tank, corner lights, cruise control hill-hold and semi-active suspension. In 2017 the 1290 was also available in an R variant, which boasted larger wheels and made the bike more capable off-road.
Joining KTM’s line-up at the same time as the 1290 was the 1050 Adventure. This was a much more road-focused bike, with cast wheels not spoked wheels, and smaller tyre sizes to make the bike a better road-bike.
KTM were busy in 2017, as they also launched the 1090 Adventure and 1090 Adventure R. The R version runs a 21″ spoked wheel at the front and an 18″ spoked rear. There was also a more road-focused model the 1090 Adventure, which ran cast wheels in a 19″ front and 17″rear, making it a better bet for pure road riders. With 125bhp and a serious electronics package, you have to wonder if you need anything more on the road?
The rise of the baby Adventures
The world went big engine mad throughout the 2010s, so it was great to see KTM launched a serious off-road capable Adventure bike in the form of the 790 Adventure. For over a decade they were chasing big-cc engines and let’s be honest: who needs a 1301cc, 160bhp off-road bike?
The 790 Adventure and Adventure R runs a parallel-twin 799cc engine and is a genuine contender with the more off-road rooted 690 Enduro R as KTM’s best off-road capable Adventure bike. The 790 beats the 690 hands down on road manners and the general ownership experience, as the twin-cylinder engine won’t be trying to shake itself to bits at motorway speeds.
The 790 was a popular seller for KTM and so, unable to leave it alone, they launched the 890 Adventure and R model in late 2020. A very different proposition to the massive-engined 1290; the 890 and 790 are arguably the bikes that are owned by riders who buy an Adventure bike to ride off-road.
KTM Adventure Best Tyres
If you’re riding your KTM Adventure on the road and you’re not bothered about ‘adventure looks’ then you have some great choices. Some of the best pure sports-touring road tyres are now made in 19″ adventure bike sizes. They don’t have the faux-knobbly tread pattern but they more than make up for that in comfort and performance.
Michelin Anakee Road
It took Michelin a long time to introduce a proper road-going tyre for Adventure bikes but here it is; the Anakee Road. It is very similar in construction to a Road 6 but better than the Anakee Adventure on the road. Properly good tyre this – and you could probably green lane it, if you have ‘off-road skillz’.
Metzeler Roadtec 01
Another cracking road tyre that’s popular with commuters and those hauling themselves big distances around Europe. Arguably a better tyre than the Road 5 in terms of agility and it’s one of our firm favourites here at Two Tyres.
Metzeler Tourance Next 2
If you want a great road tyre that’s available in a 21″ front, then check out the Metzeler Tourance Next 2. The Tourance is a long-running tyre and while it could handle the occasional light and dry trail, it’s designed as a road tyre and is perfect for sports touring.
Road and Light Trail tyres for KTM Adventures
Dunlop Trailmax Mission
An M&S-rated tyre, that’s road orientated with off-road capability. Available in a 140/80 18 size. Decent rubber, this.
Continental TKC70
An M&S rated tyre that’s popular with adventure bike riders who like to tackle the odd trail on the weekends. If you need a tyre capable of a bit of mud bashing and tarmac mile munching the TKC70 could be the one for you. 70% street and 30% off road bias this could be the perfect choice for your adventure bike
Metzeler Karoo 3
An M&S rated tyre that’s used by the BMW (boo!) Off-Road School. One of the most popular Adventure bike tyres, you can run these are road pressures off-road, which saves faffing around.
Off-Road Tyres for KTM Adventures
Continental TKC80
The TKC80 is the poster-boy for knobbly adventure tyres. It’s not a great road tyre but it can handle the muddy stuff with ease. For a more road-based knobbly try the TKC70 or even Conti TrailAttack 3
Michelin Anakee Wild
The knobbliest Michelins you’ll get this side of a Dakar bike, the Anakee Wild is the next step up from the Anakee Adventure and has deep tread blocks. It’s a tyre with a huge off-road bias and not a recommended fit for road riding. Available in tubed and tubeless sizes and they’re Mud & Snow rated. You can run the road pressures off-road, which saves faffing around.
Kenda 777 and 778 rear
The K777f Knarly is the matching front tyre to the K778 Knarly rear. It’s street legal to get you to the trail and works really well in soft to intermediate conditions.
Bridgestone E50
The Bridgestone Battlecross E50 is a road legal F.I.M homologated enduro tyre perfect for those Welsh rallys where a bit of tarmac is used between stages. The E50 Extreme is only made in a rear fitment and has an extra soft compound to cope with more extreme terrain (it isn’t road legal though).
Notes on particular models
1050 Adventure & 1090 Adventure
The 1050 is probably the least likely of the KTM Adventure line-up to go off-road but it still runs the same wheel sizes as the 1090 Adventure and they’re not far off the 1190 Adventure’s either. The non-spoked wheels are a clear indication that KTM have designed this as a road bike but let’s face it, 99% of Adventure bikes with spoked wheels spend their time on the road, so why couldn’t you take the 1050 properly off-road? The answer is, you can! You can get some serious off-road tyres for the Adventure 1050 including the Michelin Anakee Wild, Anlas Capra X and Bridgestone AX41.
640 Adventure
For a long time, the tyre that everyone wanted to run on the 640 Adventure was the Pirelli Scorpion A/T.
390 Adventure
The 390 runs strange tyre sizes – quite interesting. We think the best road based tyre for this bike is a Continental Trail Attack 3, which can handle light trails no problem. If you want something properly off road Pireli Scorpion STR. Another popular combination for the smaller KTMs is a Continental TKC80 front and a TKC70 Rocks rear.
KTM Adventure Tyre Pressures
You can find your motorcycle manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressures in your owner’s handbook. You’ll also find a tyre pressure chart sticker on the swingarm.
If you have no idea what pressures to run, this is our general rule:
Scooter: F 30psi, R 30psi
Normal Motorcycle: F 36psi, R 42psi
Big Tourer: F 42psi, R 42psi
125cc Bike: F 33psi, R 36psi
You should always check your tyre pressures when the tyres are cold. Check out our range of motorcycle tyre pressure gauges here.
About Two Tyres
Our mission is to ensure we listen to every customer’s needs and ensure they’re riding on the right tyre. Out of the showroom, your motorbike is a compromise, designed to suit a huge range of riders and riding conditions. To get the best out of your bike in terms of handling, performance and safety, tyres make all the difference. In fact we think it’s the most cost-effective performance enhancement you can make!
We are based in London where we supply and fit motorcycle tyres and consumables in our workshop. We also mail order motorcycle tyres around the UK, across Europe and even to places as far-flung as the USA, Canada and Japan.
Need help choosing the best tyres?
Choosing tyres can be tricky. We’re here to help. We hold direct accounts with every motorcycle tyre manufacturer, so we’re well placed to give comprehensive and honest advice to help you choose the best tyres. If you can’t quite make your mind up, give us a call on 0207 205 2205 and we’ll help you narrow down your choices.
We are motorcycle and scooter tyre specialists, with over 25 years in the trade. Between us we fit 10 pairs of tyres a day in our workshop, so we have good real-world experience of what works and what doesn’t.
We ride to work, we ride for fun, we race and ride off-road. If it’s got two wheels, we’re into it.
Give us a call or drop into our London motorcycle workshop and we’ll do our best to help you.
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Here at Two Tyres, we stock more than just tyres. Take a look at some of our essentials for any biker.
Motorcycle puncture repair kit – Our top-rated kit includes everything you need to carry out a roadside repair and get back up and running.
Motorcycle tyre pressure gauge – Our tyre pressure gauge has been rated in RiDE magazine and features a clever design to make it easy to get accurate readings.
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HyperCharge battery charger – The HyperCharge is a smart charger that can charge lead-acid and lithium batteries and it’ll charge bike and car batteries too.
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