Excellent review, I’ve owned both and currently ride the 890 r. As you say it depends on the riding you do. My 890 keeps up with the GS’s and 1290 on my one trip to Europe every year but for my day to day riding around small country roads the 890 in my opinion can’t be beaten.
Kevin, just saw your comment and I'm considering taking an 890 through Europe in August this year. Love to be able to get in contact with you and ask some questions re-your Europe trip if that's possible.
I've ridden both and own the 890. There is no comparison. The 890 is far more dirt worthy as a bike. Much more nimble and lighter...not just lighter but carries its weight lower. The only time I'd want the bigger bike is if I was doing an all street ride or nothing more than dirt roads.
Great review. About to test ride both back2back where I’m torn between my long history of GS big bike comfort feel that the 1290 delivers vs my desire to spent more time exploring narrow lanes and dirt trails on something lighter that will provide increased confidence.
I have to ride 3.5-4 hours each way to get to the good stuff, and I’m always fully loaded with camping gear too. I want the 890, but currently ride a GSA which is great for the long distances, all day in the saddle, and having plenty of fun in the twisties like the 1290. Tough call.
That is a tough call, neither KTM can touch the GS for on road comfort. While the 1290 is marginally easier to ride off road than a GS, they aren't worlds different. If you really want to change things up, you'd have to go 890, but then that commute to the "good stuff" would not be as fun.
This was a great comparison, thanks for the vid. I have an Africa Twin and a T7. I rode the T7 for 7 weeks this summer and I just absolutely can't stand it anymore on the highway. My back and shoulders were sore for weeks afterward. On the AT, my back is usually only sore for a couple days lol. I'm split between the 890R and 1290R now. Sometimes I ride fast pavement for 5 LONG days in a row, but then I ride hard off-road where the suspension on the AT and T7 forces me to baby the bike to keep it on the trail and off the rims. I'd love to be able to pick up the pace and have a safer ride off-road. I wonder if the 890R could work if there were enough aftermarket wind protection parts. The screaming wind in your face on a T7 is just brutal all day on the highway, and that's with helmet peak removed. Still can't hear my music beyond 70mph. Also the T7 guzzles fuel too fast at the speeds I cruise at to cover ground on the long boring days. Have to stop every hour for fuel because otherwise you're only working with a couple liters margin for error if you skip that gas station. A minor headwind increase can take that 2 extra liters like nothing and you're bumming for gas on the side of the highway. The 1290R would obviously be better on the highway days, but I'm a short dude so that would limit me a little bit off-road, although to me they all feel like big behemoths so I'm not sure anything between 400-600lbs is much more or less capable in my hands. However when you've been riding all day fully loaded and have to ride through some downtown in 100° heat through 13 stop lights, holding that extra weight up with just one toe in your Astars Tech 7 really sucks lol. The T7 feels taller and heavier than the AT to me in technical terrain which defeats the purpose of even owning the "smaller more off-road focused bike". T7 for sale by the way, 90% highway driven🙂
@@jetmuchacho That’s a lot to think about 😊. it turns out there are no unicorns, maybe someday. I just returned from doing all of the Colorado (COBDR) passes on the 1290, rode 850 miles each way to do it…. and loved the 1290. The stock suspension on the 1290 is way better than the AT or the T7. However, I’m 6”1’ and can basically flat foot it. The 890 has the best suspension of all the stock ADV bikes, and probably has sufficient wind protection? Tough call for sure.
I’m in between these two bikes now. I have an 890R but the 1290R just keeps distracting me. I like what you said about the 1290 feeling more substantial and the 890 feeling like a toy. It’s true!! The 890 feels so much smaller than it is. It feels much smaller (albeit faster) than my Tuareg.
I really enjoyed my 1190 Adv, which preceded the 1290. If you plan to be on longer trips on or off road, the larger bikes can do off-road stuff, but isn't fatiguing actually getting anywhere. The bike is heavier, so if you're not a lifter, I don't believe you should ride a bike you can't pick up easily, while tired. You will probably wanna ride the 890 more. As you said the smaller the bike, the less pomp and circumstance there is to riding. Have fun out there!
It’s a good idea to tie up the brake calipers and not let them hang stressing the brake lines, also all bolts should be loosened while the tire is on the surface to prevent an accident.
I have a 790R and my friends want to ride from Colombia to Patagona next January. I think the 1290 would be the ticket , because the journey is 85% road and over 20k kilometers
Thank you very much for your very helpful comparison Dan. I own a 21 Africa Twin Adventure Sport DCT and mostly ride solo exploring the Sequoia National Forest Forest roads. I love my bike, but agree with you that the 890 gives you more confidence to explore tighter (single track) sections are unknown roads. Very well-done. Subscribed 🎉
Great Review! Huge fan of the larger 1290R, had the SAS version and loved it. Thinking about getting the 1290R. I just don't like the looks of the 890.
I’m going to agree with you on most of what you said, however, set up has a huge play and how these bikes ride. If you are mainly street and fire roads, then like you I suggest the bigger bike and especially if you’re doing longer rides. If you are more dirt oriented, the 890 wins hands-down, but you absolutely have to set it up correctly. Stock tires suck, it needs bar risers and a higher seat if you’re tall, three teeth up in the rear sprocket, a decat and a Wings exhaust or similar will make it an absolute rocket. I take my 890 ADVR on single track all the time with the little bikes. No clutch needed for wheelies as well. In any technical terrain the 890 will outperform the big bike by far.
Very good review. I wish I could own both. As with others saying they would stick with the 890, I think I will as well. Plus I have already done a few upgrades anyways. Thanks again for your insight.
I'm in the middle of this decision right now. I want to do a multi state trip this summer. I've looked at the GSA, 890 standard, 1290 R, and I would like to go look at the Triumph. My eyes keep turning back to the 1290 R. Right now I'm riding a CB500X with the Rally Raid kit. It's an ok bike but the power just doesn't put a smile on my face and it's a wee bit buzzy at 80.
They are all great bikes. The safest bet would probably be moving to the 890, it will be so much faster than the 500 without being drastically bigger. But that 1290 is crazy fast and fun, if you can handle it.. no fun to pick up off road.
I disagree about the 1290 vs GS. For most people the GS will be more accessible for Off road and a little more beginner friendly. Of course more experienced riders will always be faster and go further on the 1290.
Great comparison and commentary. When the 1290 broke the log, you could well have stopped the review at that point - is there anything else you really need to know? LOL.
@@plurz215 if anything, rather up spec 890 R's, with a bit different geometry.. in car terms, you could say if KTM is a VW, Husqvarna is the Audi.. sort of..🤔 & better looking aswell, ofcourse..😜😎
Looking at the specs it's a rebadged 890R with a smaller tank and more weight, also less offroad focused, but the Norden does have more accessories. Looks are subjective, KTM has a high fender which will be better in mud. @@leifiseland1218
Haha I can tell you if I had access to both bikes I'd ride them back to back, alas I don't so specs and reviews certainly help to make an informed decision.
The 1290 is quite a bit heavier than either of those bikes. If you're looking to do serious off-road, then I would go with the Desert X or the KTM 890. For longer distance travel or milder off-road, the 1290. Have a video comparing the Desert X and KTM 890 ADV R coming soon
How different or similar are the electronics, all features available and unlocked? Considering these three bikes, KTM 890 adventure, 890 r , and the 1290 SAS. Not the 1290 r.
1290 has a few more bells and whistles. Larger TFT, Extra favorites button, easier (for me) button interface, tire pressure monitor. These are pretty small things though, nothing in this category that would sway me between the bikes. Far more important is the weight , power, comfort and how you want to ride.
Im 6 foot tall and 250lbs Would either bike need to be dialed in for those specs lol. Thx. Great video on the verge of buying one of them. Any ideas on insurance?
I just got back from the COBDR.. saw a 250+ guy on the 890, seemed to be fine. When you say dialed in, do yo mean adjust the preload, or do you mean upgrade the suspension? I don't think you'd need to upgrade on either bike, but's that's personal preference.
The 890 is more than cabable for lo g road trips but can also do tet and act . I loke it very much and for the 1290 engine i use the superduke who ist really fun on carmac
@@DansADV I’m 6’4” 250lbs. After 8 years off I decided to get back in. I used to ride a CRF450R. I had it for 13 years. 35ish years off road experience (I’m mid 50’s now). I’ve ridden 430 mi in 2 days on my new 890 R. To me the power is psychotic,… absolutely thrilling. I am so happy…but I am new to ADV. Height and weight is something I’d like to see more video creators discuss. It’s critically important. Suspension set-up, ergos, My old bike was dialed in, but it took a lot of years and cash. I’m so out in the weeds on this new bike. Hard to find videos as good as Dan’s that are focused on people my size. I’m glad Dan said that he is 6’1”. Just knowing that helps.
If you had said all street, I'd go with the 1290... Mostly street means some dirt. For me the real question is: How aggressive do you want to get off road and what is your off road skill level. Comfort is subjective, but at your size I'd assume the 1290 would be more comfortable. But the 1290 is big and intimidating off road, depending on your experience level. I guess at the end of the day only you can answer the question. Safe bet is the 890.
Seat comfort is pretty subjective... I don't have a ton of time on the Rally seat yet, it's certainly not pillow soft. It's more about being able to move around and open up the knee angle for me. Wish I could be of more help, I've not tried the comfort seat, so I can't compare.
@@Erknlssn You should have more than enough traction, on pavement, with just about any tire. Watch some video's, there is some technique to it, I run Rally mode with TC around 5, see if that helps as well. If you've not wheelied much with other bikes, this is a pretty dangerous bike to learn on. I'd start with a dirt bike
Lack of technique may add. But with street tires (pirelli angel gt) it lifts the front in sport mode. With the mitas it seems to slip and light up the tc. But it's been a few weeks so I'll have to try again now that temps are a little higher and see if higher tarmac and tire temps will aid. Sucks to have 160hp if the tires will make tc limit the bike all the time 🤔 For wheelie training I'll use my dirt bike. I ain't rich enough to crash the 1290 😅
