COMPARISON I KTM 890 ADVENTURE R VS. TRIUMPH TIGER 900 RALLY PRO
P82
has under braking and how control-
lable the machine is when you wind
the power on—and this is before we
get into the electronics.
Mechanically, the KTM is better
designed for real off-roading. The
Triumph feels like a street bike con-
verted to dirt purposes. This helps
explain why Jesse and I would go
for the Triumph if all we were doing
was street touring with a touch of
off-roading, which, let's be honest, is
where many adventure bike owners
actually ride.
If we delve further into the two
bikes, a separator is in the electron-
ics. While the Triumph definitely
holds the edge over the KTM in the
dash department, KTM's no-frills
dash philosophy—even if it's not as
pretty as the Triumph's—is far easier
to use. There's actually more adjust-
ability available in the KTM than the
Triumph, but it's paradoxically easier
to utilize.
In practice, KTM's suite of rider
electronics is a step above the Tri-
umph. There's a $2500-odd differ-
ence in price here once you include
the KTM's Rally Pack, with the nine-
stage traction control an absolute
winner over the Triumph. To really
explore what the Triumph can do
off-road, you have to switch traction
control off. It's too intrusive other-
wise, whereas compared to the KTM,
with its nine stages, you can dial in as
much or as little slip as you like and
still have a safety net available.
Both machines have excellent
(Right) Have KTM, will wheelie.
