P92
RIDE REVIEW I YAMAHA TENERE 700 VS KTM 890 ADVENTURE R
R
iding has been as es-
sential to my well-being
as a solid pair of underpants.
I started on my nana's farm
at four, first bike at five,
started racing at eight, and
have been at it ever since.
I've ridden and raced all over
the world, hold the all-time
course record at the Pikes
Peak International Hill Climb,
and have a son that's more
mental on bikes than I am.
Being the
Cycle News Road
Test Editor has given me ac-
cess to just about every bike
imaginable, including every
ADV machine on the market.
I spend more time on-road
than off-road, but I still love
to get off the hard stuff and
onto the dusty stuff when
time permits.
I don't get out as often as
I'd like on big ADV bikes, be-
ing that most of my riding is
done on the street with sticky
17-inch tires underneath me.
Still, I've done plenty of miles
on both the T7 and the 890
both on- and off-road, and
the answer to which I'd go
for isn't as clear as what I
anticipated.
As Sean noted in his review,
there are plenty of arguments
for the KTM. More cubes, way
more electronics, and suspen-
sion tuned via Quinn Cody's
very sensitive ass means the
890 is more adept at really
getting off the beaten track.
Having ridden lots of miles
on the old 790 Adventure R,
the difference between that
and the 890 is bigger than
you'd imagine. The 890's
extra cubes and stronger
low-down torque make it a
gem of a street bike, and the
variable riding modes make
the bike as mellow or mental
as you like.
That's one of the biggest
advantages to the KTM—the
electronics. Rally Mode can
make even the meekest of
riders feel like Toby Price, let-
ting them hang the back-end
out and get proper nasty with-
out feeling like they're about
to get catapulted skywards.
But that thrill only lasts for
a few moments. The value in
the electronics shows when
RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
AGE: 39
HEIGHT: 6' 1"
WEIGHT: 195 LBS.
I'm pretty sure that even though I cur-
rently don't have an extra $4000 in my bank
account, I'd probably still go for the KTM
just because it's so good at what it does.
