P102
RIDE REVIEW I 2026 KTM 690 ENDURO R
A new airbox and exhaust
sandwich the motor with a
focus on emissions. This bike
now meets the strictest Euro5+
standards, but KTM left the
door open to more performance
gains via slip-on muffler options
thanks to the catalytic converter
being upstream of the muffler.
The airbox is somehow less
complex but more emissions-
friendly now, too, eliminating the
secondary air system (SAS) re
-
quired on previous generations.
Finally, clutch system updates
allow the Power Assist Slipper
Clutch (PASC) to integrate with
the optional Quickshifter+ and
These gains are thanks to
over half of the powerplant
being updated with new parts
to help meet strict emissions
standards and push power
output higher. All of this comes
with extended recommended
service intervals to over 9000
miles between oil changes and
more than 37,000 miles for
valve-clearance checks.
The extended service in
-
tervals (and some power
increases) are largely due to a
new oiling system built around a
single oil pump and redesigned
oil passages that reduce drag
on the engine by five percent.
For 2026, KTM significantly up
-
dated the "most powerful single-
cylinder engine on the market"
with more power, again. And not
because it needs it. But simply
because they can. It's now push-
ing out a claimed 78 horsepower,
adding four ponies to the previ-
ous generation. Torque output
remains close to the older unit
with 53.8 lb-ft claimed, but that
torque is now delivered lower in
the rpm range for access to more
usable power thanks to revised
valve timing upstairs. Oh, there's
also a new quick-throw ride-by-
wire throttle grip to get you to the
power faster.
A stance like no other, the 690 Enduro R is the biggest dirt bike around.
