Model year

2019 KTM 790 Adventure R

Motorcycle, built in Austria. Owner complaints on file from Jun 29, 2020 to Apr 4, 2024.

Recall campaigns covering this model year26,871 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints88.0 times the median 2019 motorcycle
Severity index0.02019 motorcycles average 3.9
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R peaked in 2020, with 5 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

024620205202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

63% of complaints about the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R name brakes

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Brakes
5
Engine and cooling
2
Electrical system
1
Fuel system
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

2 recall campaigns cover the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
21V-304Apr 30, 2021Front brake master cylinder piston return spring may be too weak to return the brake piston to its original position, reducing the functionality…Brakes3,707Part replacement
20V-198Apr 6, 2020Rear brake hose may overheat, causing the rear brake system to failBrakes3,164Repair or modification
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure R

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

8 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Apr 4, 2024Failure Apr 1, 2023Katy, TXEngine

    At only 9000 miles, intake camshaft and follower catastrophically damaged. Routine valve clearance check at 4th oil change (much more frequent than recommended). KTM ultimately provided the parts as “goodwill”, but refused to cover labour. Numerous other reports of similar failures being reported in group forums. Also note that clutch also failed catastrophically at 3k miles. Similar situation where KTM covered parts under “goodwill”, but not labour. Similarly: there have been hundreds of others sharing stories of same failure. Bike was purchased while I was living in Texas, but failures occurred in Canada, where I have relocated and imported the bike.

    NHTSA complaint 11581180
  2. Filed Jan 24, 2022Failure Oct 23, 2021Stanwood, WAElectrical system

    The Display screen that offers all the info for the motorcycle has condensation inside. The motorcycle is always garaged other than when it's being ridden. There is still condensation inside the display. Sometimes vital motorcycle information isn't visible, such as ABS mode, Traction control mode, speed, rpm, etc. Vehicle has not been inspected. Through the forums I have heard many stories of others having the same issue and dealers replacing the screen in some cases if the condensation is bad enough but the issue usually returns.

    NHTSA complaint 11448739
  3. Filed Dec 30, 2021Failure Jul 3, 2019Lincoln, ILEngine, Fuel/propulsion system

    Hello, I purchased this motorcycle new in July 2019. It currently has 9,100 miles. Since new it takes a minimum of 3-4 times to start and stay running at first start of the day. After that it starts easy and on the first try. Temperature at first start has been anywhere from upper 30's° to upper 70's°. Altitude from 500' - 4,500', basically starts the same in all instances. It seems as if it's only running on one cylinder and then "chuffs" and dies. Repeat, repeat, repeat. When it finally "catches" R.P.M. will rise up around 1,500ish R.P.M. and run smoothly. On its first few attempts the engine will barely make it to 900-1,000 R.P.M. before dying. Thank you for your assistance with this issue.

    NHTSA complaint 11445681
  4. Filed Dec 15, 2020Failure Dec 15, 2020Venice, CAService brakes

    AT APPROX 5K MILES MY FRONT BRAKE STARTED GRABBING AND PULSING AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER CONSTANT LEVER PRESSURE. IT EVENTUAL GOT SO BAD THAT I FELT I COULDNT SAFELY CONTROL THE BIKE WHEN USING THE FRONT BRAKE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE DISKS AND PADS. APPROXIMATELY 5K MILES LATER THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED. THIS TIME KTM REFUSED TO COVER THE COST SO THE DEALER SUGGESTED I TRY A 3RD PARTY DISK AND PAD REPLACEMENT. ONLINE AT ADVRIDER.COM, A MOTORCYCLE FORUM THERE ARE 16 PAGES OF POSTS INCLUDING VIDEO'S WITH SEVERAL INSTANCES OF RIDERS HAVE THEIR FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE RIDING AND NOT BEING APPLIED RESULTING IN THE RIDER BEING THROWN OFF THE BIKE. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN RIDERS BEING KILLED.

    NHTSA complaint 11383590
  5. Filed Dec 9, 2020Failure Dec 9, 202010,000 milesRedding, CAService brakes, Steering, Suspension

    MY BIKE HAS HAD AND STILL DOES HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SHOCK FAILED TWICE, REAR BRAKE HOSE MELTED AND MADE BRAKES UNUSABLE WHILE I WAS ON A TRIP IN MEXICO FRONT BRAKES EXPERIENCED PULSATING SENSATION THAT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, KTM REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS AND FRONT WHEEL HUB, THE COUNTER SHAFT SPROCKET LEAKED OIL, KTM REPAIRED IT, BUT IT'S LEAKING AGAIN, THE ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 150 MILES A BOLT ON THE STEERING HEAD BROKE WHILE I WAS RIDING CAUSING A LOOSE SENSATION IN THE STEERING

    NHTSA complaint 11382801
  6. Filed Dec 9, 2020Failure Aug 24, 20192,000 milesHarrisburg, PAService brakes

    THE MOTORCYCLE FRONT BRAKES STARTED PULSING AND GRABBING DURING BRAKING AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP.

    NHTSA complaint 11382783
  7. Filed Nov 2, 2020Failure Oct 28, 20204,060 milesWashington, DCService brakes

    ALL THREE BRAKE ROTORS (2 FRONT, 1 REAR) ARE COMING LOOSE FROM THEIR SUPPORT POINTS WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING JUST OVER 4,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO WAY TO TIGHTEN THE ROTORS. OTHER RIDERS HAVE REPORTED CATASTROPHIC BRAKING FAILURES AS A RESULT. A VIDEO OF THE LOOSE ROTORS IS AVAILABLE HERE: HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/WH9RTBWQKG9T6TYN9

    NHTSA complaint 11372614
  8. Filed Jun 29, 2020Failure Jul 31, 20191,200 milesBerkeley, CAService brakes

    WARPED FRONT ROTORS CAUSE STRONG PULSING WHEN FRONT BRAKE APPLIED WHICH IS DESTABILIZING WHEN ON CURVY MOUNTAIN ROADS OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SUDDEN BRAKING REQUIRED. FRONT ROTORS WARPED WITH 1200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND KTM REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY SAYING THIS IS A "WEAR ITEM". ROTOR THICKNESS IS WEAR BUT WARPING IS NOT WEAR, ESPECIALLY ON A NEW BIKE. HAVING DONE MORE RESEARCH ONLINE SINCE MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO GET ROTORS REPLACED LAST YEAR, I SEE IT HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HAD ROTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY OTHERS NOT. I BROUGHT INTO DEALER AGAIN LAST MONTH TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE BUT AGAIN WAS REFUSED. NOT SURE WHY SOME DEALERS / OWNERS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL GETTING WARRANTY DONE BUT SEEM LIKE A KNOWN ISSUE TO KTM AND SHOULD BE RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MATTER

    NHTSA complaint 11331598
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

7 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • KTB2415 Sep 4, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    KTM will also retroactively examine warranty or goodwill applications if customers of affected models have already had repairs carried out at their own expense by an authorized KTM dealer in the past due to damaged camshafts or finger followers. If the cond…
  • KTB2410 Jul 8, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Even though complaints have been reported about the camshafts on the 790 Duke/Adventure MY 2018- 2020 models, examinations of the allegedly defective camshafts have shown that a large proportion of these camshafts are in order. In these cases, it is not a q…
  • KTB2106 Apr 20, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    On affected motorcycles there is a possibility that the preload force of the return spring is too low and does not meet the specified tolerance. This could result in the brake piston not being returned to its original position which in rare cases can impair…
  • TB2008 Dec 20, 2019 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    It has been determined that the tolerances on the side case mounting mechanism of the Powerpart 790 Adventure and Adventure R side cases are incorrect (p.n. 63512932000 - Touring case set). Due to these circumstances KTM cannot guarantee a perfect fit of th…
  • TB2012 Apr 15, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    KTM North America, Inc. has identified a technical problem using the XC_2 tool when attempting to purchase and install some of the Technical Accessories Software Extensions for the above-mentioned model motorcycles.
  • TB202R1 Apr 16, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    This bulletin supersedes KTB2012 dated April 15, 2020 because the 2020 890 DUKE R software installation errors have been resolved. KTM North America, Inc. has identified a technical problem using the XC_2 tool when attempting to purchase and install some of…
  • TB2012R2 Jul 14, 2020 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    For the 2019 and 2020 790 ADVENTURE and 790 ADVENTURE R models, KTM has enabled the ability to purchase and install the Quickshifter+ technical accessory software extension again using only the XC_2 diagnostic tool. On certain 2020 790 ADVENTURE R RALLY mod…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.