Model year

2020 KTM 790 Adventure R

Motorcycle, built in Austria. Owner complaints on file from May 21, 2020 to Sep 11, 2021.

Recall campaigns covering this model year26,871 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints63.0 times the median 2020 motorcycle
Severity index16.72020 motorcycles average 7.1
First 24 months5Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R peaked in 2020, with 4 filed

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

0123420204202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

67% of complaints about the 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R name brakes

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

Brakes
4
Electrical system
1
Fuel system
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 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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.

6 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Sep 11, 2021Failure Aug 29, 2021Bonney Lake, WAService brakes

    Rear brakes: the line that leads from the fluid reservoir to the master cylinder has popped out twice (the 90degree fitting at the master cylinder) resulting in a loss of rear brake use.

    NHTSA complaint 11432623
  2. Filed Feb 1, 2021Failure Jan 30, 20211,650 milesSedalia, COService brakes

    FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE TRAVELLING AT 50MPH ON PAVEMENT. HAD BEEN RIDING 10 MINUTES, HAD USED THE FRONT BRAKE VERY LITTLE PRIOR TO IT LOCKING UP. TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE, I HELD PRESSURE ON THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND OPENED THE BRAKE CALIPER BLEED NIPPLE TO RELEASE BRAKE FLUID.

    NHTSA complaint 11391015
  3. Filed Dec 6, 2020Failure Jun 1, 20202,000 milesNEW Egypt, NJService brakes

    FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER AT LOW SPEEDS MAKING THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER BRAKING

    NHTSA complaint 11378141
  4. Filed Nov 29, 2020Failure Mar 20, 2020600 milesLake Oswego, ORElectrical system, Unknown or other

    THE TFT DASHBOARD HAS A HISTORY OF GOING BLANK WHILE RIDING. I.E. THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, WARNING LIGHTS, GEAR INDICATOR, TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR, RIDER MODE ETC HAVE DISAPPEARED WHILE RIDING. IF YOU CYCLE THE BIKE DOWN BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF SETTING AND THEN RESTARTING THE BIKE IT RESETS THE TFT DISPLAY, BUT CAN AND HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS DOCUMENTED ON YOUTUBE FOR VARIOUS KTM MODELS AND YEAR. THIS FIRST OCCURRED ON MY BIKE AUGUST 5TH OF 2020. IT OCCURRED TWICE THAT DAY AND AGAIN AT A LATER DATE. POSSIBLY A CAUSATION OF THE ABOVE OR A SECOND INDEPENDENT FAILURE IS THAT THE TFT DISPLAY FORMS CONDENSATE ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT. THIS SUBSEQUENTLY INTRODUCES MOISTURE INTO A HIGHLY SENSITIVE ELECTRICAL DEVICE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FAILURES. THE CONDENSATE HAS BEEN BAD ENOUGH TO OBSCURE IMPORTANT DASH DATA WHILE RIDING. I BELIEVE THE CONDENSATE FIRST FORMED IN MARCH OF 2020 AND HAS REPEATEDLY DONE SO EVEN AFTER NEW DASHES WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I INCLUDED PICTURES OF BOTH ISSUES AND CIRCLED THE AREAS OF CONDENSATION AS WELL AS THE BLANK DISPLAY WHILE DRIVING. THE TFT GOING BLANK HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED (55-75MPH) ON PAVED ROADS, NICE WEATHER BUT SUNNY. THE TFT CONDENSING HAPPENS AFTER THE BIKE HAS SAT, LIKE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. IT SEEMINGLY OCCURS IN THE SPRING AND FALL WHEN TFT DISPLAY CAN GET HOT ENOUGH COMPARED TO THE AMBIENT OUTSIDE TEMP. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPED IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPS OF THE TFT DISPLAY AND THE OUTSIDE ARE SIMILAR. IT ALSO DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN IN THE WINTER AS OF YET, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE COLD AMBIENT TEMPS KEEP THE TFT COOL ENOUGH. THIS ISSUE OCCURS BECAUSE OF AIR TEMP CONDITIONS RATHER THAN ROAD CONDITIONS. THE TFT DISPLAY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH OEM 2 TIMES ALREADY.

    NHTSA complaint 11376978
  5. Filed Nov 14, 2020Failure Sep 2, 20201,000 milesNEW Fairfield, CTService brakes

    THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKES UNEVENLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP DOWNHILL. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS A STICKY OR UNEVEN AREA ON THE ROTORS. IT IS NOT FELT IN THE BRAKE LEVER. YOU FEEL IT IN THE WHOLE BIKE. THERE IS ALSO BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE RESERVOIR CAP. THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING AROUND THE FIRST 1000 MILES OF RIDING. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO TWO DIFFERENT KTM DEALERS FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE. IT IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A THIRD TIME WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED KTM NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SAID THAT THE UNEVEN BRAKING IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLOATING ROTORS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR 35 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS. I CONTACTED GALFER AND RACE TECHNOLOGIES, THE MAKERS OF THE BRAKES FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE. THEY BOTH SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLOATING ROTORS AND THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. GALFER ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER RIDERS CONTACTING THEM WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE ALSO OTHERS ONLINE (AROUND THE WORLD) EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES SO KTM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SOME RIDERS HAVE RECEIVED NEW ROTORS AND PADS, SOME ENTIRE NEW WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY. SOME OF US HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING AND HAD TO PAY FOR SERVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SOME OF THE RIDERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR ROTORS REPLACED HAD THE PROBLEM COME BACK. IS IT BAD ROTORS, PADS, WHEELS? SOME ARE SPECULATING THAT IT IS HUBS OUT OF TRUE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WE ARE LOOKING FOR KTM TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE AND COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. WE DON'T WANT NEW PARTS PUT ON THAT ARE JUST GOING TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER OUR WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED. THESE BRAKING ISSUES HAVE MANY OF US CONCERNED. MOTORCYCLING IS ALREADY A RISKY ENDEAVOR. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

    NHTSA complaint 11374643
  6. Filed May 21, 2020Failure May 17, 2020100 milesEL Paso, TXFuel/propulsion system1 injured

    THE FUEL TANK IS NOT VENTING PROPERLY AND GAS SPRAYED INTO MY EYES AND UPPER BODY WHEN I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT CAUSED A VERY HIGH PITCH WHINE WHILE STOPPED AFTER RIDING FOR ONE HOUR. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 11325481
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

6 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…
  • 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.