KTM 890 Adventure R (2021+, including Rally) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the KTM 890 Adventure R, including the Rally special edition.
The KTM 890 Adventure R and Adventure R Rally together are a fast-follow update to the 790 adventure which was already a crowd pleaser.
It’s also a little sibling to the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R.
Like their predecessor, the 890 Adventure R bikes are “middleweight” adventure motorcycles based on a parallel twin engine. It’s an 889 cc motor that makes peak torque of 100 Nm (74 ft-lb) at 6500 rpm and peak power of 78 kW (105 hp) at 8000 rpm, both more than the predecessor.
There’s a bevy of other improvements, including to the drivetrain and to the rider electronics — see below for details.
This site has links for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links. Thanks!
What you need to service your KTM 890 Adventure R
Apart from basic motorcycle maintenance tools, here are a few spares, fluids, and consumables that will help you service your KTM adventure bike.
| Part | KTM 890 Adventure/R spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | The manual specifies recommends Motorex Power Synthetic 4T 10W/50, or another SAE 10W/50 fully synthetic engine oil that meets JASO T903MA2 spec. |
| Oil filter | Use part number 61338015200 or K&N part KN-650, a popular equivalent. (This oil filter is used in most KTM adventure bikes.) |
| Fork oil | The manual recommends SAE 4 fork oil, e.g. Motorex 4W fork oil. |
| Brake fluid | The manual requires DOT 4 or DOT 5.1, recommending Castrol DOT 4 of Motorex DOT 5.1 brake fluid. |
| Coolant | Use “high-grade, silicate-free coolant with corrosion inhibitors”, e.g. Motorex Coolant M3.0. |
| Spark plug | Use an NGK LMAR9AI-10 to change spark plugs. |
Maintenance Schedule for the KTM 890 Adventure R
Below is the maintenance schedule for the KTM 890 Adventure R, adapted from the manual.
Notes:
- Maintenance schedule intervals for the 890 Adventure R are 15000 km (9300 mi), with a major service (valve service & new plugs) every two intervals.
- After the end of the service schedule, keep repeating it in this pattern.
- The maintenance schedule in the manual is broken up into two sections — required maintenance and recommended maintenance (but you should do both).
Required maintenance
| miles x 1000 | 0.62 | 9.3 | 18.6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 1 | 15 | 30 | Every |
| [Dealer] Read out the fault memory using the KTM diagnostics tool. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Program the shift shaft sensor. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check that the electrical system is functioning properly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the engine oil and the oil filter, clean the oil screens. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the front brake linings. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the rear brake linings. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the brake discs. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the brake lines for damage and leakage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the front brake fluid level. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the rear brake fluid level. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check/correct the fluid level of the hydraulic clutch. | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Change the front brake fluid. | 2 years | |||
| Change the rear brake fluid. | 2 years | |||
| Change the hydraulic clutch fluid. | 2 years | |||
| Check the free travel of the clutch lever | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the free travel of the foot brake lever | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the coolant fill level and antifreeze | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the shock absorber and fork for leaks. Perform service as needed and depending on how the vehicle is used. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Clean the dust boots of the fork legs | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the steering head bearing for play. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the tire condition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check tire pressure | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Retighten the spokes | ✓ | |||
| Check the spoke tension | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Check the rim run-out | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the chain, rear sprocket, and engine sprocket. | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Check the chain tension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the spark plugs | ✓ | |||
| Check the valve clearance | ✓ | |||
| Check the cables for damage and routing without kinks | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Change the air filter, clean the air filter box. | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the fuel pressure. | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Check the headlight setting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check that the radiator fan is functioning properly. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Final check: Check the vehicle is roadworthy and take a test ride. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Read out the error memory after the test ride using the KTM diagnostics tool. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Set the service interval display. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| [Dealer] Make a service entry in KTMDealer.net | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
Recommended maintenance
| miles x 1000 | 0.62 | 9.3 | 18.6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 1 | 15 | 30 | Every |
| Check the frame | ✓ | |||
| Check the link fork | ✓ | |||
| Check/clean the oil nozzle for clutch lubrication | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Check the fork bearing for play | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Check the wheel bearing for play | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Empty the drainage hoses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check all hoses (fuel, coolant, bleeder, drainage etc.) and sleeves for cracking, leaks, and incorrect routing | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |
| Grease all moving parts (e.g. side stand, hand lever, chain) and check for smooth operation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Check the tightness of the safety-relevant screws and nuts which are easily accessible. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change the coolant | 4 years |
Wheels and Tyres for the KTM 890 Adventure R
The manual recommends the following tyre pressures solo or with a passenger. Obviously tweak them according to your own preferences, setup, ride style and conditions.
| Wheel | Tyre size | Tyre pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 90/90-21 M/C 54T M+S TL | 35 psi (2.4 bar) |
| Back | 150/70-18 M/C 70Q TL | 42 psi (2.9 bar) |
The tyres that ship with the 890 Adventure R are Continental TKC80 Twinduro tyres.
About the KTM 890 Adventure R and Rally
The KTM 890 Adventure R and Adventure R Rally were announced late in 2020 for the 2021 model year.
It was a quick update to the 790 Adventure model line which seemed as if it would be a KTM mainstay for a while. Needless to say, many buyers of the 790 adventure were miffed.
But the 890 Adventure was a clear upgrade. It has more power, more refined riding gear, and passes Euro 5 emissions restrictions — so it had to happen.
The 890 Adventure R (and other motorcycles in the 890 range) is based on an 889cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin. It makes 71 kW (105 hp) at 8000 rpm and peak torque of 100 Nm (74 ft-lb) at 6500 rpm — perfect “middleweight bike” territory, competitive with the likes of the Africa Twin (which these days has a ~200cc advantage).
Front and rear suspension is WP Xplor branded, with huge 48mm forks. It’s fully adjustable at the front and rear.
The KTM line of adventure bikes have always been known as being exciting and as close to a “dirt bike” as you can get while still being road capable.
The middleweight 890 Adventure R meets that goal, with its beefy, long-travel (240mm front and rear) suspension, standard gear for going off-road (bash plates and so on), and Metzeler Karoo 3 tyres (good for both on-road and off-road).
It also comes with a bunch of niceties like the option for cruise control, so you can get to your destination stress-free.
Owners of KTM 890 Adventure R bikes say it makes them feel like superheroes off road. Visordown said “Off-road it is extremely plush, amazingly forgiving, and flatters even mediocre off-road riders like myself. It seems to have a magical ability to continually soak up hit after hit after hit, without ever winding up or feeling like it’s getting anywhere near flustered.”
The KTM 890 Adventure bikes come with a TFT dash, but there’s a lot of optional extras you have to pay for, including
- Cruise control
- Quickshifter
- Rally pack
- Motor Slip Regulation
- Bags (which is common)
And even fully kitted out, the 890 Adventure R is still a “middleweight” bike with a middleweight spec. For example, you won’t get electronically adjustable suspension or an electronically adjustable windscreen — those are all “premium” features found on the brand’s top-end bikes.
The Adventure R Rally is a limited edition bike, with only 700 units sold in total worldwide. It includes the following improvements over the base 890 Adventure R:
- An updated engine and electronics
- WP XPLOR Pro suspension with longer travel
- Shorter windshield
- Lightweight Akrapovič exhaust
- A racing style seat
- Rally mode, with a quickshifter included
There’s more in the Rally version — additional aesthetics features, as well as more race-oriented options.
Manual for the KTM 890 Adventure R
The above maintenance schedule comes from the user’s manual for the KTM 890 Adventure R from 2021. It’s the same manual for the Rally, and the maintenance schedules are the same.
You can get the user manual directly from KTM’s website.
