Words: Brian Sheffer
Photos: Simon Cudby
The KTM 890 Adventure R is arguably one of the best middle class adventure bikes currently on the market. The limited “Rally” edition is even better and extremely rare as only 700 exist worldwide. This project began as a 2024 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally and my goal was to build the ultimate 890 Rally bike.
As an owner of a 2021 KTM 890 Adventure R Rally, I knew I had to have the 2024 model once it was released. While I didn’t get one of the 100 units initially released to the US in late 2023, my luck changed when I received a call many weeks later from KTM North America. Fortunately, my name had come up on the wait list and they had a bike for me.
As I waited for the bike to arrive to 3Bros in Costa Mesa, CA, I had time to envision my ultimate 890 Rally “dream build”. In stock form, this bike is hard to improve upon, but I wanted to go all out to see what I could come up with. Many of the changes that were made to this bike were performance and durability based, while some were just personal preference.
After spending a week breaking it in while riding in Crested Butte, Ouray and Telluride, Colorado, I can tell you it exceeded all expectations and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Big thanks to all of the amazing partners that made this dream a reality. Without them, this wouldn’t have happened. Links to their websites and parts used are below.
