KTM’s 690 Enduro R has long been a favorite of adventure riders who want to go light without sacrificing the power to blaze the highway or conquer the gnarliest BDR section. The 690 has seen numerous changes since its 2008 debut, and received more for 2026. But the concept remains the same: a big single-cylinder motor nestled in a trestle frame with plenty of suspension and ground clearance.
690 Enduro Power
KTM’s venerable LC4 engine gets a major overhaul for 2026 to meet new emissions regulations while pumping out more horsepower. The company says they updated or replaced nearly half of the motor’s components, including changes to the oil system and a completely new crankcase. KTM claims the 690 Enduro now has 78 horsepower and 53.8 pound-feet of torque to play with.
A new throttle on the Enduro R requires only 65 degrees of turn, less than a standard twist grip, to take the LC4 from idle to wide open. KTM claims it improves throttle feel while being easier on a rider’s wrist. The rider also gets a break with increased service intervals, from 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers for oil changes and from 30,000 to 60,000 kilometers for valve clearances.
Gas In, Gasses Out
The 2026 690 features a new fuel pump that generates higher pressure to improve injection timing by atomizing the fuel to a finer mist. The new, simpler pump design also simplifies filter maintenance and replacement.
A new exhaust with a relocated catalyst results in a more compact muffler, allowing for a slip-on upgrade without needing to consider the catalyzer, and two lambda sensors assist in controlling emissions. KTM also applied the results of a sound engineering study to enhance the sound quality and riding experience.
Traction Aids
The new 690 Enduro comes equipped with several ways to control traction, both on and off the pavement. Cornering traction control and cornering ABS take their cues from the KTM’s 6D sensor to manage those two key attributes for staying upright while cornering. Cornering traction control can be completely turned off, but not so for ABS. However, the 690’s Offroad ABS system allows disengaging the cornering component while limiting ABS on the front wheel.
Dynamic Slip Adjust is an all-new feature making its debut on the 2026 690 Enduro R. Available only in optional Rally Mode, Dynamic Slip Adjust automatically balances the allowed wheel slip to the available traction in any given situation. This feature only works in one direction—increasing the slip allowance by reducing the traction level when extra wheel spin is needed. For example, if a bike with a high traction control setting is ridden into the mud or up a slippery hill, the system will increase the slip allowance. This will allow for excess wheel spin without decreasing engine power.
Enduro Tech
The 690 Enduro R sports a new 4.2-inch TFT dashboard with a polarization coating that keeps the rider in the know by reducing glare on bright days. This dash displays all the usual moto data while also handling KTMconnect functions such as a music player via the KTM app, answering incoming calls, and turn-by-turn+ navigation. A USB-C port is standard.
New switchgear is also in place, featuring optimized ergonomics and illuminated switches that control functions such as lights, indicators, and ride modes. The standard modes are Offroad and Street. New LED lighting all around includes a headlight reflector with gradual light falloff on the edges, said to prevent “harsh edges that might obscure obstacles just beyond the illuminated area.”
Chassis
KTM made a few minor changes to the 2026 Enduro R to improve overall frame stiffness. The changes are said to improve rider feel and provide “a more prominent, direct feeling through the pegs and bars.” They also tweaked the suspension settings with the goal of increasing both performance and rider comfort. The inverted fork is a 43mm WP Xplor unit with a split fork design where one side handles compression and the other controls rebound. Both are adjustable. The rear WP Xplor shock is rebound and preload adjustable, and both ends provide 9 inches of travel.
KTM has not issued a price as of this post, but we expect it to be above the $12,999 they asked for the previous 2024 model.
Specifications
Engine type: 693cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 4-valve, DOHC, single-cylinder four-stroke
Engine performance (claimed): 78 horsepower, 53.8 pound-feet
Fuel capacity: 3.5 gallons
Transmission: 6-speed
Suspension / Front: 48mm WP Explor inverted front fork; 9-inch travel, adjustable compression and rebound
Suspension / Rear: Single rear WP Explor shock; 9-inch travel, adjustable preload and rebound
Brakes / Front: Single 285mm disc, ByBre 2-piston caliper, ABS
Brakes / Rear: Single 240mm rear disc, ByBre floating caliper, ABS
Tire / Front: 1.85 21 spoked wheel
Tire / Rear: 2.5 18 spoked wheel
Seat height: 36.8 inches
Ground clearance: 10.4 inches
Weight: (claimed) 357 pounds
Read More: KTM 390 Adventures
Images: KTM
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