If you want the most competent off-road motorcycle which is still street legal, then you need to be looking at a dual-sport. While there are several great dual-sports to choose from, precious few are able to offer any form of highway comfort. In fact, we would go as far to say that there are only a handful that can be confidently ridden on the highway.
Out of that highway capable handful, three are made by the same company. KTM has had a strange year, but the one bit of good news that came out this year is the fact that the much-loved 690 Enduro R has been updated for the 2026 model year. It is one of the few dual-sport bikes that can handle highway miles.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from KTM. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The KTM 690 Enduro R Is The Dual-Sport That Makes Highway Miles Feel Easy
MSRP: $13,399
In this context, “easy” is certainly a relative term. The 690 Enduro R is a fantastically versatile motorcycle, but even the least comfortable ADV will most likely still be more comfortable on the highway. Plus, we were not sure the LC4 would make it into the Euro5+ era, yet somehow it did, and KTM was even able to find some power. All this while, in this rather niche space, there are precious few alternatives.
The Honda CRF450RL is the only bike within touching distance of the KTM. It is effectively a detuned open-class enduro bike, and it has not been tuned with any finesse. It seems as though Honda is only willing to put so much effort into getting it street legal, and the rest falls on the customer. A flash will resolve its poor fueling, but that is an added expense that simply shouldn’t be there. Maintenance intervals are dirt-bike short, and the seat is dirt-bike hard, so forget any level of on-road comfort. Off-road performance is naturally exceptional.
The Husqvarna 701 Enduro runs on the same platform as the new 690 Enduro R and delivers the same riding experience, just with a more tasteful colorway. The 2024 Gas Gas ES 700 runs on the same platform as the outgoing 2024 690 Enduro R, just in red as opposed to orange. For those on the hunt for a great deal, these bikes have been discontinued, and are being discounted.
The 690 Enduro R Has The Most Powerful Single On The Market
Power: 78 Horsepower
For KTM to get the venerable LC4 into the Euro5+ era, changes needed to be made. From the outside, you can see that the clutch and stator cover are new, but so is the whole crankcase. It also features a redesigned oil delivery system, and the overall weight of the engine has been reduced.
KTM Responds To Ducati
With the introduction of the 698 Hypermotard, Ducati proudly claimed to have produced the most powerful single cylinder engine ever (pictured). This clearly struck a nerve, and we suspect that the additional four horsepower would never have been magically found if Ducati hadn’t made such an obvious jab at the Austrian brand. That small increase in power is enough to reclaim the prize, with a scarcely believable 78 horsepower.
That’s more power than most middleweight adventure bikes have. It is, however, only half a horsepower more than the Superquadro Mono, and it will be interesting to see if Ducati replies in kind. Its service interval has also been extended to 9,000 miles, which is incredibly long for a dual-sport, and maybe longer than we would be comfortable riding a single between services.
The 690 Enduro R Is A Feature-Rich Dual-Sport
In the case of a high-end motorcycle like this, fully adjustable suspension is almost a given, and that is exactly what you get in the form of WP Xplor 48 front forks and the WP Xplor monoshock at the rear. The steel trellis chassis also makes it pretty fun to ride on the road, but it is the electronics that really make this bike stand out from the crowd.
You get cornering ABS as well as lean-sensitive traction control. Both systems work off-road, but are also switchable if you want full control. It gets a new TFT dash made with bonded glass, which is polarized. In short, it will put several more affordable adventure bikes to shame.
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Comfort Is Relative
When it comes to motorcycles, comfort is always a relative term. This is no touring bike, not by a long shot. But, compared to any other dual-sport currently on the market, it is pretty comfortable. You will still prefer to keep highway rides to a minimum because you will be up in the wind, the bars will vibrate, and the seat is firm. With an overall wet weight of just 357 pounds, it is also incredibly light for a motorcycle, making nearly 80 horsepower, which doesn’t do much for highway stability.
*Previous model shown
With this ridiculous power-to-weight ratio, it is certainly powerful enough to handle anything you throw at it, and makes any ride, including highway runs, that much more fun. Once you get off the tarmac, it will well and truly come into its own. With the 690 Enduro R, you essentially get a hard enduro bike that can also be used for travel. Unfortunately, at this price, you certainly need to pay for this level of capability, which makes it something of a niche product.