Everything We Know About The New KTM 690 Enduro

KTM has been producing the LC4 engine since the 80s. Originally mostly used for racing, this single has since lived multiple lives in a host of different motorcycles. For a brief moment, it looked as if time was finally up for the venerable powertrain, but it is back with a bang for 2026. It seems as though KTM also took Ducati’s claim to have the most powerful single-cylinder engine – in the form of the Superquadro Mono – personally, because the LC4 now makes 78 horsepower, half a horsepower more than the Ducati. It isn’t only the engine that has been updated, either. The 690 Enduro R has also received several cosmetic and electronic upgrades, all packed into the same robust platform we know and love.

The KTM 690 Enduro R Is A Unique Dual-Sport

MSRP: TBA

KTM via Dobler T

One of the main reasons we didn’t expect to see the LC4 return was emissions, and that getting it through emissions would have meant a significant dip in performance. Well, we were wrong. It has indeed made it through into the Euro5+ era, yet somehow gained some power. At the end of the day, it is a single-cylinder engine, which should theoretically be marginally more efficient than a similarly sized multi-cylinder engine.

Campelli M.Milagro For GasGas

What makes this dual-sport so unique is the fact that the only bikes it currently competes with in this space are its two older sisters. The Husqvarna 701 Enduro and the Gas Gas ES 700, which run on the old platform, are both slightly down on power and features. For now, the three bikes will continue to co-exist, but we can’t imagine KTM will pursue this “one bike in three colors” strategy that quite obviously hasn’t worked.

Honda

The only Japanese bike that is within touching distance is the Honda CRF450RL, which is effectively a detuned open-class enduro bike. Unfortunately, it can’t offer the same street-bike service intervals the KTM can, and will cost more to run, even though it is a Honda. We all assumed that Ducati would have a crack at this “full-size” dual-sport market, but so far the Hypermotard 698 is the only bike making use of the Superquadro Mono engine, and it seems like it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Rivals

• Husqvarna 701 enduro
• Gas Gas ES 700
• Honda CRF450RL

The 690 Enduro R Has More Power Than Ever Before

Power: 78 Horsepower

KTM via Dobler T

The biggest updates for this year are to do with the engine. While it is easy to see that the clutch and stator cover are new, so is the crankcase. It is lighter than before, and KTM also redesigned the oil delivery system. All this in an effort to get through Euro5+ emissions testing and wrestle back the “most powerful single” title from Ducati. It worked. The venerable LC4 is now emissions-compliant, and it has gained 4 horsepower. KTM has been quick to let Ducati know that this is now the most powerful single-cylinder on the market.

But we would stop short of getting too excited about that. It is only half a horsepower, and we are pretty sure that the Ducati has a higher ceiling. The other more interesting move is that the service interval has been extended to 15,000 km, or 9,000 miles. While this sounds great, we feel that the company might be over-promising here. The LC4 has a great track record, but this is a pretty big redesign year, and we would not advise pushing it so far in the first year.

Specifications

The 690 Enduro R Is As Feature-Rich As Dual-Sport Motorcycles Get

Alone At The Top Of The Hill

The previous 690 Enduro R already had several features other dual-sport bikes need to do without, but KTM has upped the ante once more for the 2026 model. Aside from the necessary revisions pertaining to the engine, the latest 690 Enduro R gets the race-proven WP Xplor 48 mm front forks with separate compression and rebound damping. Compression adjustment can be found on the left stanchion, and rebound adjustment on the right. Both offer 30 clicks of adjustability, the rear shock is also an adjustable Xplor unit, and the proven steel trellis chassis is carried over mostly unchanged.

KTM via Sebas Romero

KTM has proven that it is actually possible to get ABS to work off-road, but still allow riders to switch the system off completely when necessary. The same is true for the traction control, which is also lean-sensitive. It also gets a small, yet effective TFT dash just like the one you will find on the smaller 390 Enduro R. It is a robust little unit made with bonded glass and is polarized, so it won’t get affected by glare quite as much. Pretty much everything you might expect to find in a high-end adventure bike is all present here. The only things missing are wind protection and comfort.

While it is possible to use the 690 Enduro R for travel, you will need to have an open mind when it comes to comfort. Because there isn’t any, at least while you are riding on the road. While fun in the twisty sections, you will want to keep highway riding to a minimum. The seat is tall and firm. Naturally, a potent bike like this will only be for more experienced riders, so the seat height might be a moot point for most, but for shorter riders still new to off-road riding, this is not a good option. For those looking for the ultimate dual-sport experience, this is going to be it. Unfortunately, this kind of experience is not going to come cheap.

Features

• WP Xplor suspension
• TFT dash
• Lean sensitive ABS and traction control
• Ride modes
• Smartphone connectivity

Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications