2021 KTM 790 Adventure R Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 9%of 22 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R, 9% of the 22 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Motorcycle hard/impossible to start. Excessive valve wear. Currently unrideable due to mechanical problems. Motorcycle stalled at intersection of busy highway, would not start creating hazard of being hit in the intersection and while pushing it to side of road. Mechanic inspected vehicle, found excessive wear to valvetrain causing engine power loss and stalls. States that it appears to be a manufacturing defect in the intake system allowing dirt ingestion leading to excessive irreparable valve wear.”
NHTSA complaint #11449741, filed 2022-02“When running the motorcycle on the manufacturer-recommended 91+ (premium) octane fuel, the engine can take up to 5 or 6 tries (over the course of a few minutes) to start when it's sat overnight. When the engine eventually does start it runs very rough on only one (of two) cylinder. During this rough starting there is an overpowering smell of raw/un-ignighted fuel coming from the exhaust pipe. There seems to be some kind of issue with the fueling or ignition timing that prevents the engine from running properly on 91+ octane fuel. …”
NHTSA complaint #11437948, filed 2021-10Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R
11 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 KTM 790 Adventure R
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology