The Dual-Sport Bike That Makes Highway Miles Feel Easy
Finding a dual-sport motorcycle that genuinely earns its keep on the highway is harder than it sounds. Most are street-legal dirt bikes in thin disguise — tolerable for short commutes but punishing on anything resembling a highway run. If you want a dual-sport that can actually cover miles between trail sections without beating you senseless, the list of credible candidates is short. Remarkably short, in fact.
Of that capable handful, three share the same parentage. KTM has had a turbulent stretch recently, but one clear bright spot is the updated 690 Enduro R for the 2026 model year. It remains one of the very few dual-sport bikes that can handle highway miles without making you regret the decision.
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, there were real doubts about whether the LC4 would survive into the Euro5+ era — yet somehow it did, and KTM even managed to extract more power in the process. All this in a niche segment where genuine alternatives are scarce.
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. Honda appears willing to do only the minimum to make it street legal, leaving the rest to the customer. A tune will sort out the poor fueling, but that is an added expense that simply shouldn’t be necessary. Maintenance intervals are dirt-bike short, and the seat is dirt-bike hard, so on-road comfort is essentially off the table. Off-road performance is naturally exceptional.
The Husqvarna 701 Enduro shares the same platform as the new 690 Enduro R and delivers an identical riding experience, just wrapped in a more refined colorway. The Gas Gas ES 700 ran on the same platform as the outgoing 690 Enduro R, finished in red rather than orange. For buyers hunting a bargain, those bikes have been discontinued and are being discounted accordingly.
The 690 Enduro R Has The Most Powerful Single On The Market
Power: 78 Horsepower
Getting the venerable LC4 through Euro5+ certification required meaningful engineering work. The clutch and stator cover are visibly new from the outside, but so is the entire crankcase. KTM also redesigned the oil delivery system and managed to reduce the overall engine weight in the process.
KTM Responds To Ducati
When Ducati launched the 698 Hypermotard, the Italian brand proudly claimed to have produced the most powerful single-cylinder engine ever made (pictured). That clearly struck a nerve in Mattighofen, and it is hard to imagine those extra four horsepower being found without Ducati’s pointed provocation. That modest power bump is enough to reclaim the crown, with a barely believable 78 horsepower from a single cylinder.
That’s more power than most middleweight adventure bikes produce. It is, however, only half a horsepower more than the Superquadro Mono, and it will be interesting to see whether Ducati responds in kind. The service interval has also been extended to 9,000 miles — impressively long for a dual-sport, and perhaps longer than most riders would feel comfortable pushing a single-cylinder engine between services.
The 690 Enduro R Is A Feature-Rich Dual-Sport
On a premium motorcycle at this level, fully adjustable suspension is almost expected, and the 690 Enduro R delivers: WP Xplor 48 front forks and a WP Xplor monoshock at the rear. The steel trellis chassis also makes it genuinely entertaining on the road, but it is the electronics package that truly separates this bike from the competition.
You get cornering ABS as well as lean-sensitive traction control. Both systems are functional off-road and fully switchable when you want unfiltered control. A new TFT display with bonded, polarized glass rounds out the package — technology that puts several more affordable adventure bikes to shame.
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 reasonably comfortable. You will still want to keep highway stints short: you will be exposed to the wind, the bars will vibrate, and the seat is firm. At a wet weight of just 357 pounds while making nearly 80 horsepower, the power-to-weight ratio is extraordinary — though that same lightness does little for high-speed stability.
*Previous model shown
With this remarkable power-to-weight ratio, the 690 Enduro R is more than capable of handling anything you throw at it, and makes every ride — including highway runs — that much more engaging. Get it off the tarmac and it will truly come into its own. In essence, you get a hard-enduro-capable machine that doubles as a capable travel bike. At this price point, that level of capability comes at a cost, which keeps it firmly in niche territory — but for the right rider, there is nothing else quite like it.
Sources: KTM
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