- New 2027 KTM 690 Rally confirmed for NZ dealers from December
- 79PS LC4 single, approximately 20-litre fuel capacity and just 161.5kg without fuel
- Rally bodywork and long-travel WP XPLOR suspension make it a serious lightweight adventure option
The long-awaited 690 Rally will arrive in Kiwi KTM dealerships from December – and for serious adventure riders, this could be one of KTM’s most interesting bikes in years.
KTM has confirmed its highly anticipated new 690 Rally is heading to New Zealand, with the first bikes set to arrive in authorised KTM dealers from December.
And this isn’t simply a 690 Enduro R with a taller screen and some rally graphics.
The 2027 KTM 690 Rally is effectively the bike plenty of hardcore KTM adventure riders have been trying to create themselves for years: the lightweight, seriously capable 690 Enduro R platform combined with proper fuel range, wind protection and rally-inspired equipment for covering big distances off the beaten track.
“This is essentially the adventure bike plenty of 690 Enduro R owners have been building themselves for years.”
KTM describes it as the spiritual successor to the much-loved 640 Adventure and, looking at the specification, that’s probably the most useful way of understanding where the new bike fits.
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690 ENDURO R – WITH MORE PURPOSE
At its heart is KTM’s latest 692.7cc LC4 single-cylinder engine, producing 79PS and 73Nm.
That’s wrapped in a chromoly steel trellis frame, but the big change is what KTM has added around it.
Two additional front-mounted fuel tanks work with the rear tank to give the 690 Rally a total capacity of approximately 20 litres – a substantial improvement for riders heading into places where fuel stops aren’t guaranteed.
Interestingly, the tanks don’t simply feed as one big reservoir. A handlebar-mounted control allows the rider to switch between the front and rear tanks, with the reserve warning corresponding to whichever tank is selected.
Up front there’s a proper rally tower and integrated windscreen, creating a cockpit much closer in appearance and function to KTM’s competition rally machinery than a conventional dual-purpose bike.
There’s also a very cool and seriously compact 4.2-inch TFT display with connectivity and navigation functionality, while the LED lighting takes inspiration from the KTM 450 Rally Replica.
“Perhaps the most important number for Kiwi adventure riders isn’t the 79PS power figure. It’s 161.5kg without fuel.”
LIGHT ENOUGH TO GET SERIOUS
Perhaps the most important number for Kiwi adventure riders isn’t the 79PS power figure.
It’s 161.5kg without fuel.
That’s what makes the 690 Rally particularly interesting.
Adventure bikes have become increasingly powerful, sophisticated and, inevitably, heavy. That’s fine when you’re smashing out highway kilometres or riding flowing gravel roads, but considerably less appealing when the track gets narrow, steep or slippery – particularly when you’re riding alone and have to pick the thing up.
The 690 Rally takes a different approach. There’s still enough performance to cover road kilometres properly, but with 265mm of ground clearance, 265mm of front suspension travel, 250mm at the rear and proper 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, this is clearly intended to venture considerably further off-road than most big adventure bikes.
Fully adjustable WP XPLOR suspension takes care of the bumps, with a 48mm USD fork up front and linkage-equipped XPLOR shock at the rear.
The trade-off is a substantial 935mm seat height, so this isn’t going to be the easiest machine for shorter riders to paddle around on. If you aren’t the most confident off-road and don’t have the longest legs, then this is probably worth a miss.
But that’s also an indication of where KTM’s priorities lie.
“The 690 Rally is trying to bridge the gap between a large enduro bike and a traditional adventure machine.”
PROPER OFF-ROAD ELECTRONICS
There’s modern electronics too, but importantly KTM knows that many riders might actually want to turn some (or all) of them off.
Street and Off-road ride modes are standard, while an optional Rally mode allows further adjustment of traction control and throttle response.
Off-road ABS allows the rear ABS to be switched off while retaining assistance at the front, but there’s also a dedicated ABS-off button allowing the system to be completely disabled without the need to delve into menus.
“Now KTM is doing much of that work at the factory.”
That might sound like a small detail, but for riders tackling steep, loose terrain it’s exactly the sort of functionality you want from a bike wearing the Rally name.
Quickshifter+ is also available, while KTM says the latest LC4 has extended service intervals including 15,000km oil changes – useful on a machine specifically intended to cover serious distances.
WHY THE 690 RALLY MATTERS
For us, this is where the new KTM becomes particularly interesting.
There’s no shortage of adventure motorcycles available in New Zealand. At one end you’ve got increasingly capable middleweight twins, while at the other there are big-bore adventure bikes producing superbike levels of power and carrying an equally substantial amount of technology.
The 690 Rally sits somewhere different. It’s effectively trying to bridge the gap between a large enduro bike and a traditional adventure machine.
You get the relatively low weight, narrow dimensions and serious off-road ability of the 690 Enduro R, but with the fuel capacity, wind protection and cockpit required to actually travel somewhere on it.
And that’s exactly what plenty of 690 owners have traditionally achieved through the aftermarket – adding bigger tanks, rally towers, windscreens, navigation equipment and luggage solutions to turn KTM’s big single into a lightweight adventure bike.
Now KTM is doing much of that work at the factory.
For New Zealand riders, where an adventure can easily involve several hundred kilometres of road and gravel before getting anywhere near the difficult stuff, that combination makes a lot of sense.
It also means KTM once again has a machine that feels like a genuine successor to the old 640 Adventure rather than simply another member of the increasingly crowded middleweight ADV category.
COMING THIS DECEMBER
KTM has now confirmed the 2027 690 Rally will arrive at authorised KTM dealers in Australia and New Zealand from December 2026.
New Zealand pricing hasn’t yet been confirmed in the information released by KTM, but that’s going to be the next important piece of the puzzle.
Get the price right and this could be a very interesting option for Kiwi riders who want proper adventure-bike range and usability without stepping up to the size and weight of a multi-cylinder adventure machine.
And judging by how many modified 690 Enduro Rs we’ve seen over the years, we’d suggest KTM probably won’t struggle to find people who understand exactly what the 690 Rally is for.
We’ll have a full review from the international launch coming to BRM.co.nz shortly, so keep an eye on the site and our socials for more on this new adventure weapon. And for more, you can visit the KTM NZ site HERE.
KTM 690 RALLY – QUICK SPECS
| Engine | 692.7cc LC4 single-cylinder |
|---|---|
| Power | 79PS |
| Torque | 73Nm |
| Gearbox | Six-speed |
| Fuel capacity | Approx. 20 litres |
| Weight | 161.5kg without fuel |
| Seat height | 935mm |
| Ground clearance | 265mm |
| Front suspension | WP XPLOR 48mm, 265mm travel |
| Rear suspension | WP XPLOR, 250mm travel |
| Wheels | 21-inch front / 18-inch rear |
| Front brake | 300mm disc, Brembo two-piston caliper |
| Rear brake | 240mm disc, Brembo single-piston caliper |
| NZ availability | From December 2026 |
| NZ price | TBC |
