KTM Reveals the 2027 690 Rally, a Dakar-Styled Successor to the 640 Adventure
79 PS, three fuel tanks, 20 litres total -- KTM's spiritual successor to the 640 Adventure is real, and it's coming to dealers this October.
KTM officially revealed the 690 Rally on September 8, 2026, a rally-raid machine built on the 690 Enduro platform and positioned as the spiritual successor to the long-discontinued 640 Adventure. Production starts this month in Austria, with dealer availability from October 2026. I already know exactly which forestry roads I’d take it down, and exactly how little that plan will survive contact with my actual calendar.
The engine and the number that matters most
The KTM 690 Rally runs the latest-generation 692.7cc LC4 single, making 58.1 kW (79 PS) at 8,000 rpm and 73 Nm at 6,750 rpm through a six-speed gearbox. That’s the same basic engine family underpinning the rest of the 690 range, tuned here for a bike built to be ridden a very long way from the nearest fuel station – which is really the whole point of the Rally.
Three tanks, one switch, 20 litres total
The headline spec is fuel capacity: the standard 690 platform’s 13-litre rear tank is joined by two additional 3.5-litre tanks mounted up front inside a purpose-built rally tower, for 20 litres total. A handlebar-mounted switch lets the rider select between front and rear tanks, each with its own reserve warning. KTM quotes consumption around 4.3 L/100 km, which puts realistic range north of 450 km on a full load – respectable for a bike this size, and the reason this platform exists at all.
Suspension, brakes and the rest of the hardware
Up front sits a 48 mm WP XPLOR fork with 265 mm of travel and 30 clicks of compression/rebound adjustment; the rear gets a fully adjustable WP XPLOR shock with 250 mm of travel through a linkage. Brakes are Brembo, twin-piston up front and single-piston at the rear, clamping down on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked aluminium wheels. Dry weight is 161.5 kg, seat height sits at 935 mm, and ground clearance is 265 mm. The rally tower carries an integrated windscreen, and the bike also picks up a wide rally-style seat, handguards, and a skid plate with centre-stand mounts as standard.
How it stacks up against the bike it’s named after
KTM is explicit that this is a spiritual successor to the 640 Adventure (1997-2007), the bike that made KTM’s big-tank single-cylinder ADV formula famous in the first place. The new bike doesn’t just chase the old one’s numbers – it beats the power figure outright while giving up some tank capacity for a lot more suspension travel and a modern electronics package the 640 never had.
| Spec | 690 Rally (2027) | 640 Adventure (1997-2007) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 692.7cc LC4 single | 625cc LC4 single |
| Power | 79 PS (58.1 kW) | 53.6 PS (39.2 kW) |
| Torque | 73 Nm | n/a (period spec not published) |
| Fuel capacity | 20 L (3-tank) | 28 L |
| Dry weight | 161.5 kg | 158 kg |
| Front travel | 265 mm | n/a |
The 640 Adventure carried more fuel, but the 690 Rally makes roughly 47% more power for barely any weight penalty – and it’s arriving with fully adjustable WP suspension and a Brembo brake package the original never had. If you rode the 640 back when it was new, this is that bike with two decades of chassis development bolted on.
For riders eyeing this alongside KTM’s other twin-cylinder naked in the works, the 490 Duke, the 690 Rally is a reminder that KTM’s single-cylinder LC4 platform is still very much alive alongside the newer parallel-twins – and it’s worth noting KTM has had off-road reliability issues to manage this year too, on unrelated Husqvarna/GasGas models sharing componentry across the group.
What we don’t know yet
KTM hasn’t announced pricing anywhere, and the confirmed release windows so far are market-specific: October 2026 for KTM’s general dealer network, with MCNews reporting a December 2026 arrival specifically for Australia and New Zealand. No European price or on-sale date has been published yet – worth watching given the 690 Enduro R the Rally is based on currently lists around EUR12,000-13,000 in most EU markets, which is a reasonable ballpark for where the Rally likely lands once KTM confirms a figure.
FAQ
How much does the KTM 690 Rally cost?
KTM hasn’t announced pricing yet. The closely related 690 Enduro R typically lists around EUR12,000-13,000 in Europe, which is a reasonable reference point until KTM confirms an actual figure.
What engine is in the KTM 690 Rally?
A 692.7cc LC4 single-cylinder engine producing 79 PS (58.1 kW) at 8,000 rpm and 73 Nm at 6,750 rpm, paired with a six-speed gearbox.
How much fuel does it hold?
20 litres total, split across a 13-litre rear tank and two 3.5-litre front tanks built into the rally tower, selectable via a handlebar switch.
When can I buy one?
Production starts in September 2026, with dealer availability from October 2026 in most markets – KTM’s Australia/New Zealand arm has separately confirmed December 2026 for that region.
Official source: https://www.ktm.com/en-us/models/adventure/2027-ktm-690-rally.html
Reporting via: mcnews.com.au, advpulse.com, topspeed.com
