Aurora Rally Tower KTM Adventure 890-690
Mythical Routes Overview
Mythical Routes is renowned for its multi-day off-road motorcycle journeys on mid-range displacement adventure motorcycles. The company has also made significant contributions to the development of serious adventure-oriented bike builds, such as the Husqvarna 701 Rally Replica. In 2019, we once again collaborated with Aurora Rally Equipment to help develop an upgraded version of the ultimate adventure motorcycle since 2019—the impressive KTM 790 Adventure R. By this point, Aurora had established a solid reputation, known for products with no construction failures. The Aurora Roadbook Holder, widely respected in the Dakar community, has participated in numerous races, including the Merzouga Rally, Africa Eco Race, and Morocco Desert Challenge.
Navigation Tower
During discussions with Dimitris Lasithiotakis, the head developer of Aurora Rally Equipment, it was made clear that “weight is always an essential factor.” The KTM 790/890 Adventure serves as a perfect example to illustrate that the actual weight of individual parts is less important than the design behind them. For instance, the 790/890 Adventure features a fuel tank positioned to keep fuel weight low, resulting in unique mass centralization. When maneuvering the bike, it feels surprisingly light, even if it isn’t inherently so. This is due to the thoughtful design characteristics that ensure a well-balanced ride.
The Aurora 790/890 Rally kit is engineered with the same principles in mind. After the kit is installed, the motorcycle’s total weight remains roughly unchanged, but the entire assembly’s center of gravity shifts closer to the headstock, reducing the cantilever effect. The placement of the lights and major components of the tower lowers the weight closer to the handlebars. Additionally, the careful selection of materials has allowed the team to achieve the desired center of gravity during the design phase. For example, the stainless steel bottom cover was chosen based on its design, geometry, and thickness to lower and shift the center of gravity closer to the bike. This results in a rally kit that not only enhances the appearance of the 790/890 Adventure but also improves its functionality and performance, bringing it a step closer to KTM's "Ready to Race" DNA.
Riding Impressions: 790/890 Adventure
From our initial rides, it was evident that the "ready to race" feel of the 790/890 Adventure R remained intact, while the visibility of the instruments improved significantly when standing. The GPS and OEM instruments are now closer to the rider, enhancing the overall experience—similar to a factory rally bike. Furthermore, the taller KTM Rally screen provides superior wind protection.
The rally Navi-tower is sturdy and allows riders to mount the OEM dash on the handlebars, giving rally-oriented riders the option to place the rally roadbook on top of the tower setup. As previously mentioned, the Aurora Roadbook Holder is well-regarded in the global rally community. We've noted that many other builders incorporate all instrumentation mounted on their towers, which often results in a larger, elongated design that can move weight further away from the center of gravity and negatively affect chassis characteristics. We are very satisfied with Aurora's design, and we believe that many off-road riders will appreciate the advantages offered by this kit. Even during fast road riding in a seated position, all instrumentation remains comfortably within eye level, and the GPS location is easy to interact with without stretching too much.
Add a few accessories from top manufacturers, and this setup has the potential to become the best long-distance adventure motorcycle available.
Riding Impressions: 690 Enduro
The KTM 690 Enduro R arguably occupies a unique niche between the enduro and adventure classes. It may be the best off-road platform to craft your ideal overland motorcycle, as it is light enough to navigate serious single tracks yet spacious enough to carry most of your luggage. Many riders choose it for global travel without the physical support of a second rider when the terrain gets tough.
One notable shortcoming of the KTM 690 platform is the lack of wind protection and a comfortable mounting location for your GPS and other devices. Aurora Rally offers three options for the 690 Enduro: the 690 Rally Lite (the kit we are using), the 690 Xplorer (similar to the Husqvarna 701 Rally Replica), which features two large KTM side rally tanks, and the Super 690 (only rally tanks, without fairings). The Super 690 is probably not a practical upgrade for adventure travel.
Unless you're traveling in remote areas like the Pamir Highway and need every available liter of gasoline, the 690 Rally Lite is the best upgrade for your KTM 690 Enduro. The fairing design does not interfere with handling at high speeds.
