Rear brakes: the line that leads from the fluid reservoir to the master cylinder has popped out twice (the 90degree fitting at the master cylinder) resulting in a loss of rear brake use.
2020 Ktm 790 Adventure R
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 790 Adventure R years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
4 reportsFRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE TRAVELLING AT 50MPH ON PAVEMENT. HAD BEEN RIDING 10 MINUTES, HAD USED THE FRONT BRAKE VERY LITTLE PRIOR TO IT LOCKING UP. TO GET THE BRAKE TO RELEASE, I HELD PRESSURE ON THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND OPENED THE BRAKE CALIPER BLEED NIPPLE TO RELEASE BRAKE FLUID.
FRONT BRAKES SHUDDER AT LOW SPEEDS MAKING THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT LOW SPEEDS UNDER BRAKING
THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKES UNEVENLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP DOWNHILL. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS A STICKY OR UNEVEN AREA ON THE ROTORS. IT IS NOT FELT IN THE BRAKE LEVER. YOU FEEL IT IN THE WHOLE BIKE. THERE IS ALSO BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE RESERVOIR CAP. THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING A…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKES UNEVENLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP DOWNHILL. IT FEELS AS IF THERE IS A STICKY OR UNEVEN AREA ON THE ROTORS. IT IS NOT FELT IN THE BRAKE LEVER. YOU FEEL IT IN THE WHOLE BIKE. THERE IS ALSO BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE RESERVOIR CAP. THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING AROUND THE FIRST 1000 MILES OF RIDING. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO TWO DIFFERENT KTM DEALERS FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE. IT IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A THIRD TIME WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED KTM NORTH AMERICA AND THEY SAID THAT THE UNEVEN BRAKING IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLOATING ROTORS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR 35 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS. I CONTACTED GALFER AND RACE TECHNOLOGIES, THE MAKERS OF THE BRAKES FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE. THEY BOTH SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FLOATING ROTORS AND THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. GALFER ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER RIDERS CONTACTING THEM WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE ARE ALSO OTHERS ONLINE (AROUND THE WORLD) EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES SO KTM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SOME RIDERS HAVE RECEIVED NEW ROTORS AND PADS, SOME ENTIRE NEW WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY. SOME OF US HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING AND HAD TO PAY FOR SERVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SOME OF THE RIDERS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR ROTORS REPLACED HAD THE PROBLEM COME BACK. IS IT BAD ROTORS, PADS, WHEELS? SOME ARE SPECULATING THAT IT IS HUBS OUT OF TRUE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WE ARE LOOKING FOR KTM TO ACTUALLY SOLVE THE ROOT CAUSE AND COME UP WITH A PERMANENT FIX. WE DON'T WANT NEW PARTS PUT ON THAT ARE JUST GOING TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER OUR WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED. THESE BRAKING ISSUES HAVE MANY OF US CONCERNED. MOTORCYCLING IS ALREADY A RISKY ENDEAVOR. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
Official recalls
221V304000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Apr 30, 2021
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 KTM 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R, and 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R Rally motorcycles. The front brake master cylinder piston return spring may be too weak to return the brake piston to its original position, reducing the functionality of the front brake.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A front brake with reduced functionality may increase the distance required to stop as well as the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return spring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is KTM2106.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 KTM 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R, and 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R Rally motorcycles. The front brake master cylinder piston return spring may be too weak to return the brake piston to its original position, reducing the functionality of the front brake.
Consequence: A front brake with reduced functionality may increase the distance required to stop as well as the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return spring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is KTM2106.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 KTM 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R, and 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R Rally motorcycles. The front brake master cylinder piston return spring may be too weak to return the brake piston to its original position, reducing the functionality of the front brake.
Consequence: A front brake with reduced functionality may increase the distance required to stop as well as the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the return spring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is KTM2106.
20V198000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 6, 2020
KTM North America, Inc. (KTM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 790 Adventure and 790 Adventure R motorcycles. The rear brake hose may overheat, causing the rear brake system to fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the rear brake system fails, there would be reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: KTM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new rear brake line, free of charge. The recall began April 28, 2020. Owners may contact KTM customer service at 1-888-985-6090. KTM's number for this recall is TB2011.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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