KTM 1290 Super Adventure R & S review: when more is more?︱Cross Training Adventure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ต.ค. 2024
- crosstrainingen... Our KTM 1290 Super Adventure R review and looking at the S model too. KTM's big adventure models started back in 2003 with the 950. We rode the Super Enduro version and loved the big torque and how it felt like a big enduro motorbike... at least on the open tracks. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. In 2013 KTM brought out the 1190. In 2015 they went further with the KTM 1290 Super Adventure. 160hp. Massive 30 litre fuel tank. And lots of electronics to satisfy the most demanding adventure nerd. Cornering lights, cruise control, motor slip regulation, hill hold control, automatic indicator turn reset, and semi-active suspension. In 2017 two variants were introduced. The road-oriented 1290 Super Adventure S reviews mention a 19 inch front wheel and 17 inch rear wheel. The 1290 Super Adventure R was the off-road model with 21 inch front wheel, 18 inch rear wheel and a smaller windscreen. There were big changes in 2021. But for us everyday humans, if you plan to ride on a lot of dirt roads you will probably be safer on adventure motorbikes well below 1000cc engine capacity. Having said that, there are always softer 'maps' that soften the power delivery. Here's a dyno chart for the KTM 1290. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. You can tame the beast when needed. But you are still dealing with a very heavy motorbike if you enjoy rough tracks. Will the KTM 1290 Super Adventure suit you? If you want this huge engine and plan to ride on dirt roads a lot? Essentially only the wheels and brakes remained the same. Of course there are times these huge adventure motorbikes are perfect.And in a small number of cases there are very talented riders who can actually handle these beasts off-road. Adaptive cruise control, remote key access, anti-dive function, lean control, and updated electronic suspension control (on the S model) were added to the long list of electronics. These are aliens like Pol Tarres and Toni Bou who are disguised as humans. A smaller 23 litre fuel tank using three sections to lower the centre of gravity. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. Steering damper standard. 229kg without fuel. What do we like? The linar power delivery is always mentioned in KTM 1290 Super Adventure. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. The engine was already well developed from previous road models. It has huge amounts of torque from 2500rpm. Below that the big twin does a lot of chain-snatching. The handling and suspension on the S and R variants is excellent. Even the dirt-oriented R model is very capable on the road despite the 21 inch front wheel. And with 160hp and the right tyres there are owners who even do track days on this animal. What else? The ergonomics work well. An upright sitting position. Plenty of room for standing even for taller riders. A very large bright dash. Tubeless rims on the R and S models. Crashbars and skidplate are standard. We haven't ridden other adventure motorbikes in this class, but we read a pile of reviews and the consistent summary is the 1290 Super Adventure is the choice for off-road riding. The negatives? It's a short list and mostly centred on the off-road nature of the big KTM. There's a choice of two seat heights but it's still tall. Riders under six foot or 183cm might be uncomfortable.Pillion passengers may find it too small as well. The lack of heated grips is strange when you consider all the features that are standard. Reliability? Are you a short rider? The Ducati Multistrada V4 S has a lower seat height. On a budget? Generally the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer will be cheaper. The screens occasionally fail and are replaced under warranty. Although some owners say any warranty claim with KTM USA can be a real battle. Occasionally the engine won't start at all and some electrical issue needs to be fixed. Sure. But I suspect the reality is most riders in this category will spend far more time on the highway and you may prefer the comfort of other models like the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure. In some countries it outsells the KTM by a long way and I suspect this is why. Accident statistics in many countries show riders in their 40s and 50s are now dying more often than riders in their 20s. Some argue this is a combination of older guys returning to motorbikes after a 20 year break and over-estimating their abilities. And the obsession with bigger must be better.
Our enduro channel: / crosstrainingenduroskills
Our trials channel: / mototrialstrainingtech...
#crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding
#dualsportbikes
FURTHER COMMENTS: One owner says fuel pumps are a big failure point on the bigger KTM adventure bikes! Super common issue. Not a bad idea to carry a spare if you are regularly in remote areas perhaps. He also says access to the airbox isn't great. Anyone else agree?
Heard of several pump failures, and yep access to airbox on the previous model sucks. I believe the current 1290 is much easier to access.
I would say that if you constantly run the pump below the low fuel limit, it may over stress the pump because it is running dry sometimes. not my words but from ktm themselves
I'm glad these bikes exist cause i like watching Chris Birch ride them.
The guy is a freak! Here's an example on the 1290: th-cam.com/video/SI_B8fxPWEs/w-d-xo.html
When I grow up I want to be a Chris birch.
Loved my 1290R, but had to sell it as I was going to meet God on it sooner or later.
Still have my 2003 950 adventure, had a 701, 790 and then 690. I'll keep the 950 going. That and my 500 has Everything covered
I love my 1290SAS. It is a blast to ride. No I never take it off road. I'm 76.
Spent some time on friends 1290s. Bonkers. No mention of the 1090R.
Getting on to 35k km on mine. Plenty of power, reliable and simple enough
I had a vstrom 1050 , it was a great bike, all the bells and whistles but realistically it was too big to take anywhere but forest roads. Went back to a T700 Tenere and loving life again.
Surprising how often that happens... downsizing. You see a cool little trail that looks a bit gnarly but too risky taking the big adv monster there.
@@crosstrainingadventure And I kept the trusty DR650 of course. 👍🏼 Everyone needs to have a DR stashed in the garage. Especially those KDM chaps so they have something to ride while waiting for warranty processing and parts.
THE MIGHTY VERBAL WIDGET !!!!!
@@verbalwidget7267 PERFECT !!!!! - Or waiting 7 weeks like Frank to get a freakin reply from "THE WIZARD OF OZ" !!!!!
@@pilotdane1haha OBI-WAN!! Not only him, KTM’s warranty division seems to be horrible at best. Watched a KTM1290 video about all problems and the comments were horrible about KTM.
I had an 1190 Adventure (19/17 wheels) for 3 years. For my skills, physical condition, and confidence, I found the 1190 to be too big (YMMV) on gnarly dirt roads. It was just fine on well-maintained dirt/gravel or on slightly rough tracks, but was just too big (for me) on the "I can't believe this rocky, rutted, mudhole filled thing is a public road" type stuff. Those are the roads I like the best and I have a ball on them on my KTM 530 EXC. Gotta pick the right tool for the job (whatever that means to you). I do miss the flexibility of the ADV bikes though and sometimes think about adding a smaller one ala T700, 890R, or Toureg but they all weigh 450 lbs which is more than I want to pick up on a regular basis. I suspect a 690/701 will eventually replace the 530.
It's the problem for many of us. We enjoy cruising around on adventure rides but then we see that interesting gnarly trail and wonder if we can get the big bike through there...
Respect to those who can competently ride these beasts off road. I’m 5’6” with a 29” inseam, I can’t imagine wrestling around anything bigger than my DR650 off road.
Same here lol
I had a DR650 and did everything with it. Anything above 10kph is substantially better and easier on my 990. The DR's chassis and suspension are absolutely terrible and easily offset by having a machine that is rigid, sharp and highly capable. Hence you can attack with confidence and it'll take it in its stride
That said I honestly wish it was a 500cc vtwin, as 130-ish HP is genuinely not in any way useful. Its admittedly great fun being able to effortlessly break traction instantly at 140kph fishtailing and chucking it sideways, but it's very not fun being constrained to 15% throttle everywhere else, and you're not actually accelerating faster than any other dirt bike, it's just rapidly destroying tyres
I'm wrestling that beast as my daily and I'm your size 130 soaking wet, I agree I love the power and it eats tires but it's simply to heavy for extreme off road for me great for 3rd gear rolling burnouts though
This bike will be perfect for you. The rider triangle is made for short people, if you are taller this one sucks bad
@@ogoshikimura5621 It is definitely on the smaller side compared to its competition (except for the new GS). Not sure how it fits short riders, as they have issues when stopped (i.e. with feet on the ground), unlike us who have problems with feet on the pegs.
You said it yourself: Many people do not actually use the bike for riding difficult offroad. Now this may be a purely european problem, but in general, long distance riding can only be done on "roads", which may be unpaved but there are limits to how difficult they are. With proper tires and pressures - this may be hard to reach on 19/17 wheels many adventure bikes have but KTM offers even narrow 21/18 wheels for some models (e.g. 790/890) which allow using enduro tires and tubes, riding in mud or sand becomes much more manageable (I had the fortune to ride a GSA with Mitas 07 tires in "I can barely walk without slipping" mud and it was basically not great, not horrifying; although it would have been worse if the mud was really deep), the only issue might be occasional fallen trees.
As an advantage, it's much more comfortable on highways and for touring - not because of the engine but due to their bigger size and better wind protection. OK, KTM might not be the biggest bike but others like Pan America or Multistrada are big enough to be comfortable.
Can't wait for 4590 models with 400hp and a quarter mil price tags.
cant wait for people to learn the unbelievable concept that there are different use cases for different sized bikes >.>"
@@Angry-Lynx yeah : 250 in the woods , 650 for mixed use and everything else for mostly road. Big, expensive bikes are a bad idea I'm the bush.
I own a 1290 SAR 2017 - 2020 model it has lean sensitive ABS, cornering headlights, self cancelling indicators, electronic cruise - but not adapative. Off-road mode tames the beast to 100HP and does some clever stuff with the traction control. As a dirt road tourer its an awesome jigger, as a trail bike it sucks. I have ridden it all over outback NSW, SA and QLD and it's sensational for that open country touring. High country Vic it has hurt me (minor) a couple of times, but that was rider ambition exceeding rider ability and not the bike per se.
Nice report, I think the message with these big bikes is that they are not enduro bikes, and they are not road bikes in the pure sense - they are a hybrid that can do most things OK, some things really well, and some things they suck at. Riding them needs skills from both types of riding, and riders need to hybridise their skills too. I often hear enduro riders bagging the big bikes for their faults offroad, but not reccognising that for a long highway run, the 1290 leaves the DR 650 severely wanting, the reverse applies in technical terrain.
In an ideal garage, there would be room for a 1290 Super Duke, a 1290 SAR and a 701 Husky :-)
Pretty sure we are both speaking English but I didn't understand anything you said 😆.
"In an ideal garage, there would be room for a 1290 Super Duke, a 1290 SAR and a 701 Husky"
I like the cut of your jib, mate. :-)
- a 2018 1290 SAS owner
Completely agree, even 10 minutes on the highway with the DR650 has me breaking out in a rash lol. There's something to be said for comfort on the road with the big beasts....
I have a 2020 KTM 790 Adventure R and needing more engine / power is not something I can ever imagine! The 790 with ~100hp already feels like a sport bike on the road and off road is already heavier / more powerful than any mortal rider needs. I think it's also more than powerful enough to find the limits of the kind of tires you want to run if you are ever going to go off road.
For me, I do appreciate the smoothness / road manners of a multi cylinder bike when any significant street time is required but I struggle to understand the need for >100hp (or honestly 75hp for me).
Having said that it's a broad church and don't mind if others get a kick out of owning one of these beasts!
avuto Hi everyone, nice video, I am the owner of a KTM 1290 R year 2021 with around 60,000km, I had problems with the clutch master cylinder, ignition problems with voltage fluctuations, problems with the TC light and finally I replaced the LCD under warranty., I I'm very angry, but when I drive it I'm always smiling
It's the most beautiful adventure bike there is. a greeting
Good to hear you enjoy riding it. A shame about multiple issues though.
1290 s model here with spoked wheels and 80/20 tires. Great all a rounder imho. Great on fire roads and moderate two track. Fun for when wife and I take a ride in the mountains. Once in a while I'd like a smaller bike, but the majority of the time I'm glad I went with the SAS. Got a hold over for $19k OTD (US).
I have the 1190R. A bit lighter but top heavy. Phenomenal high speed dirt road and track machine with good carrying capacity. The suspension, which is best in class, really keeps you safe. Downside? They need more maintenance than other brands.
I've got a 1290 R with the optional tall ergo seat. It works well as an anti-theft device.
😂 No one wants to ride my bikes after a I put tall bar risers on, pad the seat, and install lowered footpegs.
@@crosstrainingadventure i do all the same minus the lowered pegs. i don't want them things getting hung up when im crossing logs and what not
I inherited a 1200 Triumph Tiger CXa, I wouldn't buy it, but touring with two people is great, I've even driven it successfully on the race track. I also own a ktm 950 super enduro, the device is so elegant that I rarely move it and see it more as an investment. I'm currently on the Trans 6:38 EuroTrail in France with my good old KTM 640 Enduro. After weeks of immense rain, it's a real mud fight. I have installed decent studded tires and still not enough. I am convinced that this would not have been possible with any heavier bike, which is why I love this bike because I have always been able to get through it so far.
I had a 1290SA and used it extensively off-highway , mainly two track and gravel roads…it eats that up. Never tried hard single track. Phenomenal bike. The two biggest weaknesses are weight (good luck picking it up repeatedly solo), and because of weight it sinks in mud and wet ground. I now have a 690 Enduro R fitted with the 700 HardKit, so get the range and it’s 150kg ex fuel, it’s a great setup with remapped ignition and fuel and a proper air filter.
Great to hear! Definitely a lot of guys downsizing from 1000cc+ to bikes around 450 to 700.
Hi. I have a 2021 SAR. Love it. Im 6'6'' so the size is perfect for me. In fact I got a tall seat for more leg room, and tall windscreen. Off road its awesome and very easy to ride. On road its a doddle. Issues - a cracked water pump housing at 1500 miles, otherwise clean. Defo a good bike for Adventure touring with luggage, it can take anything on.
With years on the big adventure bikes, loving it, I took a hard look at the pro's and con's and compared that to the pro's and con's of a small adventure bike. I'm now riding a well setup 250! 😮 Loving it! And I'm actually putting more miles on the 250 than the big KTM!
I've ridden with Craig on his 1290 during a couple of multi-day rides and that man sure can ride the big bike for short guy.
I have a 2021 Super Ten and it’s great as long as there is not a lot of mud, plus it’s smooth on tarmac
1090R was the best travel + gravel road tourer. Solid, reliable with enough technology. It would have benefited greatly by the new designs lowering the center of gravity. It was only 10 kg more than the 890 but with an aftermarket exhaust you dropped easily 5kg. It was a joy for proper travelling, whereas the 890 vibrates too much. The 1090’s power was the limit for a decent set of tyres that would also perform off road. But with the 1290’ 160 hpw your tk70 rear tyre will become useless in just over over 1000 km
finally some appreciation for big bikes. Too often I see pointless "too heavy" or "too big" complaints by people who either misuse adv bikes, or lack of skills and fitness to ride them properly. Probably all of the above.
Adv bikes are THE best ; I have no interest in any other bikes
all you need is an adv bike, and a trailer for it to carry a trials bike
I’d rather buy an 890 but I’ll be going for the 1290 r to avoid camshaft issues.
excellent video, thanks for sharing. Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it
I bought into the marketing and purchased a 1290 super adventure T in 2015.
Turns out. My drz 400 suited my fun riding a lot better.
The ktm was perfect in so many ways. I did have some electric issues, mainly the plug for the rear suspension getting loose and leaving me with no dampening.
Huge power. Long range. Decent comfort. Excelent storage. It was too smooth and easy.
After the drz was stolen I got a road legal xr650r on your recommendation, but the kick start only was a pain.
Sold that. Got a ktm 500 exc. Absolutely love it. But it sure isnt road reliable.
Paired with a hypermotard now, I have the dream bikes for me. (but also not reliable lol)
Quite a few guys are adventurising the 500EXCF and must admit I'm tempted myself. But I'd probably wind up carting it out to the dirt roads in my van, I know it won't be good on the road!
@@crosstrainingadventure you're absolutely right.
Ive done all day rides on it to tumbler ridge way north of Kelowna bc. but the hwy isn't a happy place to be stuck on its back.
With only 5000km on my 2018, it's already rattled enough bolts loose to prove its really made as a dirtbike first and road legal second
Why is the 500 worse on the road than i.e. the WR250R? Or DRZ400? I have a beta 390 and a wr250r, the beta would be pretty much just as good on the road/freeway as the wr if it had more oil capacity, a metal subframe and wider gears. And maybe a cush drive. And maybe a more counterbalanced engine.. I think that's it though.
@@autismion really, service intervals and operator abuse are the biggest issues with it 😂
It's a dirtbike first. So that's how it gets used.
The exhaust is currently missing all the mounting bolts and I lost my kickstand earlier this year. It eats tires on the road too.
Maybe if I invested in loctite it would be better.
Ive owned 600, 750, 1000, 1300, 1400 liter bikes, harleys, and by far the most fun ive had was on a KLR 650. Looking at 10, 11 or 1290 ktm. Loved the reliably of klr but underpowered imo.
Well I am your older Rider that you were talking about but I didn't take a 20-year break, I've been riding ever since I was 6 years old, I have a Honda XR 650 right now and it's just entirely too small, I am 6 ft 2 200 240 lb and I guarantee I'm going to handle this bike well I wanted to get the r model but I ended up getting the S model, so what I done I put a dual sport Enduro knob on it and it does great, as soon as I get used to the power and whole nine yards I'll probably get me a brand new r model, because I have a house in Houston Texas I have a house in Arkansas also in the Ozarks and that's where I want to take it, and Boone county Arkansas we have 300 miles of paved road and 1300 me of dirt road and I'm going to blast every one of them, I've been I've been riding these dirt roads ever since I was 13 years old started out with a RM 125 and a 250, now I'm a big boy and quite a bit chunkier I need that Austrian bike, I want to trade up from the Japanese bikes.
It would be great if Honda brought back a revised XR650R!
@@crosstrainingadventure yes and it's too bad that the African twin ain't more like the the xr650, you know what I mean.
My 1290 SAS is perfect for dirt road riding , not trails. It also allows you to cover big miles to get there on the black top. I have another bike for spirited tar road riding, it’s red.
Love the 1290
I like a big bike for back road riding including dirt roads where the risk of tipping over is very small. I like a medium size bike for dirt roads that get minimal maintenance and two track trails with low risk of tip overs. I prefer a lighter bike when doing very rough two track and most trail riding where I feel good if I don't tip over even once. And a very light dirt bike for all dirt bike trails where the chances of tipping over are very high. But what is "big" and what is "light" has sure changed as I get older. And engine size is not the determining factor, weight is.
Currently at 70, my range is:
Big= 500 lbs+
Medium= 400 to 500 lbs
Regular= 300 to 400 lbs
Light= 250 to 300 lbs
Dirt bike= 200 to 250 lbs
I sold my 200 lbs dirt bike because it doesn't have the magic start button that I have come to love.
Now why do I spend the time writing this when nobody is going to take the time to read it?
Love all your videos is why.
I'm reading it lol. Yes our ideas about the best bike certainly change as we get older. In my early 60s it's all getting more focused on light weight...
Did you get a replacement for the 200lbs bike?
@@autismion Sort of... My ultralight bike was a full custom build XR200R with RM85 USD forks and wheels, aluminum swingarm & linkage, custom fully adjustable shock, lightened frame, disc brakes, etc.
But I needed a light dirtbike with lights and a license plate in so that I could ride it locally instead of only after trailering it for more than an hour to the nearest trails. I also wanted an electric starter. After looking at a number of smaller, lighter dual sports I bought a 2007 Yamaha XT225 and upgraded the suspension at both ends (more $ than the bike!) and it is very good, but...
It weighs 265 lbs! I took the bike apart to lose weight but I was surprised at how dainty everything on the bike is. The stock muffler weighs less than aftermarket slip-ons, the wheels have tiny spokes and the aluminum rims are light. Everything I removed planning to replace with lighter replacements turned out to be very light and not worth switching.
I installed a lithium battery to save a few lbs and switched to aluminum bars. The lights are all very light (hah!) and while the fuel tank is steel it only weighs 1 lb more than the plastic tank I bought. The swingarm is steel and finding an aluminum piece that would work with modifications to use the links might save a pound but hardly worth the work. A two stroke would be easier to lighten up but aren't street legal.
I'm still modifying the 225 to fit me (6'-4") with a taller seat and looking for a light alloy swingarm and linkage that will work but realistically the bike will probably never get down to 250 lbs.
used to have a GS, overall probably best (non enduro) I had, switched for lighter 890R, switched for lighter 701E. it all depends what you want to do, but definite off-road more is more…
I went from a WR250R to a 701 enduro to a 890 Adventure R. Ive been riding mostly the same trails on each bikes. I don't think I would go heavier if I'm to keep riding the same trails. Also every time I go up in weight there's some trails I can't ride anymore or if I do its really no fun. There's no way around it in my book, the dirt bike / dual-sport / adventure bike continuum is a zero sum game
Don't worry about me I might be 55 plus but I've been riding my whole life my 650 XR is way too small now, and where I live in Boone county Arkansas they have 1300 me of dirt roads, and 300 mi of paved road and this is exactly what I need.
1290s, it’s an absolutely way more fun than a barrel of monkeys, however sometimes poo does come out. It’s great on any road, but if any dirt road turns into a trail it’s starts getting a bit challenging for me, but that’s what my dualsport is for. I can highly recommend everybody to have a go, you don’t need 160hp/130NM but you don’t need to have sex either.
The two bike solution!
If you ride a lot on Autobahn, even a chain oiler won't stop 'rapid' wear. The old chain vs shaft $ won't go away.
Interesting that KTM is working on a more ADV 1290 version. Probably a lot of people trying to out-distance big brother with an 890.
Lots of torque from 2.5k revs.....as opposed to the mighty DR having its torque from 2.5 revs. Long live the bush pig!
There’s no such thing as too much. It’s about you want out of it and what you’re capable of
✔️
have a gsa miss my 1290 so much
Why don't you do a poll and ask how many times you had to use the manufacture warranty and on what type and make of bike. With 65k subscribers you would get a good feel for what bike & manufactures are building good bikes and what those bikes are? Just a thought?
hahahaa...owned 23 version for over 6mths, on road awesome, off road awesome, muddy is a session bike yoga.
key points, do touch the ground if in doubt power out.
At 6.6” there is only one offroad capable choice, nothing comes close to the big ktm. Sounds amazing too
At 201 cm bit on a smaller size for me. But for me beeing that tall and heavy (140kg) it's just a true 450 for offroad.
I'm 6"4 and definitely looking at the Ktm 1290 SAS, as a second bike, not sure how's it going to go with my knees, but only after a test ride will I come to a conclusion.
Tough call, Aaron. Hope it works out well. I figure if it feels like too much then a lower seat and suspension setup would have to help? My dad was riding until 86 despite a bad hip. The Goldwing weighed a ton but the seat was so low he could keep vertical easily. But he could barely keep a V-strom 650 upright at traffic lights despite the much lighter weight.
Just yesterday I dragged home a low K Yamaha Tenere, the 1200. It's my idea of the great Australian [Adventure] touring bike. Supremely comfortable, will effortlessly cross this country via bitumen or decent dirt roads. The idea however of taking it off-road, or the big KTM, and a bunch of other similar bikes I think is just a little silly. When stuff goes wrong on a big bike, it can go very wrong indeed. I appreciate that the bikes exist, but only for the one in a hundred guys who can actually use them to their potential, without killing themselves [ as highlighted ]. I run an EXC500 for the off-road stuff, and am sufficiently honest with myself to realize that throwing a ton of money at something like a 1290 [ soon to be 1390! ] is wasted funds. Sometimes more is actually a lot less.....
100% agree, there's increasing promotion of pro level riders doing off-road stunts on these 1000cc or bigger bikes that is probably influencing some guys to buy these and try some dirt riding... 🤔
…but will it tow my caravan?!
I had the BMW 1200 for a while and wished I had a dirt bike. Currently have a CRF. Looking forward to a 450MT review as it seems to be ticking all the boxes with the features of a modern bike with the price and power of a DR.
😂
More is more on tarmac, less is more on the dirt! There has to be compromise somewhere unfortunately, the unicorn bike doesn't exist.... YET!! XD
Good point! At a certain point any extra horsepower on dirt roads is just wheelspin...
Fuel pumps are a big failure point on KTM adventure bikes! Super common issue. I had to replace mine almost immediately after buying my (used) 1190, which only had 13k miles on it at the time. At least it's so common that it's easy to find how-to videos, ha!
I also found that the taller windscreens just cause more buffeting and ended up switching to a short screen instead, which gives pretty clean air flow on my head/shoulders. I'm big and 6'3" so that might be part of the issue...but these bikes are so damn tall, it does help being big and tall to ride one!
Hmmm...oh, the stock airbox isn't great, and it's also a real pain to get to, bit of a process removing all the plastics and gas tank to access it.
I have the standard Adventure with 19/17 rims and it's great on forest roads, yet I can also do long distance touring and also mostly keep up with my buddies who both ride MT09s. That said, I do miss my ol DR350SE and DRZ when it comes to actual dirt riding. I haven't had the gnarly knobbies or the confidence to single track the big KTM! It does have some pretty great suspension that handles those forest service roads really well even when they're potholed and washboarded though.
Good feedback Casey, I'll put some of that in the pinned first comment!
it would be easier to list non-failure points on ktms at this point....
I have an 890 adventure r and think it’s amazing. 1290 looses the edge because of it’s weight and size but is a great all
Rounder and road bike.
All subjective I guess.
is all about use case and some of what you like. i fuckin love my AT DCT. But according to interweb haters im doing something impossible cuz im enjoyiong the shit out of her offroad 😂😂
Yep, I'm always surprised by the haters when someone fits a Rekluse to their bike. Or a super light Clake clutch.
Mate of mine bought one last year and dusted the motor, he found out the dealer didn’t install pre filters as per KTM’s instructions and ended up getting a replacement bike.
🤣🤣 thats so ktm. had ktm dealer in warsaw fuck up literall oil change for my old lc8. not even kidding, they overfilled it with oil ;
Damn!
I think it would be nice if ktm came up with an in between size. They have the 390 but then it skips up the the 790. If they made something like a 490 I think that would be much more enjoyable. Little passing power yet not so heavy off road
They seem to have sold some of their designs to CF Moto who are now selling the 450MT. Perhaps KTM will then do their own version? Ideally I'd love to see them do an adventure version of the 500EXCF but it would cost a bundle.
I’m patiently waiting for the Kove 450 rally.
I got to ride one a lot last month in Canada. I've already got a review on this channel based on all the riding my Canadian cousins have done on three 450 Rallys. I'll be doing a review soon. It will pretty much line up with everything they said.
@@crosstrainingadventure that would be a perfect mix. But like you said it will cost you to have it lol the CF moto is still to new for me to trust it. I have ridden a lot of those Chinese Honda clones and they seem to be pretty reliable so I’m anxious to see the longevity of the CF moto
I have an 890R and I am 100% certain it is the biggest bike I can and should try to use, for the off road work I prefer. I am drawn to the 1290R, nonetheless.
No problems with the camshaft, Curtis? I was just reading about a small but significant number of 890s are getting premature wear...
@@crosstrainingadventure my bike only has 4000 miles. So I haven’t checked. Yeah there’s a huge problem with the cams. lol. My buddy had to replace them on his 790 at the major service around 18 k.
@@crosstrainingadventure Oh, and I have a 2019 Super Adventure S, which I love. Up to 18k miles, it has been essentially faultless, and always makes me smile while I ride. Unfortunately, 9 days before my biggest riding trip of the year, it won't start so it's in the shop with one of those electronic gremlins you mentioned. These KTMs are a little bit finicky but dang they're fun. Cheers.
There is a bike for everyone now. I don't need 160hp dirt bike but I do like these bikes an awful lot 😂
As always, love your reviews and your opinions. I personally own a 1090 and the new 1300 GS. Looking at the 1290 as well. I can say that the fit and finish of the BMW is so superior to the KTM, I’m shocked that the KTM cost what it cost. It seems there should be a minimum of a $10,000 price difference between the two. The KTM is plastic and it feels it. BMW feels dramatically more top-heavy. I find that odd do to the the configuration of the engine. It must be the fuel tank. Suspension is absolutely miserable the BMW. The suspension of the KTM is superior until you jump the bike. If you are jumping the bike, the BMW excels. The comfort on the KTM is quite a bit better as are the ergonomics. The KTM feels much smaller and lighter. The wheels on the BMW are dramatically more durable. Overall, the BMW is a better bike, but it just doesn’t feel natural or something. Clutch pull is dramatically harder. The brakes are much more sensitive, stopping hard, but very wooden feeling. The seat is much more uncomfortable putting a lot of pressure on the middle part of your body, the controls of the KTM are very cheap and plastic feeling, overall it kind of looks like the entire assembly was built in China while the BMW has typical German fit and finish. If you’re going to spend money accessorizing the Bikes, the BMW will be at better motorcycle but you will need to spend an additional $7000 or so setting it up. Where is the KTM you could probably get away with $5000. If you push the KTM hard at all, you’re going to have to replace the wheels and you still have to get the suspension revalved and fix a lot of the little things like air filters, dongles and such. BMW really has to have suspension fixed. (No solution at the moment) The problem is you cannot revalve the suspension you have to have it replaced, which is a little over $5000. The seat is absolutely horrible by comparison and I am not that picky. You can’t fix things like clutch pull or the top heavy feel.
Really interesting comparison! I find the notes on the quality of components interesting as I'm sure KTM gets plenty of stuff made in China now to maximise profits. But then again BMW is doing the same thing to som extent e.g. some complete engines have been made in China by Loncin for years now. But perhaps BMW insists on a higher overall quality of any Chinese made components? gearshifters.org/bmw/which-bmw-motorcycle-engines-are-made-in-china/
@@crosstrainingadventurethat is interesting. Obviously we have seen that China can make quality products when given the opportunity to do so. I think maybe what I am trying to say is that the KTM controls seem like typical Chinese quality and the BMWs feel like German quality even if built in China :-). Furthermore, it's not just the controls, is things like the castings for the handlebar clamps. Anything that is plastic, you can see where it came out of the mold and the edges were not trimmed perfectly. There's little scraps, so to speak,on the edges. Little things like the kickstand is almost a work of art on the BMW while the KTM's is completely unremarkable. Makes absolutely no difference in it's function but you can tell a lot of effort went into one and it was almost an afterthought on the other. It's kind of interesting thinking about this. I think we can all agree that a Bentley is better quality than a Ford but yet for most people the Bentley would not fit their lifestyle and their needs very well. I kind of feel like the BMW is this way. I feel like it's a dramatically higher quality machine. Everything about its quality is superior. Yet I don't know that it fits everybody's lifestyle or riding style where I feel the KTM will work great for almost everyone. Thanks for keeping me entertained and informed for years! Hope you have a great day!
I had two GS 1200, and one KTM 1290 SAR, and for me, the conform of 5he KTM is much better.
I need more cuz my 650 XR is just way too small
Less is more.
PS, I think it was a mistake on KTM's part to cancel the 450 twin. CFMoto is selling all they can build, and I'm sure it would be equally popular in Orange with a 5000 dollar premium (though no better in any respect)
yup, 450 twin would make too much sense. it couldn't existed. Manufacturers are in plot to not get too close to rally bike/ unicorn.
im not even joking, look how they all avoid middle capacity adv bikes like fire, they do EVERYTHING BUT 500-700 twins. only 300 fart can toys and then immediately big adv bikes, nothing in between.
Look how much potential was in 690 platform, it was so obvious it would make amazing adv bike. but no. nothing. they will sell you stupid 450 rally replice for cost of small house.
Thankfully theres Kove in this madness
Barry - another awesome vid. Less is more (ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY SUZUKI DR 650 !!!) - I don't recall you mentioning the cost - but none the less - In my warped ass opinion - That's a bike for "Posers" - Like a Beemer, Harley, etc. - My happy place is out in the AZ desert - and you NEVER, EVER see these off road - and in the last 10 years or so - 1 KLR.... It's like these $90,000 Jeeps with all kinds of shit - LED Lights, nifty suspension, etc.... Out in the desert... NOPE - HAHAHA - But GOD they look great at Star Bucks !!!!
Cheers Mate !!!!
I was thinking of putting the cost in but I'd need to research the prices in at least five countries and try to work out if it's including all taxes and road registration or not. 😒 I'm kinda with you. I very occasionally see guys trying to ride these on rougher tracks but it's rare!
Cheers OBI! Very few of the larger bikes out on the trails here ( unless the are riding and filming for TH-cam) 🤡🤡🤡😂😂😂
I’ll stick to my DR650. Commonly referred to as the European motorcycle recovery unit.
😂👍
Big adventure bikes are excellent road bikes that can do easy offroad ok, I wouldn’t pick a ktm though because of reliability issues.
I have a 990 adventure and love it, but it is to big for may 61 years old chassis kkk The 1290 would be ridiculous to me.
I have CRF 1000 Africa Twin and I am swapping for a 1290 R, simply because I do not have respect for the Africa Twin anymore and I think that is dangerous.
How so?
Can’t help thinking that all the electrical stuff is unnecessary.
For some guys it really float their boat. I prefer KISS!
Those BMW jokes never get old.
😁
KTM is a lot cheaper to purchase than Triumph where I live.
I never can figure out the need for cruse control on an "adventure" bike. Unless your only adventure is on high speed freeway... Worthless bling imho.?
Unless like me, the good dirt/forest tracks are 4 hours away and the great ones are 9 hours away. Don’t like the idea of a truck and trailer to get my bike to where I want to ride.
Wide range of opinions for sure. Some love it, others hate the idea. Personally I want minimal electronics and doodads on my bikes so there's less to go wrong when you are a gazillion miles from anywhere.
If you’re doing any proper off-road, smaller is better.
If you just want to ride dirt roads, then the big ktm might be ok.
General rule of thumb though, the older you the smaller the bike should be.
Also, if you can’t pick it up yourself, it’s too big imo.
So true, I'm aiming for lighter bikes the older I get. Unless I decide to avoid rough tracks for adventure riding in the future... in which case I might aim for something like the T7.
I'm holding out for that DR1500 thumper you show in some of your videos lol.
😂
dodgy driveway overkill...right on
Nah, too many of those horse's power things for me. I'd hit the dumb switch and loop it out or something of similar talent 🙂
I can't understand the review, if you are tall this bike is horrible for you. The pegs are way too close to the seat and it looks like they can't lowered easily, I am 6'7" and this bike is way worse than a 890 or T7.
To me 'tall' is somewhere around six foot. I'd say at six foot seven you are getting freakishly tall. 😗 We don't have anyone that tall in our group to try and assess every bike from that angle.
Electronics and adventure don't go together I'm afraid. Too much to go wrong.
Not a bike for me. Too expensive, too tall, too heavy and more electronics than I need. I own 2, 990 ADV in the past. But as I get older,(63) my bikes are getting smaller. XR650L, 300L Rally, CB500X and waiting for delivery of a CFMOTO 450 Ibex. Light makes right. Do more with less.
Same here
Too big, complicated and too much electronics
Yep I prefer something a bit more basic for riding in remote areas. The DR650 doesn't even have radiators or fuel injection lol.
And then after twelve thousand kilometers, you need new camshafts and valves, no thanks
Do you mean the 790/890? That's definitely a known issue with some. But the 1290 doesn't seem to have any issues with this.
@@crosstrainingadventure He spreads false information. We recently had three 790/890 adventures on service checking the camshafts (ODO from 15-30 k), and the shafts on all three bikes were good as new.
way to heavy ....to much electronic schnick schnack......what can fail will fail....
Thanks for saying damper and not dampener. I don't need to know your level of moistness
😂 And of course damper is an old type of bread in Australia made on the fire with non-raising flour...
I do really crazy shit with a GS, those beast go anywhere.