Honda if you just want to ride somewhere, KTM if you want to hang with the other fanboys in the dealer service waiting area discussing what kickass bikes you own 😅
yeah good one, been all across Europe from Portugal to Turkey, Albania to Estonia, Scandinavia and even Morrocco with my KTM, not so bad for a fanboy bike eh? 😉
I had an adv sport manual with manual suspension 2021. I then got a 2022 for ktm 1290 adv r. The twin was a great bike. The ktm was more powerful obviously but the build quality wasn't there and with it having issues with oil pressure lights and a noise in the engine on start up due to oil pressure. I gave it back and got the last 2022 890 adv r and the blanace in cash back and again issues. Clocks fogging in the first week. Front break disc warped in 5000kms other small issues, oh and an oil pressure warning again on this bike flashing for a second every now and then on start up. Just didn't imspire confidance. I gave up on the new ktm bikes and am collecting a new africa twin adv sport 2023 manual with manual suspension this week.
I hope that the new Africa Twin will be doing better than the KTMs and I've also heard about the reliability issues and seen some on the R shown in this video too. It's such a pity but it may scare many of us off indeed. Huge thanks for sharing this as having a motorcycle is often associated with the amount of fun we can have with it, and constant worrying falls far away from fulfilling that.
@@VToldsMotoShow Well said and I think this is an often woefully misunderstood or at least under-appreciated fact. It's also so personal, one person may never think about a break down/issue, most never even experience one, and some would never be able to fully enjoy a machine again after the first issue leaves them stranded. We're all unique!
I've only just found this guys channel and I'm honestly blown away...he does a better job at presenting than the rest and it's not even his first language. Really impressed mate 👏
To Me reliability is everything. Will rather just service & drive rather than having My bike in the workshop. Not to mention on a long Safari to those distant countries…Nothing beats Honda reliability & dealer networks globaly. The rest is choosing between apples & oranges… The Power Of Dreams ❤️
I guess that at a single bike level, it largely depends. Statistically Honda likely does better here than KTM. And yeah, Africa Twin may also break down - I just saw Andreas' comment and also heard about some issues with a display for example. Still, judging just by a common opinion, Honda might be a safer choice in this regard.
I've not ridden either yet but the idea of a low stressed reliable engine that can run on most fuel types and tuned for low down torque rather than needing to rev up the engine the whole time seems more appealing for how I ride. Some parts of the world I rode my GS800 like in Laos you cant even get 81 octane fuel. And looks I'd pick the AT any day Iver the KTM. I do like the color orange though 😂
I ditched the Africa and bought the KTM R and it was the best decision ever, I was growing continuously annoyed with so many aspects on Africa, now riding the KTM is such a joy and I´m so satisfied. Also I never had a slightest technical problem being over 25 kkm now.
Cześć! Chcę zrobić to co Ty ale boję się awaryjności. Kolega ma ktm super adventure 1290 s i czeka juz 2 miesiące na nowy amortyzator i jeszcze nie dostał. Przy hondzie trzyma mnie dct co Ciebie denerwowalo w hondzie? Chciałbym też podjąć najlepszą decyzje w swoim życiu... i kupić dzika ma moc armaty zachlysnolem sie nią...
I have the 1290 SAR, with 11.000 km on the clock, with no issue so far, and it feels rock solid. Before this one, I had the 890 Adventure S, 20.000 km, no issue. So from my own experience, KTM reliability is ok. I believe that nowadays KTM’s reliability being crap is much more of an urban legend than facts.. Of course, Honda is probably better in that departement. Also keep in mind that KTM is “ready to race”.... and probably ridden much harder that Honda’s in general. That influences surely the number of failures reported here and there 🤔
Had the 890 Adv for a year and around 15.000 km. Sold it because of problems with the engine & eletronics. The Ktm dealer wasnt able to help me. Bought the AT Standard and its an amazing bike!
Thanks for sharing. It's scary hearing such stories of reliability issues spoiling so much fun and eventually making you and others switch to other brands because of that. I'm sorry to hear that but since you've found a replacement that you're happy with, it's a happy ending!
I'm saving for an ATAS. I currently have a KTM 1290. It's sensational, absolutely crazy engine. But, I'm ready to give up the horsepower to gain relax and reliability. I'm so fed up with the issues with KTM and bad network of garages. I think they don't perform any quality checks on their vendors. I give up on buying KTM's...
And this is one common fear here. If you're actually experiencing some technical difficulties, then I'm sorry to hear that. Honda may be better if you're lucky. However, from the sheer number of comments about Honda's reliability and about KTM's it seems as though statistically you'd be safer in this area with Honda Africa Twin.
Dear V-Told, The KTM SAR is an excellent proposal to rent for a weekend or even, a full week, of full pleasure of riding in and off-road. But between these two bikes if the possible choice was only to buy one of them, I would go for the AT.👍🏻
That might make comparisons closer yet when one buys a new bike, they come with the tires that the manufacturer chose as the best-fitting, so I believe it's best to stick to that. I've never replaced tires on a bike until they would just get worn out and so I believe that many other riders follow that too. So yeah, I'm taking the bikes as they are from the factory.
I have read good write ups for the Africa twin. However I own a KTM1290 SAS. I think the S model is the better compromise for most owners unless you do real dirt riding. The S model has the electronic suspension, adaptive cruise control , anti dive and lots more. It is easy to ride slow and causes a lot of unhappy sport bike riders as my dirty adventure bike can blow there doors off. Fast tar seal twisty's are just awesome.I ride a lot of gravel roads which are a lot of fun and easy. wheel sizes are the same as a GS Beemer. If you ride a lot of gravel install dirt biased tires. If you want a smooth fun, fast, gravel road capable KTM, look very seriously at the 1290SAS, it you want to ride truly off road in the bush, single track, then look at the R model.
I love the idea of an electronically adjustable suspension and specifically the anti-dive function in the S model. But I personally find the riding position and low speed steering and handling more enjoyable on the R. I wouldn't take either for any serious offroading but likely yes, an R might be better-specced for that. Thanks a lot for sharing!
I had AT DCT from 2021 and it got stolen some weeks ago. Bought 1290 SAS now. As someone who did 24.000km on my AT i can tell you that the build quality of Honda is not like it was before. My bike had oil leaks twice, touchscreen didnt work 80% of the time, the windshield is wobbly and if u buy aftermarked u will notice, that all ATs have bad mounting points for it. You NEED a forkshild, since the wind tourbulances that are coming from the fork are crazy, they are strong enough to open my helmet visor after 150km/h. And dont forget the most commong failure in ATs : they cant drive straight with no hands and its a well known issue in AT forums. I hope to have less problems with 1290 SAS now :D
Interesting point about the windshield and the source of turbulences! I'm definitely not used to anyone mentioning Africa Twin's defects so surely this is very interesting to read, so thanks for sharing! Let's keep our fingers crossed for the SAS ;). Cheers!
The name does have appeal and we're all influenced by brands, myself included. Africa Twin may be cool to own even as a name - I agree. It's like with a Ford Mustang. But "the best", nah, nothing here is simply the best.
My KTM 1090 R (2017 model bought in 2018 with a 4 years warranty extension) suffered from a cooling liquid leak which appeared in 2023, at 22000 km, on the front of the radiator. Despite the fact that there were absolutely no trace of shock or scratch on the radiator nor its optional protection cover, KTM Belgium refused to take this failure under warranty. So even if my KTM is undoubtedly more fun to ride than the Africa Twin, my next bike will be the Queen instead of the 1290 R. Well done KTM Belgium!
Ive been riding both the 1290 r and own the Crf1100l adventure sport ES myself, I agree with most of your point. With the low speed maneuver for the AT, I've found out if you increase the preload and changing the suspension to off-road mode the handling will improve significantly. If you change the damping to hard setting the AT will be more precise and less heavy in very slow speed handling but we have to sacrify in little bit of plushness.
Interesting. I owned both of these bikes at the same time since I couldn't decide which I liked better. After just over a year with both, I definitely agree that the KTM is much more exciting to ride and massively faster. However, I ended up selling the KTM because the reliability and overall feel of the Africa Twin won me over. I did end up with a DCT model AT and I'm still not sure about whether I like it or not. I have over 55 years riding experience with quite a few years in the middle racing motocross and some flat track so using the clutch and shifting gears are something that literally come automatic to me. I'd probably not go with the DCT, but that's just me. I've had no problems with it.
Right, they are different and it's a lot about personal preference. At the moment I would be close to disqualifying BMW R 1250 GS just because of the way it sounds. Some cannot live with KTM due to a fear of malfunctions (this affects me myself too thinking about this brand). So definitely it's a personal thing an even the tinies details can be deciding factors. Thanks a lot for sharing! Not always do we see someone who may share with us a head-to-head experience with having both at the same time.
Why would one need 1290 in the city? Isn't it really that much better than a lighter, more agile and narrower supermotard? As an open road bike, its usable range is not that one would expect. Being on a heavier side at takeoffs with not the best engine from the bottom end, it develops strange wobbling at higher speeds too which actually leaves fun only for mid range. Reliability with this machine is much like a Russian roulette, no good way to predict which shot to expect when pulling trigger at dealerships.
Ah yes, the reliability issues are heard of more and more indeed. I personally like the 1290 engine a lot but I'm just a type of rider that likes to roll the throttle wide open from time to time. As for the model, I find it quite pleasant to ride in the city as it filters well, I sit high and can see well, and its size makes me feel a bit safer anyway. But what in fact would do the job, would be a 125cc moped to filter the traffic. It's just like with cars - why get a BMW X5 if parking and navigating through narrow streets would be easier in a Fiat 500, right? Thanks for the input!
Ktm SAdv. "R" It's my bike!! I have Been ridend lots of bikes and I would not change it for any other!! All of them are nice !! But mine! Ktm it's simply the Best! 😊
I have the KTM 1290 SAS, a friend of mine, after a long ride together on the Dolomites where we live, in which we exchanged the bikes for a lot of km, decided to sell the AT after the ride, to buy the KTM...😉
Which one won't let you down and which one will be going back to the dealer for repairs? I have my thoughts but I wouldn't want to upset any KTM fans 😁
At first I ordered ATAS but after changed my mind and went with KTM SAR… didn’t regret for a second. KTM is waaaay more capable and more fun to ride. Plenty of power…
@mislavmrsic1128, I thought the same thing... until my radiator leaked at 22,000 km (1090 R), failure which was not covered by the warranty (expired less than a year ago). And guess what: the new radiator is no longer a White Power but a no-name Chinese crap (official KTM part). Quality has been getting worse and worse since Bajaj Motorcycles took a 49% stake in 2007. My next one will be the Queen.
@mislavmrsic1128 , Of course I love my KTM, she just doesn't love me as I love her. I know the Queen (Honda AT) feels like an electric prop instead of a rocket booster, but at the time I sold my previous AT 750, she had been driven over 50,000 km without the slightest incident. That's more than twice the distance at which I recently experienced a serious mechanical failure with my KTM (radiator front leak). So what will happen next ?...
As gas prices around the globe increase, I feel the Africa Twin is the winner since it can run on just about anything. No need for premium. The 1290 is an absolute weapon, but it's too powerful for the trail, and not the most practical sport tourer. I feel the Honda strikes a good balance of more off-road bias and acceptable on the road. I'm still debating on the Norden 901 Expedition and the Africa Twin Standard Manual. Close in price. Closer comparison too IMO. One thing Honda really dropped the ball on is the button navigation and complex UI. It should have been much easier to navigate and change. Also should have saved settings when you start it so you don't have to wait for the screen to boot up to turn off ABS again
It might really be worth to take a closer look at the Norden 901. KTM 890 Adventure is a crazy machine so this Husqvarna being based on it, may be very, very interesting indeed.
@@VToldsMotoShow funny you say that, I picked up a Norden 901 a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. Couldn't find an Africa Twin anywhere close by and someone handed me their keys to their 890 Adventure. After that test drive I started comparing the 890 Adventure R and the Norden. Chose comfort and value over extra capability but wow I am still blown away by it's performance. After 70-80k of 2 wheel miles over the years I feel I've taken things to a whole new level.
@@marcochavane3124the 2023 twins don’t exist just due to supply chain issues unfortunately…good luck with the Norden..I’m in the owners group for them and all I saw was everyone posting a bunch of issues. Not confident in one so I’ll wait for the 2024 Twins and see what they’ve done
@@pulsartech2945 Just about any motorcycle group will have users posting issues, nothing definitive there. Over 4,000 miles in just a few months so far. Still getting down the road. If Honda has supply chain issues, then why are they still for sale everywhere else and why did they never communicate that clearly with US customers?
@@marcochavane3124 no idea why the didn’t communicate it but that’s what I read. Supply chain issues so they chose to prioritize Europe and other countries where the demand for the bike is higher which makes sense. Last year, my local dealers all had at least 2 DCT and 2 manual Africa twins as carryover from 2021 plus they had a couple ‘22s How are you liking the Norden? It’s at the very end of my list but I may still consider it, the people in the group are just posting issues that are hard for me to get over and issues that made the owners stranded and that’s the last thing I want
This is the perefect compare to me as a buyer! A couple of months ago I sold my BMW 850GS ADV and these two bikes have been on my sight since that...But for me is already more complicated; I have tried out these two for over 200 km to decide which one is the best for me and Im actually very divided. In one hand I have the guarantee of Honda ATAS DCT ("Honda is honda" said the experts on my socials), the only technical issue I've heard from this bike it the gear selector (only one case I've noticed), the rest of people I've talked about the bike are excited with it. In the other hand, I like the 1290R as well, but I heard A LOT of people arguin of the electronic problems KTM have (some people close to me, a lot of mentions on the net, forums...) I tried a demo bike from my local dealer and the electronic suspension did an error on the same proof, so I've lost the hype for this bike a little bit (but still on my sight). I usually use my bike to travel a lot, some off some on-road (50/50), but the KTM community is amazing (events, logs, etc) compared to Honda. And I dont want to anticipate my selection for loosing some of those things... Is KTM profitable nowadays or only a product which needs to be tested for a couple of years more?
Great thing that I learned and confirmed about KTM is that they actually care - the faulty design of the indicator switch has actually been fixed in 2023 models and on. So they've got room, will and resources to adapt. I've heard about issues with Africa's touch screen for example. Every bike will have some of its issues. Statistically, we hear about KTM's more. But is it confirmed? I don't think so. If I had an Africa Twin that I bought since I wanted a peace of mind, I wouldn't shout about its malfunctions on social media. But nothing is perfect. I experienced some issues on this particular KTM and I haven't noticed any on an Africa Twin. But so I haven't on a BMW R 1250 GS, so if you're torn between those two, check out the GS and it may turn out to be a sweet spot.
@@VToldsMotoShow GS is not on my mind already. Why? Point number 1, Im coming from GS, and don't missunderstand me, I was in love with my GS (there are other reasons why Im switch bike to an ATAS or SAR). Point number 2 and more important/related to, Im looking for a bike destined to dust, off-road, some adventures out of the common roads, and these two were the best I found for myself. I've tried the KTM 890, Ducati Dessert X, Multiestrada V4, GS 1250 (ADV or not), HD Panam, Yamaha Tenere 700, and obviously the KTM SAR 1290 and ATAS DCT. These last ones, are perfect to me, I felt so confortable in these two; I fell in love with KTM quickshifter, torque, engine and the distribution of weight (don't forget Im coming from a 850GS ADV, so obv I like the 21' a lot). In the other hand, ATAS DCT was the cleverest bike I've ridden probably in my whole life, again the weight distribution, the grip between my knees (Im 6,3), the handlebar was perfect, the engine is smooth (for off 163HP from KTM are crazy but not a dissapoint XD, compared to 100HP of ATAS which are perfect to me). The problem as I mention, Im conscious that every bike is a 50/50, probabilities of issues, but there is a major group on KTM as you said, statistically. Today I was talking with my local dealer and he said to one phrase Im thinking about; "163 HP are not necessary for off road, and even in road you will not be able to do anything over 150km/h with a 21' front wheel" (I wanna add Im very adventurer but responsible at the same time, so I've never go so fast with no ones of my bikes, and I won't do). So, there is, buy an ATAS DCT with mind, or buy a 1290 SAR with heart? Reliable ATAS vs Power KTM? Thanks for answer, love you content and your opinions about some bikes! Cheers!
Sorry my DCT AT is perfect at slow soeeds . Filtering just dab ya rear brake to control. Its superb at handling . KTM it a good bike but the AT is better made IMO
I'm afraid that there cannot be any "perfect" here. Yet what only matters is whether one's happy with their bike and if you are, then this is great and exactly the way it should be.
On my third year with my -20 1290 S. I love it, fuel efficient and torque that blows the Honda away all the way from idle. Done 2 long 8000 km holiday tips with it, and i could not think of any better. The only thing i would want is the DCT.
I had a ‘22 AT-AS/ES and currently have a ‘23 KTM 1290 SA-R. I ride a mix of twisty roads and single track plus some rocky hilly terrain. That said I love the manual suspension on the KTM vs electronic suspension on the AT. It allows me to fine tune it for when I hit the single track. The KTM hands down beats the AT off road in handling and ease of picking up😄. To shorten this up a lot, the KTM is very exciting to ride and the AT is boring, EXCEPT, off road. The one thing I love more about the AT is being able to run regular unleaded gas instead of having to hunt down premium fuel in rural towns. Not too sure on the reliability and only time will tell, but I’m not too concerned. Great video, your previous couple 1290 videos were also very informative and aided me in getting my 1290😎🤘
Thanks for sharing all this and I'm glad that you're enjoying your Super Adventure R. Both may have their strong points so here it very much is up to what one is seeking in a bike. As a fun fact - the fuel topic is completely not the case here in Europe where any sort of petrol would be called "premium" in comparison to low-octane fuels in the US for example :). Also, I'm happy that you've found the videos helpful!
If you mainly just ride in the city I wouldn't get either of these bikes. A high capacity scooter like the BMW C650GT or similar would be the best bike for urban use. I own the 2020 ATAS ES DCT and have put around 30,000 kms on it so I know very well how that one handles, but the KTM is known to be far more powerful if you want to do any sort of racing or super aggressive riding. The ATAS has plenty of offroad engineering but is also a long distance country highway style cruiser too. I just did a 9300 km trip with it and it did a fine job handling high winds, heavy rain, long stretches of construction gravel and potholes. By default the ATAS has a soft suspension setup, but it can be easily stiffened up with a few touches on the screen if you want it that way. The bike is a bit top heavy and is more suited to tall riders. Don't get this bike if you are shorter than 5'10". The android/apple auto tech features are difficult to get working, even if you are tech-savvy, but even if you do, the functions are really not necessary just to have music and on-screen GPS. You are right, the seat is brutally hard and usually one of the first things an owner will replace. I haven't tried bar risers on it yet for offroad trails but I do find the standup position to be uncomfortable for someone my height (6ft) I feel particularly hunched down and cannot stand comfortably at all, it becomes extremely stressful on the legs to ride offroad in that position for any length of time. The brakes on the twin are adequate in most situations. I've had to do a few emergency stops at higher speed and although it groans and cries out, if done properly balanced between front and rear, will stop the bike with good control (on pavement). As for fuel, I use S2 to drive everywhere and drive very casually and safely, with that style, travelling country highways I get around 350 kms out of it's 25L tank. Don't listen to guys that claim they can get twice that, it's not true. 🤣
Huge thanks for the input. I believe that one of the purposes of these is exactly to do well in all sorts of circumstances. I enjoyed the KTM a lot in the city. High position, great control at low speeds and fairly narrow handlebar does the job phenomenally. Actually, mentioning a scooter, an analogy of car vs public transportation came into my mind. If one just wants to change the location, both will do it. But in the car you may get much more fun at the same time. The same applies here in adv bikes vs a scooter case I think.
I'd give it an 8,5 out of 10 because of my personal preference and lovely engine and great low speed control but likely it's more like 7-7,5 taking into account how I judge other motorcycles trying to put my preferences as far aside as I can.
@@VToldsMotoShow I had to put a rally seat on mine to free up some crotch space to give me a little more leg room, and evo-4 foot pegs, and a SAS style windscreen to make my 2022 KTM Super Adventure R to my comfort.
Honda ATAS, I run my '21 on cheap 87 Octane. I hate the seat, feels cramped on long rides, but just ordered a high seat and hope that makes the difference.
@nertkychhuom3678 It is softer, and it sits a bit higher in the high position. I have some more leg room and more comfortable for the legs.It is not as stable in this high position as the original seat. It wobbles a little, and is as stubborn as the low seat was to put in the high position. Is it worth 200 dollars? It helps, but there has to be a better option for this bike. A one-piece seat that sat higher and is softer would be ideal, but I do not think that product exists. I am 6' 1/2" or 185cm.
The slow manouvering handling, maybe u can adjust the handlebar for better handling... handlebars r not a for-all- to-fit design... some of us have longer arms n torso... it affects drastically rider to rider
I'm not finding this as a direct cause in this case but likely a mix of many factors together results in specific riding characteristics. Would a handlebar swap on an Africa help? Perhaps up to some point it could have an effect. But overall I doubt a meaningful improvement.
I sold it a few years ago and then got another car also with a big petrol V8, but this time it's an SUV and I believe it's not as unusual/interesting to show and play with. But what a great car that Volvo is!
One would typically select either bike for touring purposes. In such case reliability is cornerstone and that aspect was not well presented in this video.
Cześć! Niestety mam metlik w głowie czy zmieniac swoją ATAS 1000 DCT na ww ktm. Jezdzilem nim i przy moich 2m wzrostu idealne moto ale ptzy hondzie trzyma mnie dct. Natomiast tyle adrenaliny conktm honda mi nie daje.
Not on the DCT nor the Adventure Sports, but I am also nowhere near a pro and can get this big ol' girl up and down some gravel roads with a bit of haste. Truthfully, the 1290 is probably better, I know for a fact the 21 Africa Twin I have could not compete with a 890 Adventure R I road on the same trail when it comes to tougher double track. Alot came done to suspension but IMO the AT is not designed for it, give it gravel roads and long curvy stretches of pavement though and listen to the twin's soundtrack, that there is perfection :)
@@VToldsMotoShow It's chinase (I know...) brand that partners with KTM. I am highly considering buying the model 800mt touring right now. It's got very good reviews so far and it's price is very competitive. I think its closest similar bike might be v-strom 1050. I would love to see you talk about this bike, if you get a chance to test it. Your reviews are great!
This is common believe but should be backed-up with facts... from my experience, I rode 30 k km with KTM, with absolutely no significative issue. So putting away this question about reliability, I definitively choose for the excitement of the SAR 1290. Aldo I Iove thé AT as well.
3 % cheaper the Africa? You forget that you must change the exhaust in ktm. 700-900 euro more so? And the manual gear is better than DCT in town, I think not.
Taking the exhaust into account, it may differ but then there are also extra options and accessories that you may be willing to pay for in either of them. And well, most riders won't likely replace the exhaust on the KTM I believe.
With DCT in the game - that could be true indeed. Still, then there are other options that would be even more different and present an extremely different approach.
Performance-wise perhaps it would make more sense indeed, but then in terms of size, model perception, the idea of being a top of the range bike, I believe Africa Twin may still be a match to the 1290 ;)
you for got maintenance and price and upgrades.. too me puts the honda way out front...30 years from now the honda will start, bikes that start are well designed..upgrades if buy the honda..the bike they way you like it.. no hidden cost to it..fast off road buy cr250 it kill both bikes
I can see you pictures with ktm so don't say you're not ktm guys. Any way you're very much tall enough for Africa higher seat position. Why do you have on lower ? It feels much better on higher seats' position. I did a long test ride all this big bike ktm , Gs and Tiger . But to be honestly, all rounder Africa twin, no doubt It's such a sexy looking, very capable and reliable 💯❤️ but still very underrated 19:47
Africa Twin seems intimidating to me so I felt more like at home with the seat low. Haven't even thought about trying it in the taller position. About my profile picture - I've got to put something there. It's the S variant despite my preference of the R, so it's not relevant as to fanboying here. I believe that it's pretty clear in the video too.
I owned an Africa Twin 1100 dct for almost 12 months, I now have the BMW 1250GS ADVENTURE RALLYE If your doing a REAL WORLD REVIEW of these bikes for what they are intended, the im sorry but the Africa Twin DCT Adventure Sport wins , its the only bike of these 3 that I would TRULY be comfortable going anywhere on as regards to reliability, dealerships, ease of handling and peace of mind . You mentioned slow speed handling and handling in the bends , the Honda handles well enough at slow speed but the KTM 1290 is awful plain and simple in bends and this is because of going TOO FAR with CG. Too low centre of gravity fcuks up handling, same as holding a broom by the handle on your finger , if you move the head of the broom down the shaft it gets harder to balance it when moving , equallibrium is lost 😉
Peace of mind could be a separate category, just very hard to describe the reasons for it. Cannot measure reliability even though I do believe that generally Honda has a better image in terms of reliability than KTM. I've dealt with 2 KTMs 1290 and 1 Honda Africa Twin. 1 KTM has some issues, 1 KTM was perfectly fine and 1 Africa Twin was perfectly fine. But this can only be judged by long-term owners who owned both KTM and Honda and have ridden them in similar way. Thanks for mentioning!
Not on those. Technically mostly because they're dealers' bikes and so damaging them is a pain in the ***, then they all always come on stock street tires, and finally because this simply will be happening: th-cam.com/video/_DBO6s64p0c/w-d-xo.html. I can do that on a dirt bike though and may actually enjoy.
How can you focus so much on city which is of marginal importance and not a second on OFFROAD THAT IS WHY YOU BUY AN ADV BIKE IF NOT STICK TO SPORTS BIKES 😡
Lol sorry just listening to your comments on tech , more specifically KTM tech lol 😢😢 It makes no difference how much tech you have when its blatantly unreliable, the KTM WILL BREAK DOWN and it will age poorly, also its market value will drop badly on the second hand market 😢
On the other hand it's cool when it works, I surely enjoyed. But in the end of the day there may be a question of "so is it worth it if we spend more time worrying about it?". It's also like with being rich? Is it better to be rich or not? If one is, they are afraid to get robbed, but during the times that they're not being robbed... well, it's cool ;). Not the best analogy, but perhaps somewhere there.
@@VToldsMotoShow Hahaha 😂 I'll have to take your word on the being rich analogy 🤣 But a head ache is always a headache, I suppose if your rich it won't matter as much lol As you may have 3 or 4 similar bikes to ride while your paid slave takes your brand new KTM back and forth to the dealer to be fixed but speaking from us mere mortals , its VERY DISAPPOINTING and frustrating to have to keep taking a new bike that you may have paid £20,000 for back and forth to a dealer that could be a long way from where you live and also leave you without your new bike 😔😔 And thats without even mentioning doing what the bike is marketed for , Travelling all over the world 😳😳 I just think in your position, to save some poor sap believing this bike is a better option than an Africa Twin and regretting it badly, then losing money hand over fist when poor sap tries to sell it , you could maybe mention, although this bike is very quick, its only quick when its running properly and that is not often!! And if you want trouble free riding and a far better trade in value plus everything the KTM offers other than drag racing we'd better get the Africa Twin?? 😉👍 KTM mechanics will be fine though. I'd say that would cover it ??
You are right to say that KTM looses value faster.... but this is typically the type of comment you propage that let believe KTM is unreliable, and therefore looses value fast over time. Have ever even had KTM’s? From my experience; 20:40 30.000 km with no issues!
@@christianmouraux7269 I have plenty of pals and pals in the trade , this is where I get my information, first hand !! Yes your right dragging this garbage into the open and putting it under the righteous scrutiny it deserves DOES DAMAGE RESALE VALUES and RIGHTLY SO !! Its bad enough that one muppet made the mistake of buying a pain in the arse without burdening some other poor sap with it , the only way to stop KTM and Harley and other companies putting out poorly made bikes like this , is by putting the SPOTLIGHT on them, showing these shitty companies up for what they are , start taking them to court, iv done it twice myself and won both times out of court ! By covering up these companies your only looking after yourself but making the bigger problem worse !! Man up and highlight bad bikes , direct people to good reliable and established brands !! People are putting themselves in dept to buy these bikes !!
For one your reviewing an adventure bikes but not taking them off road lol and secondly you state that the Africa twin is very top heavy yet the Africa twin is the best balanced bike in its class the weight is very low compared to its competitors. And 3rd if you took the Africa’s twin off-road (if you could ride in the dirt ) you would know it’s value over all other adventure bikes excluding the T7
I guess you’re not aware of the local traffic rules. Riding motorcycles and mopeds in the city is purely to save time and not to imitate cars standing in line. Check Spanish, Italian of Greek city traffic and imagine what it would look like if all those motorcycles and mopeds would stand behind cars in the jams one behind another. That’s why traffic rules allow for that. Same in my country.
I live in California where lane splitting is legal. The statistics show that you are more likely to be in a rear-end accident than from lane splitting. I’ve done rides through LA on expressways and lane splitting saved hours.
Honda if you just want to ride somewhere, KTM if you want to hang with the other fanboys in the dealer service waiting area discussing what kickass bikes you own 😅
Good one ;)
yeah good one, been all across Europe from Portugal to Turkey, Albania to Estonia, Scandinavia and even Morrocco with my KTM, not so bad for a fanboy bike eh? 😉
@@johnnyphaseHonda is more reliable sure. But its so so much boring compared to the ktm lol. That honda wont put a smile on my face.
@@Snotroggel453 But is it? In my experience you can't even wash it or it will rust itself out, leave it alone the oil consumption on the 1100
I had an adv sport manual with manual suspension 2021. I then got a 2022 for ktm 1290 adv r. The twin was a great bike. The ktm was more powerful obviously but the build quality wasn't there and with it having issues with oil pressure lights and a noise in the engine on start up due to oil pressure. I gave it back and got the last 2022 890 adv r and the blanace in cash back and again issues. Clocks fogging in the first week. Front break disc warped in 5000kms other small issues, oh and an oil pressure warning again on this bike flashing for a second every now and then on start up. Just didn't imspire confidance. I gave up on the new ktm bikes and am collecting a new africa twin adv sport 2023 manual with manual suspension this week.
I hope that the new Africa Twin will be doing better than the KTMs and I've also heard about the reliability issues and seen some on the R shown in this video too. It's such a pity but it may scare many of us off indeed. Huge thanks for sharing this as having a motorcycle is often associated with the amount of fun we can have with it, and constant worrying falls far away from fulfilling that.
@@VToldsMotoShow Well said and I think this is an often woefully misunderstood or at least under-appreciated fact. It's also so personal, one person may never think about a break down/issue, most never even experience one, and some would never be able to fully enjoy a machine again after the first issue leaves them stranded. We're all unique!
post your thoughts on how that africa works out for you…..
interested to know if the quality is there
I've only just found this guys channel and I'm honestly blown away...he does a better job at presenting than the rest and it's not even his first language. Really impressed mate 👏
To Me reliability is everything.
Will rather just service & drive rather than having My bike in the workshop. Not to mention on a long Safari to those distant countries…Nothing beats Honda reliability & dealer networks globaly.
The rest is choosing between apples & oranges…
The Power Of Dreams ❤️
in 22 month i had my AT it was 5 times in the workshop
I guess that at a single bike level, it largely depends. Statistically Honda likely does better here than KTM. And yeah, Africa Twin may also break down - I just saw Andreas' comment and also heard about some issues with a display for example. Still, judging just by a common opinion, Honda might be a safer choice in this regard.
I've not ridden either yet but the idea of a low stressed reliable engine that can run on most fuel types and tuned for low down torque rather than needing to rev up the engine the whole time seems more appealing for how I ride. Some parts of the world I rode my GS800 like in Laos you cant even get 81 octane fuel.
And looks I'd pick the AT any day Iver the KTM. I do like the color orange though 😂
Yeah, orange can be appealing but Honda is often liked for its design too. I like the Adventure Sports color scheme myself ;)
@@VToldsMotoShow Yup, bought a AT Adv Sport DCT this month
I found de africa twin more special and fun to drive even if its not as fast.
Thanks for sharing!
I ditched the Africa and bought the KTM R and it was the best decision ever, I was growing continuously annoyed with so many aspects on Africa, now riding the KTM is such a joy and I´m so satisfied. Also I never had a slightest technical problem being over 25 kkm now.
Thanks for sharing and unveiling that there are KTMs with no issues! It brings some hope to the table!
Cześć!
Chcę zrobić to co Ty ale boję się awaryjności. Kolega ma ktm super adventure 1290 s i czeka juz 2 miesiące na nowy amortyzator i jeszcze nie dostał. Przy hondzie trzyma mnie dct co Ciebie denerwowalo w hondzie?
Chciałbym też podjąć najlepszą decyzje w swoim życiu... i kupić dzika ma moc armaty zachlysnolem sie nią...
I have the 1290 SAR, with 11.000 km on the clock, with no issue so far, and it feels rock solid. Before this one, I had the 890 Adventure S, 20.000 km, no issue. So from my own experience, KTM reliability is ok. I believe that nowadays KTM’s reliability being crap is much more of an urban legend than facts.. Of course, Honda is probably better in that departement. Also keep in mind that KTM is “ready to race”.... and probably ridden much harder that Honda’s in general. That influences surely the number of failures reported here and there 🤔
Come on guys... Honda IS the best trail bike in reliable. Its the king
@@zaidlachiouech6487its also boring..
Had the 890 Adv for a year and around 15.000 km. Sold it because of problems with the engine & eletronics. The Ktm dealer wasnt able to help me. Bought the AT Standard and its an amazing bike!
Thanks for sharing. It's scary hearing such stories of reliability issues spoiling so much fun and eventually making you and others switch to other brands because of that. I'm sorry to hear that but since you've found a replacement that you're happy with, it's a happy ending!
I'm saving for an ATAS. I currently have a KTM 1290. It's sensational, absolutely crazy engine. But, I'm ready to give up the horsepower to gain relax and reliability. I'm so fed up with the issues with KTM and bad network of garages. I think they don't perform any quality checks on their vendors. I give up on buying KTM's...
And this is one common fear here. If you're actually experiencing some technical difficulties, then I'm sorry to hear that. Honda may be better if you're lucky. However, from the sheer number of comments about Honda's reliability and about KTM's it seems as though statistically you'd be safer in this area with Honda Africa Twin.
Dear V-Told,
The KTM SAR is an excellent proposal to rent for a weekend or even, a full week, of full pleasure of riding in and off-road. But between these two bikes if the possible choice was only to buy one of them, I would go for the AT.👍🏻
There would be more KTMs on the market left for me to buy then! :)
You would have to have a spec tire. Handling and what not is hard to go by when tires aren’t the same. Especially in this category.
That might make comparisons closer yet when one buys a new bike, they come with the tires that the manufacturer chose as the best-fitting, so I believe it's best to stick to that. I've never replaced tires on a bike until they would just get worn out and so I believe that many other riders follow that too. So yeah, I'm taking the bikes as they are from the factory.
I have read good write ups for the Africa twin. However I own a KTM1290 SAS. I think the S model is the better compromise for most owners unless you do real dirt riding. The S model has the electronic suspension, adaptive cruise control , anti dive and lots more. It is easy to ride slow and causes a lot of unhappy sport bike riders as my dirty adventure bike can blow there doors off. Fast tar seal twisty's are just awesome.I ride a lot of gravel roads which are a lot of fun and easy. wheel sizes are the same as a GS Beemer. If you ride a lot of gravel install dirt biased tires. If you want a smooth fun, fast, gravel road capable KTM, look very seriously at the 1290SAS, it you want to ride truly off road in the bush, single track, then look at the R model.
I love the idea of an electronically adjustable suspension and specifically the anti-dive function in the S model. But I personally find the riding position and low speed steering and handling more enjoyable on the R. I wouldn't take either for any serious offroading but likely yes, an R might be better-specced for that. Thanks a lot for sharing!
@VToldsMotoShow what would u take for serious off road
I had AT DCT from 2021 and it got stolen some weeks ago. Bought 1290 SAS now. As someone who did 24.000km on my AT i can tell you that the build quality of Honda is not like it was before. My bike had oil leaks twice, touchscreen didnt work 80% of the time, the windshield is wobbly and if u buy aftermarked u will notice, that all ATs have bad mounting points for it. You NEED a forkshild, since the wind tourbulances that are coming from the fork are crazy, they are strong enough to open my helmet visor after 150km/h. And dont forget the most commong failure in ATs : they cant drive straight with no hands and its a well known issue in AT forums.
I hope to have less problems with 1290 SAS now :D
Interesting point about the windshield and the source of turbulences! I'm definitely not used to anyone mentioning Africa Twin's defects so surely this is very interesting to read, so thanks for sharing! Let's keep our fingers crossed for the SAS ;). Cheers!
Nonsense!
I love my KTM SAS! I like the AT but they’re like GS,s. Every body’s got one!
Every body get one because is the best
@@felixlechat1780
It's not "the best"...
As was the VW Beetle, nor the TDI Golf...
The name does have appeal and we're all influenced by brands, myself included. Africa Twin may be cool to own even as a name - I agree. It's like with a Ford Mustang. But "the best", nah, nothing here is simply the best.
My KTM 1090 R (2017 model bought in 2018 with a 4 years warranty extension) suffered from a cooling liquid leak which appeared in 2023, at 22000 km, on the front of the radiator. Despite the fact that there were absolutely no trace of shock or scratch on the radiator nor its optional protection cover, KTM Belgium refused to take this failure under warranty.
So even if my KTM is undoubtedly more fun to ride than the Africa Twin, my next bike will be the Queen instead of the 1290 R.
Well done KTM Belgium!
Ive been riding both the 1290 r and own the Crf1100l adventure sport ES myself, I agree with most of your point. With the low speed maneuver for the AT, I've found out if you increase the preload and changing the suspension to off-road mode the handling will improve significantly. If you change the damping to hard setting the AT will be more precise and less heavy in very slow speed handling but we have to sacrify in little bit of plushness.
😊
Interesting. I owned both of these bikes at the same time since I couldn't decide which I liked better. After just over a year with both, I definitely agree that the KTM is much more exciting to ride and massively faster. However, I ended up selling the KTM because the reliability and overall feel of the Africa Twin won me over. I did end up with a DCT model AT and I'm still not sure about whether I like it or not. I have over 55 years riding experience with quite a few years in the middle racing motocross and some flat track so using the clutch and shifting gears are something that literally come automatic to me. I'd probably not go with the DCT, but that's just me. I've had no problems with it.
Right, they are different and it's a lot about personal preference. At the moment I would be close to disqualifying BMW R 1250 GS just because of the way it sounds. Some cannot live with KTM due to a fear of malfunctions (this affects me myself too thinking about this brand). So definitely it's a personal thing an even the tinies details can be deciding factors. Thanks a lot for sharing! Not always do we see someone who may share with us a head-to-head experience with having both at the same time.
Which one is better for travel with a passenger?
Why would one need 1290 in the city? Isn't it really that much better than a lighter, more agile and narrower supermotard? As an open road bike, its usable range is not that one would expect. Being on a heavier side at takeoffs with not the best engine from the bottom end, it develops strange wobbling at higher speeds too which actually leaves fun only for mid range. Reliability with this machine is much like a Russian roulette, no good way to predict which shot to expect when pulling trigger at dealerships.
Ah yes, the reliability issues are heard of more and more indeed. I personally like the 1290 engine a lot but I'm just a type of rider that likes to roll the throttle wide open from time to time. As for the model, I find it quite pleasant to ride in the city as it filters well, I sit high and can see well, and its size makes me feel a bit safer anyway. But what in fact would do the job, would be a 125cc moped to filter the traffic. It's just like with cars - why get a BMW X5 if parking and navigating through narrow streets would be easier in a Fiat 500, right? Thanks for the input!
@@VToldsMotoShow Fiat 500 is a pail of nuts, consider a Mini Mayfair instead.
Ill go honda coz i want to ride. Not chat with mechanics as we wait for parts availability or where to get it shipped from.
Ktm SAdv. "R" It's my bike!! I have Been ridend lots of bikes and I would not change it for any other!! All of them are nice !! But mine! Ktm it's simply the Best! 😊
I have the KTM 1290 SAS, a friend of mine, after a long ride together on the Dolomites where we live, in which we exchanged the bikes for a lot of km, decided to sell the AT after the ride, to buy the KTM...😉
Which one won't let you down and which one will be going back to the dealer for repairs? I have my thoughts but I wouldn't want to upset any KTM fans 😁
I believe KTM fans know it best and try to love the bikes regardless or some are just more lucky than others ;)
At first I ordered ATAS but after changed my mind and went with KTM SAR… didn’t regret for a second. KTM is waaaay more capable and more fun to ride. Plenty of power…
I'm glad that you're enjoying this last minute change!
@mislavmrsic1128,
I thought the same thing... until my radiator leaked at 22,000 km (1090 R), failure which was not covered by the warranty (expired less than a year ago). And guess what: the new radiator is no longer a White Power but a no-name Chinese crap (official KTM part).
Quality has been getting worse and worse since Bajaj Motorcycles took a 49% stake in 2007.
My next one will be the Queen.
Queen is amazing bike no doubt… but KTM is kind of a special bike, you either love it or hate it…. For now I don’t think I will ever change it.
@mislavmrsic1128 ,
Of course I love my KTM, she just doesn't love me as I love her.
I know the Queen (Honda AT) feels like an electric prop instead of a rocket booster, but at the time I sold my previous AT 750, she had been driven over 50,000 km without the slightest incident. That's more than twice the distance at which I recently experienced a serious mechanical failure with my KTM (radiator front leak). So what will happen next ?...
As gas prices around the globe increase, I feel the Africa Twin is the winner since it can run on just about anything. No need for premium. The 1290 is an absolute weapon, but it's too powerful for the trail, and not the most practical sport tourer.
I feel the Honda strikes a good balance of more off-road bias and acceptable on the road. I'm still debating on the Norden 901 Expedition and the Africa Twin Standard Manual. Close in price. Closer comparison too IMO.
One thing Honda really dropped the ball on is the button navigation and complex UI. It should have been much easier to navigate and change. Also should have saved settings when you start it so you don't have to wait for the screen to boot up to turn off ABS again
It might really be worth to take a closer look at the Norden 901. KTM 890 Adventure is a crazy machine so this Husqvarna being based on it, may be very, very interesting indeed.
@@VToldsMotoShow funny you say that, I picked up a Norden 901 a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. Couldn't find an Africa Twin anywhere close by and someone handed me their keys to their 890 Adventure. After that test drive I started comparing the 890 Adventure R and the Norden. Chose comfort and value over extra capability but wow I am still blown away by it's performance.
After 70-80k of 2 wheel miles over the years I feel I've taken things to a whole new level.
@@marcochavane3124the 2023 twins don’t exist just due to supply chain issues unfortunately…good luck with the Norden..I’m in the owners group for them and all I saw was everyone posting a bunch of issues. Not confident in one so I’ll wait for the 2024 Twins and see what they’ve done
@@pulsartech2945 Just about any motorcycle group will have users posting issues, nothing definitive there. Over 4,000 miles in just a few months so far. Still getting down the road.
If Honda has supply chain issues, then why are they still for sale everywhere else and why did they never communicate that clearly with US customers?
@@marcochavane3124 no idea why the didn’t communicate it but that’s what I read. Supply chain issues so they chose to prioritize Europe and other countries where the demand for the bike is higher which makes sense. Last year, my local dealers all had at least 2 DCT and 2 manual Africa twins as carryover from 2021 plus they had a couple ‘22s
How are you liking the Norden? It’s at the very end of my list but I may still consider it, the people in the group are just posting issues that are hard for me to get over and issues that made the owners stranded and that’s the last thing I want
This is the perefect compare to me as a buyer! A couple of months ago I sold my BMW 850GS ADV and these two bikes have been on my sight since that...But for me is already more complicated; I have tried out these two for over 200 km to decide which one is the best for me and Im actually very divided. In one hand I have the guarantee of Honda ATAS DCT ("Honda is honda" said the experts on my socials), the only technical issue I've heard from this bike it the gear selector (only one case I've noticed), the rest of people I've talked about the bike are excited with it. In the other hand, I like the 1290R as well, but I heard A LOT of people arguin of the electronic problems KTM have (some people close to me, a lot of mentions on the net, forums...) I tried a demo bike from my local dealer and the electronic suspension did an error on the same proof, so I've lost the hype for this bike a little bit (but still on my sight).
I usually use my bike to travel a lot, some off some on-road (50/50), but the KTM community is amazing (events, logs, etc) compared to Honda. And I dont want to anticipate my selection for loosing some of those things...
Is KTM profitable nowadays or only a product which needs to be tested for a couple of years more?
Great thing that I learned and confirmed about KTM is that they actually care - the faulty design of the indicator switch has actually been fixed in 2023 models and on. So they've got room, will and resources to adapt. I've heard about issues with Africa's touch screen for example. Every bike will have some of its issues. Statistically, we hear about KTM's more. But is it confirmed? I don't think so. If I had an Africa Twin that I bought since I wanted a peace of mind, I wouldn't shout about its malfunctions on social media. But nothing is perfect. I experienced some issues on this particular KTM and I haven't noticed any on an Africa Twin. But so I haven't on a BMW R 1250 GS, so if you're torn between those two, check out the GS and it may turn out to be a sweet spot.
@@VToldsMotoShow GS is not on my mind already. Why? Point number 1, Im coming from GS, and don't missunderstand me, I was in love with my GS (there are other reasons why Im switch bike to an ATAS or SAR). Point number 2 and more important/related to, Im looking for a bike destined to dust, off-road, some adventures out of the common roads, and these two were the best I found for myself. I've tried the KTM 890, Ducati Dessert X, Multiestrada V4, GS 1250 (ADV or not), HD Panam, Yamaha Tenere 700, and obviously the KTM SAR 1290 and ATAS DCT. These last ones, are perfect to me, I felt so confortable in these two; I fell in love with KTM quickshifter, torque, engine and the distribution of weight (don't forget Im coming from a 850GS ADV, so obv I like the 21' a lot). In the other hand, ATAS DCT was the cleverest bike I've ridden probably in my whole life, again the weight distribution, the grip between my knees (Im 6,3), the handlebar was perfect, the engine is smooth (for off 163HP from KTM are crazy but not a dissapoint XD, compared to 100HP of ATAS which are perfect to me). The problem as I mention, Im conscious that every bike is a 50/50, probabilities of issues, but there is a major group on KTM as you said, statistically. Today I was talking with my local dealer and he said to one phrase Im thinking about; "163 HP are not necessary for off road, and even in road you will not be able to do anything over 150km/h with a 21' front wheel" (I wanna add Im very adventurer but responsible at the same time, so I've never go so fast with no ones of my bikes, and I won't do). So, there is, buy an ATAS DCT with mind, or buy a 1290 SAR with heart? Reliable ATAS vs Power KTM?
Thanks for answer, love you content and your opinions about some bikes! Cheers!
Sorry my DCT AT is perfect at slow soeeds . Filtering just dab ya rear brake to control. Its superb at handling . KTM it a good bike but the AT is better made IMO
I'm afraid that there cannot be any "perfect" here. Yet what only matters is whether one's happy with their bike and if you are, then this is great and exactly the way it should be.
On my third year with my -20 1290 S. I love it, fuel efficient and torque that blows the Honda away all the way from idle. Done 2 long 8000 km holiday tips with it, and i could not think of any better. The only thing i would want is the DCT.
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad that you're having. great experiences with your 1290 S. DCT seems like to be and stay Honda's fun "trick".
I had a ‘22 AT-AS/ES and currently have a ‘23 KTM 1290 SA-R. I ride a mix of twisty roads and single track plus some rocky hilly terrain.
That said I love the manual suspension on the KTM vs electronic suspension on the AT. It allows me to fine tune it for when I hit the single track. The KTM hands down beats the AT off road in handling and ease of picking up😄.
To shorten this up a lot, the KTM is very exciting to ride and the AT is boring, EXCEPT, off road.
The one thing I love more about the AT is being able to run regular unleaded gas instead of having to hunt down premium fuel in rural towns. Not too sure on the reliability and only time will tell, but I’m not too concerned.
Great video, your previous couple 1290 videos were also very informative and aided me in getting my 1290😎🤘
Thanks for sharing all this and I'm glad that you're enjoying your Super Adventure R. Both may have their strong points so here it very much is up to what one is seeking in a bike. As a fun fact - the fuel topic is completely not the case here in Europe where any sort of petrol would be called "premium" in comparison to low-octane fuels in the US for example :). Also, I'm happy that you've found the videos helpful!
If you mainly just ride in the city I wouldn't get either of these bikes. A high capacity scooter like the BMW C650GT or similar would be the best bike for urban use. I own the 2020 ATAS ES DCT and have put around 30,000 kms on it so I know very well how that one handles, but the KTM is known to be far more powerful if you want to do any sort of racing or super aggressive riding. The ATAS has plenty of offroad engineering but is also a long distance country highway style cruiser too. I just did a 9300 km trip with it and it did a fine job handling high winds, heavy rain, long stretches of construction gravel and potholes. By default the ATAS has a soft suspension setup, but it can be easily stiffened up with a few touches on the screen if you want it that way. The bike is a bit top heavy and is more suited to tall riders. Don't get this bike if you are shorter than 5'10". The android/apple auto tech features are difficult to get working, even if you are tech-savvy, but even if you do, the functions are really not necessary just to have music and on-screen GPS. You are right, the seat is brutally hard and usually one of the first things an owner will replace. I haven't tried bar risers on it yet for offroad trails but I do find the standup position to be uncomfortable for someone my height (6ft) I feel particularly hunched down and cannot stand comfortably at all, it becomes extremely stressful on the legs to ride offroad in that position for any length of time. The brakes on the twin are adequate in most situations. I've had to do a few emergency stops at higher speed and although it groans and cries out, if done properly balanced between front and rear, will stop the bike with good control (on pavement). As for fuel, I use S2 to drive everywhere and drive very casually and safely, with that style, travelling country highways I get around 350 kms out of it's 25L tank. Don't listen to guys that claim they can get twice that, it's not true. 🤣
Huge thanks for the input. I believe that one of the purposes of these is exactly to do well in all sorts of circumstances. I enjoyed the KTM a lot in the city. High position, great control at low speeds and fairly narrow handlebar does the job phenomenally. Actually, mentioning a scooter, an analogy of car vs public transportation came into my mind. If one just wants to change the location, both will do it. But in the car you may get much more fun at the same time. The same applies here in adv bikes vs a scooter case I think.
Honda all the way
I trust Hondas reliability
Statistically it may be better than KTM from what we hear all over the internet.
I've got the chance to see the Africa Twin in person, I can ensure you that it's a beast
Oh yes, visually it appears huge and may be even pretty intimidating.
Just curious to ask what is your rating 0-10 that you give this KTM 1290 Super Adventure R?
I'd give it an 8,5 out of 10 because of my personal preference and lovely engine and great low speed control but likely it's more like 7-7,5 taking into account how I judge other motorcycles trying to put my preferences as far aside as I can.
@@VToldsMotoShow I had to put a rally seat on mine to free up some crotch space to give me a little more leg room, and evo-4 foot pegs, and a SAS style windscreen to make my 2022 KTM Super Adventure R to my comfort.
Honda ATAS, I run my '21 on cheap 87 Octane. I hate the seat, feels cramped on long rides, but just ordered a high seat and hope that makes the difference.
I hope that the new seat will do the job the right way. It's a good move with replacing it!
Does it make a significant difference?
@nertkychhuom3678 It is softer, and it sits a bit higher in the high position. I have some more leg room and more comfortable for the legs.It is not as stable in this high position as the original seat. It wobbles a little, and is as stubborn as the low seat was to put in the high position. Is it worth 200 dollars? It helps, but there has to be a better option for this bike. A one-piece seat that sat higher and is softer would be ideal, but I do not think that product exists. I am 6' 1/2" or 185cm.
The slow manouvering handling, maybe u can adjust the handlebar for better handling... handlebars r not a for-all- to-fit design... some of us have longer arms n torso... it affects drastically rider to rider
I'm not finding this as a direct cause in this case but likely a mix of many factors together results in specific riding characteristics. Would a handlebar swap on an Africa help? Perhaps up to some point it could have an effect. But overall I doubt a meaningful improvement.
Man! what happened to the volvo s80 v8 ?
I sold it a few years ago and then got another car also with a big petrol V8, but this time it's an SUV and I believe it's not as unusual/interesting to show and play with. But what a great car that Volvo is!
Great comparo. Think I’ll test ride the KTM as I’m a big fan of the engine 🍻
Thanks, the engine is pure fire and it's definitely worth experiencing ;)
One would typically select either bike for touring purposes. In such case reliability is cornerstone and that aspect was not well presented in this video.
For that you don’t need a review but data from Dekra etc. from thousands of examples to get to any sort of conclusions.
@@VToldsMotoShow sure...however quoting of such data could be presented in the video right?
Ktm super adventure 1290 number one under the sun...
Was, is and will be forever and ever.
Cześć!
Niestety mam metlik w głowie czy zmieniac swoją ATAS 1000 DCT na ww ktm. Jezdzilem nim i przy moich 2m wzrostu idealne moto ale ptzy hondzie trzyma mnie dct. Natomiast tyle adrenaliny conktm honda mi nie daje.
Cześć, z DCT to rzeczywiście tylko Honda zostaje w grze. Pozostaje znaleźć miejsce na oba!
Not on the DCT nor the Adventure Sports, but I am also nowhere near a pro and can get this big ol' girl up and down some gravel roads with a bit of haste. Truthfully, the 1290 is probably better, I know for a fact the 21 Africa Twin I have could not compete with a 890 Adventure R I road on the same trail when it comes to tougher double track. Alot came done to suspension but IMO the AT is not designed for it, give it gravel roads and long curvy stretches of pavement though and listen to the twin's soundtrack, that there is perfection :)
Thanks for sharing that. I've just been trying the 890 Adventure so your feedback on comparing these two was super interesting to me. Good one!
Sin dudas KTM 1290 ❤
Honda IS the of trail bike. Best reliability
Hi, are you going to do a video about cfmoto?
I’m not exactly sure what brand it even is.
@@VToldsMotoShow It's chinase (I know...) brand that partners with KTM. I am highly considering buying the model 800mt touring right now. It's got very good reviews so far and it's price is very competitive. I think its closest similar bike might be v-strom 1050. I would love to see you talk about this bike, if you get a chance to test it. Your reviews are great!
No comparison. If you are looking for performance. technology and ability to eat highway miles the KTM is the clear choice.
KTM is the more exciting bike but the reliability is the deal breaker. Honda
Yup, that's what a common opinion says. But every example may of course still differ.
This is common believe but should be backed-up with facts... from my experience, I rode 30 k km with KTM, with absolutely no significative issue. So putting away this question about reliability, I definitively choose for the excitement of the SAR 1290. Aldo I Iove thé AT as well.
3 % cheaper the Africa? You forget that you must change the exhaust in ktm. 700-900 euro more so? And the manual gear is better than DCT in town, I think not.
Taking the exhaust into account, it may differ but then there are also extra options and accessories that you may be willing to pay for in either of them. And well, most riders won't likely replace the exhaust on the KTM I believe.
ktm like button here
Got it!
Not really even a contest. Very different bikes. I do the AT, but not the DCT version.
Yet still some riders choose between these two.
The bikes are different enough that you could have both of them for different types of riding.
With DCT in the game - that could be true indeed. Still, then there are other options that would be even more different and present an extremely different approach.
Honda and i ride BMW R850R. Nice vids. Thanks
Thank you, I'm glad you like them. Cheers!
ATAS all the way! ❤❤❤❤
ATASES in this case ;)
Africa should vs KTM 890 adv R not 1290 they r not same level😊
Performance-wise perhaps it would make more sense indeed, but then in terms of size, model perception, the idea of being a top of the range bike, I believe Africa Twin may still be a match to the 1290 ;)
you for got maintenance and price and upgrades.. too me puts the honda way out front...30 years from now the honda will start, bikes that start are well designed..upgrades if buy the honda..the bike they way you like it.. no hidden cost to it..fast off road buy cr250 it kill both bikes
I can see you pictures with ktm so don't say you're not ktm guys.
Any way you're very much tall enough for Africa higher seat position. Why do you have on lower ? It feels much better on higher seats' position.
I did a long test ride all this big bike ktm , Gs and Tiger .
But to be honestly, all rounder Africa twin, no doubt
It's such a sexy looking, very capable and reliable 💯❤️ but still very underrated 19:47
Africa Twin seems intimidating to me so I felt more like at home with the seat low. Haven't even thought about trying it in the taller position. About my profile picture - I've got to put something there. It's the S variant despite my preference of the R, so it's not relevant as to fanboying here. I believe that it's pretty clear in the video too.
Guess why 😉
Thank you.
My pleasure!
I owned an Africa Twin 1100 dct for almost 12 months, I now have the BMW 1250GS ADVENTURE RALLYE
If your doing a REAL WORLD REVIEW of these bikes for what they are intended, the im sorry but the Africa Twin DCT Adventure Sport wins , its the only bike of these 3 that I would TRULY be comfortable going anywhere on as regards to reliability, dealerships, ease of handling and peace of mind .
You mentioned slow speed handling and handling in the bends , the Honda handles well enough at slow speed but the KTM 1290 is awful plain and simple in bends and this is because of going TOO FAR with CG. Too low centre of gravity fcuks up handling, same as holding a broom by the handle on your finger , if you move the head of the broom down the shaft it gets harder to balance it when moving , equallibrium is lost 😉
Peace of mind could be a separate category, just very hard to describe the reasons for it. Cannot measure reliability even though I do believe that generally Honda has a better image in terms of reliability than KTM. I've dealt with 2 KTMs 1290 and 1 Honda Africa Twin. 1 KTM has some issues, 1 KTM was perfectly fine and 1 Africa Twin was perfectly fine. But this can only be judged by long-term owners who owned both KTM and Honda and have ridden them in similar way. Thanks for mentioning!
the ktm adventure R is THE off road adventure bike he is king above all bikes
Long live the king!
ATAS all the way!. The KTM level of power makes no sense on a maxi trail, and that’s the only real “advantage “, so…
Both seem to be absolute beasts if we would consider some challenging paths to ride on.
Don't you off road? Why not?
Not on those. Technically mostly because they're dealers' bikes and so damaging them is a pain in the ***, then they all always come on stock street tires, and finally because this simply will be happening: th-cam.com/video/_DBO6s64p0c/w-d-xo.html. I can do that on a dirt bike though and may actually enjoy.
Ktm is 100x more exiting
ktm 1290SADR very, very good💪💪💪💪
How can you focus so much on city which is of marginal importance and not a second on OFFROAD THAT IS WHY YOU BUY AN ADV BIKE IF NOT STICK TO SPORTS BIKES 😡
I would just buy the two of them (if I had the money). 😢
Same
But how to choose later on?!
Ducati Multistrada Rally. 😉
I have never liked bikes from Asia because, to me, they seem to lack soul. However, I acknowledge that this is a subjective opinion.
Yes, it is of course but by default somehow they're more similar to each other and this may be influencing such an perception.
Is this a joke? its like a box match between Mike Tyson and Opray Winfrey.
And one of them with a handgun.
Lol sorry just listening to your comments on tech , more specifically KTM tech lol 😢😢
It makes no difference how much tech you have when its blatantly unreliable, the KTM WILL BREAK DOWN and it will age poorly, also its market value will drop badly on the second hand market 😢
On the other hand it's cool when it works, I surely enjoyed. But in the end of the day there may be a question of "so is it worth it if we spend more time worrying about it?". It's also like with being rich? Is it better to be rich or not? If one is, they are afraid to get robbed, but during the times that they're not being robbed... well, it's cool ;). Not the best analogy, but perhaps somewhere there.
@@VToldsMotoShow
Hahaha 😂 I'll have to take your word on the being rich analogy 🤣
But a head ache is always a headache, I suppose if your rich it won't matter as much lol
As you may have 3 or 4 similar bikes to ride while your paid slave takes your brand new KTM back and forth to the dealer to be fixed but speaking from us mere mortals , its VERY DISAPPOINTING and frustrating to have to keep taking a new bike that you may have paid £20,000 for back and forth to a dealer that could be a long way from where you live and also leave you without your new bike 😔😔
And thats without even mentioning doing what the bike is marketed for , Travelling all over the world 😳😳
I just think in your position, to save some poor sap believing this bike is a better option than an Africa Twin and regretting it badly, then losing money hand over fist when poor sap tries to sell it , you could maybe mention, although this bike is very quick, its only quick when its running properly and that is not often!!
And if you want trouble free riding and a far better trade in value plus everything the KTM offers other than drag racing we'd better get the Africa Twin?? 😉👍
KTM mechanics will be fine though.
I'd say that would cover it ??
You are right to say that KTM looses value faster.... but this is typically the type of comment you propage that let believe KTM is unreliable, and therefore looses value fast over time. Have ever even had KTM’s? From my experience; 20:40 30.000 km with no issues!
@@christianmouraux7269
I have plenty of pals and pals in the trade , this is where I get my information, first hand !!
Yes your right dragging this garbage into the open and putting it under the righteous scrutiny it deserves DOES DAMAGE RESALE VALUES and RIGHTLY SO !!
Its bad enough that one muppet made the mistake of buying a pain in the arse without burdening some other poor sap with it , the only way to stop KTM and Harley and other companies putting out poorly made bikes like this , is by putting the SPOTLIGHT on them, showing these shitty companies up for what they are , start taking them to court, iv done it twice myself and won both times out of court !
By covering up these companies your only looking after yourself but making the bigger problem worse !!
Man up and highlight bad bikes , direct people to good reliable and established brands !!
People are putting themselves in dept to buy these bikes !!
two bikes look the same^^
FROM WHICH ANGLE?! ;)
this guy knows very little about bikes lol
Share with us what more you know. Clearly it’s a lot.
It is I have 2
For one your reviewing an adventure bikes but not taking them off road lol and secondly you state that the Africa twin is very top heavy yet the Africa twin is the best balanced bike in its class the weight is very low compared to its competitors. And 3rd if you took the Africa’s twin off-road (if you could ride in the dirt ) you would know it’s value over all other adventure bikes excluding the T7
There's a lot for me to experience yet I see. Thanks for uncovering what it's really like.
No problem
too bad ktm fit n finish is noticeably poor quality ..cheap plastics screws made in China
Hmm, except for a vagina instead of a ignition switch, I felt it looked at felt pretty fine in terms of quality.
when will bikers stop driving illegal ? ..between cars etc, dangerously !!! just to save a few minutes !!
I guess you’re not aware of the local traffic rules. Riding motorcycles and mopeds in the city is purely to save time and not to imitate cars standing in line. Check Spanish, Italian of Greek city traffic and imagine what it would look like if all those motorcycles and mopeds would stand behind cars in the jams one behind another. That’s why traffic rules allow for that. Same in my country.
I live in California where lane splitting is legal. The statistics show that you are more likely to be in a rear-end accident than from lane splitting. I’ve done rides through LA on expressways and lane splitting saved hours.