Hi Captain, I bought my 1290SAR two years ago, I was one of the firsts of getting one, so happy hith her and won't change it for anything else. About your "complain" to change driving+abs modes, I have both on the C1/C2 shortcuts on the right lever, so I can chage them on the fly in a few seconds, much better than other models where you must stop to do it. Cheers
I am 6'1" also and I wear a 13 US or 47.5 EUR shoe size so I put a Puig touring windscreen not the touring plus on my 2022 1290 Super Adventure R cause it looks great and you can see over it and when you want to nock off a lot of wind just raise it up. And another thing I did was get lower rally style foot pegs that also can go down a little bit and back for my big feet helped with my legs feeling cramped and I rotated my handlebars just a little forward and now it feels perfect riding this awesome beast! Your videos are awesome Captain Midlife!
Nice presentation. Wicked bike. On the electronics (ABS, rally mode, etc), I prefer that the settings are "sticky" and stay the way I've set them despite cycling the key and what-not. I just leave my 890R in Rally mode, traction control 1, and off road ABS all the time. Maybe that's not the best on a 1290. I might get one and see. ;-)
Super, 50 000 km on my 2017 1290 R….no issues!! As for the screen, as u noted, it’s the R, just get the S screen like I did for the more touring trips 👍🏻🍺😎
Right on. I suspect there are better screens, but I don't mind the screen on my SAS and I think they swap right over. Good place to start, but the off road screen has to be low so you can get out over the front of this beast!
I wonder if the chain tension was correct at the time of your remark. That said, I find it interesting to reflect on the need to adjust the chain on a chainsaw as it all heats up and then to release it later. Surely they're radically different applications yet there's always going to be an unavoidable difference between hot and cold.
Hi, I had one last year, tried a couple of seats the most comfortable was the rally seat even more than the ergo seat I bought. Give it a try if you get a chance.
Hi Captain. It's my first tme viewing and like your attitude. Re the wind screen I am 5ft 10in and with my Arai adv helmet I find it perfect as well as the peg position. It must be your extra height. Re the engine noise that's just KTM. I covered 40,000 km on my 640 Adventure without any issues. Part of that was a 11,000km out back trip Sydney to Darwin. It was pre speed limited Darwin to Alice and I certainly blued the exhaust pipe. From start it always had that " half a sheep carcss going through a meat grinder" sound. My suggestion is just ride it as you are doing and don't conjure up problems that may never happen. Cheers.
Just started the process of determining if I will stay with the future 1300 GS A or change the 1290 ADV R or 890 ADV R. Small world and stumbled across this to find you have done it. I will likely test ride both KTM's, over the next two weeks.
Thanks for your video, I had high expectations when I bought a used 2022 BMW R1250GS, given its reputation as one of the bestselling bikes around. However, after six months of ownership and 5,000 miles, I ended up selling it. First, I could never get comfortable on it, despite trying all the seat adjustments and even switching to a GSA seat. Nothing worked for me. Second, I didn’t like the seating position it felt like I was sitting in the bike rather than on it which didn’t suit me at all. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the GS didn’t give me that thrilling rush when I opened the throttle. Watching your KTM videos, I realized that’s the kind of excitement I want in a bike. I need that smile-inducing moment every time I twist the throttle, and the GS just didn’t deliver that for me. It was definitely a big disappointment.
As far as reliability goes I’ve got a mate that has done 75000km on his 790 with no issues apart from a headlight issue around Australia but not sure what the 1290 is like I don’t know anyone with one to comment. But I do know what you mean with Ktm reliability I have a Ktm 350 exc-f which I actually rode to work every day for 6 months it now has 17000km on it but I have had to do rebuilds and all the fun stuff with that
2013 KTM 690duke = 36k+miles of trouble free smiles, 2015 KTM 1290SDR = 49k+miles of trouble free (really big) smiles and now on a 2020 790adventure with 32k+ miles of trouble free smiles and looking forward to another 1290 this time around a SAS! I miss the power wheelies;-)
Did you make the switch? I have a 901 and love it, but I keep watching these 1290R videos so now I am drooling over them! Be interesting to hear what you found and any advice you have. Cheers!
I did not make the switch as it came down to 3 things: 1) Too heavy for my very out of shape Michelin man body to lift. 2) Too much power that I think of my relatively low road riding experience that I would just get into trouble and 3) Price. I will either keep my Norden or get the Norden Expedition as I plan on going off road a fair bit.
@@captain_midlife I just picked up a 2023 SA-R and the the indicator switch cancel functions normally like every other bike I’ve ridden in the past 30+ years. KTM must have listened to the comments of it having a vague action. I am coming from a Tiger 955i and still in run-in miles on the 1290, The tech and performance is everything I hoped it would be, short shifting my way to the first service.
Yeah look for bikes with IMUs. They often have lean sensitive traction control and ABS. So the bike knows if you’re mid corner and will brake accordingly
U said suspension perfect u don't have any front end wobbles dealership trying telling I needed a new spring o only weigh178 I told the there full of shit come to find out steering stem was so loose along with bolts to triple clamps .
I don't think the reliability issues are a European thing. BMW's are very reliable. It's more a KTM thing. Such a shame because they have such cool bikes with amazing performance.
@@captain_midlife Japanese bikes are more reliable for sure, but BMW is solid and can’t be compared with KTM’s abysmal reliability. Rarely do we ever do a trip without issues with the KTM’s.
Too expensive, - overly expensive for dropping on gravel roads when engaging whisky throttle, messed up the colours, too heavy, messed up the front end. Don't know about high kms long life..........
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
From a gsa 1250 2021 rider , omg every time I see a KTM and watch you open her up my heart is racing and my smile is 2 feet wide
Love the GSA too. I think that’ll be my next bike once I have all this hooligan out of me lol
i think you need a doc then
That's why I bought the 1290 R . Both great bikes and the BMW'S are not without problems as well.
I am 71 and wanted one last adrenalin rush. Whoopee.
Hi Captain,
I bought my 1290SAR two years ago, I was one of the firsts of getting one, so happy hith her and won't change it for anything else. About your "complain" to change driving+abs modes, I have both on the C1/C2 shortcuts on the right lever, so I can chage them on the fly in a few seconds, much better than other models where you must stop to do it.
Cheers
89,000 flawless KMs on my 2014 1190R.... Best bike I've ever owned.
The say it sounds like the engine is full of lose bolts. It's not bolts. It's the bones of other bikes it's eaten. Revel in that sound.
I'm 6'5" and my 2015 1290 S is the best bike I've ever owned. It all started in 1995 with my first bike, a 1986 GSXR 750
I am 6'1" also and I wear a 13 US or 47.5 EUR shoe size so I put a Puig touring windscreen not the touring plus on my 2022 1290 Super Adventure R cause it looks great and you can see over it and when you want to nock off a lot of wind just raise it up. And another thing I did was get lower rally style foot pegs that also can go down a little bit and back for my big feet helped with my legs feeling cramped and I rotated my handlebars just a little forward and now it feels perfect riding this awesome beast! Your videos are awesome Captain Midlife!
Thanks man I’ll check that stuff out
Nice presentation. Wicked bike. On the electronics (ABS, rally mode, etc), I prefer that the settings are "sticky" and stay the way I've set them despite cycling the key and what-not. I just leave my 890R in Rally mode, traction control 1, and off road ABS all the time. Maybe that's not the best on a 1290. I might get one and see. ;-)
Super, 50 000 km on my 2017 1290 R….no issues!! As for the screen, as u noted, it’s the R, just get the S screen like I did for the more touring trips 👍🏻🍺😎
Right on. I suspect there are better screens, but I don't mind the screen on my SAS and I think they swap right over. Good place to start, but the off road screen has to be low so you can get out over the front of this beast!
I wonder if the chain tension was correct at the time of your remark.
That said, I find it interesting to reflect on the need to adjust the chain on a chainsaw as it all heats up and then to release it later.
Surely they're radically different applications yet there's always going to be an unavoidable difference between hot and cold.
Rally seat + rally pegs are a must. And to make the engine sound quiter use 10w60 oil.
I'll look that up thanks mate!
Hi, I had one last year, tried a couple of seats the most comfortable was the rally seat even more than the ergo seat I bought. Give it a try if you get a chance.
Hi Captain. It's my first tme viewing and like your attitude. Re the wind screen I am 5ft 10in and with my Arai adv helmet I find it perfect as well as the peg position. It must be your extra height.
Re the engine noise that's just KTM. I covered 40,000 km on my 640 Adventure without any issues. Part of that was a 11,000km out back trip Sydney to Darwin.
It was pre speed limited Darwin to Alice and I certainly blued the exhaust pipe. From start it always had that " half a sheep carcss going through a meat grinder" sound.
My suggestion is just ride it as you are doing and don't conjure up problems that may never happen. Cheers.
Just started the process of determining if I will stay with the future 1300 GS A or change the 1290 ADV R or 890 ADV R. Small world and stumbled across this to find you have done it. I will likely test ride both KTM's, over the next two weeks.
I think if you test the KTM you will have to buy it haha
I'm starting my quest toward a decision to buy the KTM 1290 or the BMW 1250, or, as you say, the 1300. Planning to travel Eurasia in 2025.
I have the same dilemma. Currently riding a r1250gsa. Looking more and more towards KTM
Thanks for your video, I had high expectations when I bought a used 2022 BMW R1250GS, given its reputation as one of the bestselling bikes around. However, after six months of ownership and 5,000 miles, I ended up selling it.
First, I could never get comfortable on it, despite trying all the seat adjustments and even switching to a GSA seat. Nothing worked for me. Second, I didn’t like the seating position it felt like I was sitting in the bike rather than on it which didn’t suit me at all.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the GS didn’t give me that thrilling rush when I opened the throttle. Watching your KTM videos, I realized that’s the kind of excitement I want in a bike. I need that smile-inducing moment every time I twist the throttle, and the GS just didn’t deliver that for me. It was definitely a big disappointment.
@pascalo5119 after riding both I can definitely say the KTM is far more exciting
As far as reliability goes I’ve got a mate that has done 75000km on his 790 with no issues apart from a headlight issue around Australia but not sure what the 1290 is like I don’t know anyone with one to comment. But I do know what you mean with Ktm reliability I have a Ktm 350 exc-f which I actually rode to work every day for 6 months it now has 17000km on it but I have had to do rebuilds and all the fun stuff with that
Yeah I never had any issues with my 500 EXC
2013 KTM 690duke = 36k+miles of trouble free smiles, 2015 KTM 1290SDR = 49k+miles of trouble free (really big) smiles and now on a 2020 790adventure with 32k+ miles of trouble free smiles and looking forward to another 1290 this time around a SAS! I miss the power wheelies;-)
Great video. I ride a Norden 901 and am considering the 2023 1290SAR. Do you have any issues with the signal switch I hear they are finicky? Cheers!
It’s definitely annoying haha. It’s not like a fault. It’s just a stupid design.
Did you make the switch? I have a 901 and love it, but I keep watching these 1290R videos so now I am drooling over them! Be interesting to hear what you found and any advice you have. Cheers!
I did not make the switch as it came down to 3 things: 1) Too heavy for my very out of shape Michelin man body to lift. 2) Too much power that I think of my relatively low road riding experience that I would just get into trouble and 3) Price. I will either keep my Norden or get the Norden Expedition as I plan on going off road a fair bit.
Have you tried BMW S1000XR ?
Surprised you didn’t mention the shitty indicator switch
True forgot that one. It is rubbish
It’s rubbish, but you get used to it and it’s soon forgotten.
@@captain_midlife I just picked up a 2023 SA-R and the the indicator switch cancel functions normally like every other bike I’ve ridden in the past 30+ years. KTM must have listened to the comments of it having a vague action. I am coming from a Tiger 955i and still in run-in miles on the 1290, The tech and performance is everything I hoped it would be, short shifting my way to the first service.
What country is this? It's beautiful
I'll work years and buy one, wish me good luck guys!
Great review.
At 13:55, what do you mean by "lean sensitive traction control"?
The bike adjusts the traction control depending on how leaner over it is.
@@captain_midlife Oh. I had absolutly no idea about that. Thanks for the answer
Yeah look for bikes with IMUs. They often have lean sensitive traction control and ABS. So the bike knows if you’re mid corner and will brake accordingly
What windscreen extender do you use?
Givi
Yep, awesome bike, looking fantastic but I went to honda due to better reliability. There is guy having SAR and new with engine failure!!!!!
That bike is Sketchy with those tires on Highway
What is the exhaust system
SC Project
Yes, it was enjoyable.
U said suspension perfect u don't have any front end wobbles dealership trying telling I needed a new spring o only weigh178 I told the there full of shit come to find out steering stem was so loose along with bolts to triple clamps .
It's more fun when you're pinging :)
You'd have to be pinging to buy one.
I don't think the reliability issues are a European thing. BMW's are very reliable. It's more a KTM thing. Such a shame because they have such cool bikes with amazing performance.
BMW has a fair fee issues as well. Specially with electronics. Ducati has issues. Japanese bikes are just more reliable period.
@@captain_midlife Japanese bikes are more reliable for sure, but BMW is solid and can’t be compared with KTM’s abysmal reliability. Rarely do we ever do a trip without issues with the KTM’s.
Too expensive, - overly expensive for dropping on gravel roads when engaging whisky throttle, messed up the colours, too heavy, messed up the front end. Don't know about high kms long life..........
Nice review 🔥👍
Thanks mate
Every KTM I have ever had suffered from the legs being too cramped 🤦🏼. It's the weirdest thing.