KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R

The new KTM 1290 Super Adventure R 2021 is another masterpiece of KTM brand. It has got the powerful engine along the stylish chassis. The engine delivers the best acceleration and torque. This bike has world’s most difficult travel Enduro frame. Each and every component of this adventure bike is specially designed for durability and stability. The review of newly launched KTM 1290 Super Adventure R 2017 bike with the specification is written below.

So is like 2 beauties created into one masterpeice of time. Its going to give someother brand run for their money and value.

To be clear, the 1290R is a completely new KTM model, not to be mistaken for some reincarnation of the 1190 Adventure or 1290 Super Adventure. It’s a street-centric sport/adventure touring machine that is surprisingly capable off road. 

With smaller, 19/17 cast aluminum mag wheels (a first for a KTM adventure bike) and Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires, the new 1290 is a road rocket with intuitive semi-active suspension, cruise control, and optional Travel Pack that comes with Quickshifter+. 

The 160-horsepower motor is completely re-engineered to comply with Euro 4 emissions regs, but still remains thrilling to ride and packs an awesome punch.

Power and torque Thanks to Euro-5 regulations, KTM has been forced to clean up their 1301cc V-twin. They’ve done so with revised fuelling and a completely new exhaust with dual catalytic converters. Despite all the engine and power train-related amends for Euro-5, KTM hasn’t lost any peak power and torque, still quoting 118kw (160hp) @ 9000rpm, and torque at 138Nm (102ftlb) @ 6500rpm. OK, peak power is set slightly higher in the rev range, 250rpm higher than before, and we have lost one, yes one, ft lb of torque, but on such a powerful bike these small numbers are barely insignificant. KTM hasn’t just cleaned up its LC8 engine, it’s now lighter, too. Thinner engine cases have clipped 1kg, and the big 75-degree V-twin is now 1.6k lighter overall. A neat trick is the redesigned the air-box, which is now located above the engine. Remove the useful storage compartment just in front of the fuel cap, and you have access to the air filter, making it easy to clean after a day off-road in the dust. It’s a nice and welcome touch.

Ups Great control and feedback from the WP Xplor suspension Strong Brembo brakes with excellent cornering ABS Versatile riding with on-road, off-road, and touring capabilities Revisions seen ergonomics, suspension, engine, bodywork, and more

Engine, gearbox and exhaust The V-twin has so much go… and it delivers from low down and drives with real force and acceleration. You don’t expect a bike that caters for off-road riding, has long-travel suspension and a large 21in front wheel to be so stunningly rapid, but it is. It took me a while to re-configure and get used to its immense low and mid-range drive.

The stock R has four rider modes – Sport, Street, Rain and Off-road – which alter the power, engine character and rider aids, which are now linked to a new 6-axis IMU (just the 5-axis previously). Street and Sport are full power, with Rain and Off-road limited to 100hp, which, as mentioned, is around the same as Honda Africa Twin in full power. As we’ve come to expect from KTM, the rider aids are excellent, but they are on the racy side. In Sport mode, with a direct throttle connection and ‘soft’ rider aids, the front wheel is allowed to lift reasonably high before intervention, and the reintroduction of power is smooth and quick. If you’re brave and deactivate the rider aids then ride aggressively, the front will lift in the first three gears, any crest or humpback bridge sending the new LED headlight skywards. The rear suspension is now manually adjustable as opposed to the semi-active on the S model. This means the R version is more wheelie prone and gives the electronic rider aids a busier time keeping everything in order. Personally, I found all this fun almost comical at times. But don’t worry, flick the R into the Street mode or use the option Rally mode and you can personalise a setting to control all the one-wheel shenanigans.

WHATS AWESOME Electronic Preload: You can pre-set the shock spring tension with four options: Rider, Rider + Luggage, Rider + Passenger, and Rider + Passenger + Luggage. The bike needs to be on the center stand and running in neutral to set the load; from lightest to heaviest spring load there is about 10mm of preload available with the press of the thumb switch, and you can actually see the shock adding tension with its hydraulic motor.

Semi-Active Suspension: Unlike the 1090 and 1290R’s manual clickers (on top of the forks) and the 1190 thumb switch settings from “Comfort” to “Sport” to “Off Road,” the new 1290’s fork tubes are wired to a computer that solves lean and braking scenarios when stabbing into corners. Thus, you have noticeable relief from the forks “diving” under braking and heavy angle cornering.

Quickshifter +: Available with the Travel Pack, Quickshifter+ allows clutchless shifting up and down with an intuitive little zap of throttle on the downshift that prevents the normal jolt of engine braking when letting the clutch go. You will love this feature from the start as you speedshift up through the gears. Going down, it’s not as smart if you’re already at high rpm, but the computer does give a spurt of throttle to counteract the normal engine braking associated with downshifting while preventing subtle loss of traction. Quickshifter+ is not the same as Honda’s DCT thumb and finger shifting, but the Travel Pack is highly recommended when you buy this bike.

Cast aluminum mag wheels and tubeless tires: A first for a KTM adventure bike, the mags seem pretty tame and fragile at first glance. But after five days in Baja and running the gamut of rocky, rutted and clapped out trails along with pocked-out highway sections, the mags will likely outlast the stock spoked wheels you’ll find on other bike brands. The logic behind cast mag wheels is the true “balance” attainable over a spoked wheel. This helps give the bike noticeable stability at triple digit speeds on the highway.

A new airbox helps the LC8 engine breathe freely thanks to a vertically ribbed air filter that directs sand and dust to the bottom of the airbox. KTM mounts the 75-degree V-Twin to a revised chromoly-steel frame with a steering head that has been moved rearward by 15mm. There’s also a new aluminum subframe and a lengthened swingarm for improved stability.

Handling Although it is a tall adventure bike, Child related that the KTM has an on-road connection from chassis to Bridgestone A41 tires. Its off-road-friendly rider aids help increase its accessibility. A 48mm WP Xplor fork and WP Xplor PDS monoshock both provide 8.7 inches of travel. In his review, Child writes: “The WP Xplor suspension is hugely effective, despite the need to be stable at high speed and absorb intense punishment off-road. As expected, there is a lot of suspension movement; you can feel the rear squat under power, and the strong Brembo brakes get the fork diving like a toddler when a car backfires, but the movement has control.… The feedback and control from those excellent Xplor fork allows you to make the most of the Brembo’s strong stopping power.”

Brakes Situated with cornering ABS and an off-road-specific ABS mode, the braking system proves it is ready to take on diverse surfaces. The Brembo units are the same as the previous model year: a four-piston radial mount caliper with dual 320mm discs and two-piston Brembo caliper with a 287mm disc. Child reports that stopping power is strong and cornering ABS is excellent.

The 1290 Super Adventure R’s ride modes (Street, Sport, Off-Road, and Rain) gain a 6-axis IMU and less intrusive traction control. The optional Rally mode provides the most off-road flexibility with nine levels of adjustable traction control. Users can also add KTM’s optional Rally Pack and Tech Pack that includes a quickshifter, hill-hold control, and motor-slip regulation. Off-Road ABS comes standard, however, and decreases ABS activation on the front wheel while disengaging ABS on the rear.

Quality Versatile, tech-rich, and now more approachable to a wider range of riders, the updated 1290 Super Adventure R sets a benchmark for its class.

High Level of Spec In addition to the riding modes, rider aids, and 7-inch TFT screen, there are plenty of new goodies. Keyless ignition also actuates the fuel cap and seat; yes, that’s an electronically locked seat! As mentioned, it’s just a shame the Quickshifter+ is optional, as is the hill hold control. As you would expect, KTM offers touring cases made from aluminum by Touratech. A top box isn’t listed in the accessories catalogue, but a soft luggage bag is. As usual, KTM offers an Akrapovič slip-on silencer.

KTM Super Adventure R Verdict I was a huge admirer of the old Super Adventure R, both on and off-road, and that’s still a good bike. But KTM has upped the game for 2021. The ADV R is now more manageable for most riders, and is no longer a bike just for experts. The new subframe, seat, and multi-adjustable controls mean the R will now fit everyone and isn’t as daunting as before. The new switch gear and impressive TFT dash are a big step forward over the old bike.

King of all Roads The newly launched KTM 1290 Super Adventure R 2017 bike comes with the perfect ergonomics having a weight of 240 kg. The chassis has an outstanding geometry and excellent suspension. The seat offers maximum support, feedback and freedom of movement. It provides the maximum of liberty for both rider and passenger. If rider forgets the ignition keys and mechanically locked fuel caps, all he needs is a transponder in his pocket. This bike features a fantastic electronics package of Bosch MSC. This bike features a multifunctional LED headlight. The central aluminium parts hold the LEDs and keep the unit cool. The lean angle sensor of the MSC system adjusts their intensity in real-time. The ergonomics of the bike can be adapted to suit the preference and stature of the rider. It allows two handlebar clamping positions, two footpegs positions. The height of windshield can be changed according to the preference of rider.