2021 1290S

GS Blinkerati/Boxerlust……look away now.

Chris Northover and another of his honest reviews.

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Well, Chris Northover works at BMW offroad school :D

Raced in National Superstock, was a journalist for superbike magazine before continuing in the USA and moved back here.
 
Well, Chris Northover works at BMW offroad school :D

Raced in National Superstock, was a journalist for superbike magazine before continuing in the USA and moved back here.

Was he the rider here as well . normal day out for me and and a mate in Wales . traction off , nice sky view and plenty of " one wheels enough "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6C9QMQY-DE
 
Picked my new KTM 1290 SAS at the weekend. I also have a 2019 1250GSA. Poor experience my BMW Dealer in Ireland pushed me to try the KTM.
My first impression of the KTM is that it is an excellent bike, much better than I expected. Probably better handling and definitely more power over the BMW. I will be doing back to back tests in the coming weeks. 🤔 The KTM is currently ahead!! 🙄
 
I wouldn't be high speed jumping a GS like that. Those forks aren't man enough.


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Im fine , full tractive , Rapid bike smart , full akro . goes like stink and takes all in its abused path like the video shows , tc off , skys your limit.
 
Picked my new KTM 1290 SAS at the weekend. I also have a 2019 1250GSA. Poor experience my BMW Dealer in Ireland pushed me to try the KTM.
My first impression of the KTM is that it is an excellent bike, much better than I expected. Probably better handling and definitely more power over the BMW. I will be doing back to back tests in the coming weeks. �� The KTM is currently ahead!! ��

Hope you have an Iron Arse as most reviews seem to pick this up ...they do look fun tho :thumb2:thumb2
 
Just had the 1290 Adventure S out for a couple of hours. Most probably the best alround bike I've ever ridden.
 
Just had the 1290 Adventure S out for a couple of hours. Most probably the best alround bike I've ever ridden.

Just done 150 miles into Wales and back. Rain stopped play out there but the bike just gets better and better. It's loosening up a bit and as a make fast progress bike I've not ridden anything like it.

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Stunning looking bike there Apex.
I wonder how many are sold in the Grey as opposed to Orange .?
I thought it looked a little to easy to mark with that matt finish
Enjoy
 
It should be gloss so they can rock the Darth Vader look from the new face ;)
The bike is tarting to grow on me. Not quite as fugly as on first glance.
 
Picked my 1290 up today - just amazing felt at home straight away. Having come from the last 1290 SAS this is a massive improvement, balanced, refined and so much control. Also having had a few GSAs the anti-dive just does the Telelever flat braking so so well. I just can't stop riding it!

After an hour today I even found the seat comfy!

Looking forward to a 600 mile week for my first service!

Arrow exhausts got back to me today to tell me that in two weeks they will have an end can available to order to replace the monster standard can.


<img src="https://i.vgy.me/FH66Bb.jpg" alt="FH66Bb.jpg">

<img src="https://i.vgy.me/vGJAnK.jpg" alt="vGJAnK.jpg">
 
Picked my 1290 up today - just amazing felt at home straight away. Having come from the last 1290 SAS this is a massive improvement, balanced, refined and so much control. Also having had a few GSAs the anti-dive just does the Telelever flat braking so so well. I just can't stop riding it!

After an hour today I even found the seat comfy!

Looking forward to a 600 mile week for my first service!

Arrow exhausts got back to me today to tell me that in two weeks they will have an end can available to order to replace the monster standard end can

Remove all stickers. It's the law.

Have fun. You will.

I actually don't mind the end can. Better looking than the last 1290 stocker. It is big though.


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Stunning looking bike there Apex.
I wonder how many are sold in the Grey as opposed to Orange .?
I thought it looked a little to easy to mark with that matt finish
Enjoy

I've no idea.

The matt grey was a coin flip. I don't love either really. Hoping to go the R colours route with it at some point. Winter project maybe


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Right! Gone and done it. The BMW is being PX’d and deposit paid on a “fully loaded” 1290 coming next month. First non bmw for a decade and my first orange bike. Can’t wait.
Happy days ;-)
 
A few weeks ago a mate of mine rang me to tell me he'd swapped his Explorer for a 2020 Adventure S and asks if I'd ridden one? No is my reply but I did have and extended ride on an 1190 adventure a few years ago. A fabulous piece of kit, to full on for my style and I was knackered after a couple of hours riding it. Go and give one a go he says, na happy with my 2021 Guzzi V85 Centenario says I.
But, my interest was piqued and I have a very good relationship with my local KTM dealer (Teasdales) so I arranged to take one out. I've owned a lot of bikes in my 50+ years of riding, but rarely have I been so impressed within the first 15 minutes of getting on a bike. The electronics put me off at first, I'm the original techno numpty, but the Adventure S is very easy to navigate. I'm very short in the leg but just lower the preload and I can almost flat foot the bike, once on the move you can jack the back end up again then let it down once you've stopped playing, very clever. The motor is super smooth and fueling is near perfect. For me it was great on every road surface but, one of the best things, it didn't make you feel as though you had to wring it's neck all of the time and was happy just to bimble, but boy does it lift it's skirts when you want it to.
I thought my days of 1200+ adventure bikes where over, think again mister. I honestly believe this is probably the best alround bike I've ever ridden. Very sad to see the V85 go, but I'll have another one day.
 
Picked my 1290 up today - just amazing felt at home straight away. Having come from the last 1290 SAS this is a massive improvement, balanced, refined and so much control. Also having had a few GSAs the anti-dive just does the Telelever flat braking so so well. I just can't stop riding it!

After an hour today I even found the seat comfy!

Looking forward to a 600 mile week for my first service!

Arrow exhausts got back to me today to tell me that in two weeks they will have an end can available to order to replace the monster standard can.


<img src="https://i.vgy.me/FH66Bb.jpg" alt="FH66Bb.jpg">

<img src="https://i.vgy.me/vGJAnK.jpg" alt="vGJAnK.jpg">


Ooh Arrow!! I emailed SC Project but they don’t have a timeline yet so the dustbin will have to stay a little longer - will take a look at the arrow offering though. 👍

Enjoy the new 1290 - I love my R
 
Hi Guys.
Thinking of jumping ship from bmw to the KTM 1290.
Seems like there is pretty much universal approval for the new bike with the exception of the seat and indicator issues.
Couple of questions if I may.
Has anyone bought the R version, if so what there opinion etc?
Like the look of the R colour scheme, spoked wheels and the bash plate and engine guards come fitted. Though admittedly I’m unlikely to go off road much!
What else do you get for the extra £1000 base price on the R?
Also what are the lead times on the new 1290 ( S or R versions).
Thanks chaps.
Jez (dirtybiker)

I've had the R version a few weeks and I have got to say I love it - it's replaced a 2017 GSA TB and feels so much smaller than that - it'll not be used off road in anger as I have another bike for that and the reason I went for the R was simply I like the looks better. The indicator I've not had any issue with but can see why it can be an issue - but the dealer demonstrated that the best way to operate it was instead of a push in to cancel its more a push down - works ok for me so far
 


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