New KTM 1190 Adventure/R

That R does look nice. Wouldn't be any good for me at 5 ft 10 though:comfort

Actually it would!!

I'm 6"1" and with the seat on the low setting as in the pics I can get both feet down flat.On my SE I'm on tip-toe.

I would say 5'10" should be fine !!!
 
Actually it would!!

I'm 6"1" and with the seat on the low setting as in the pics I can get both feet down flat.On my SE I'm on tip-toe.

I would say 5'10" should be fine !!!

Too late:D
 
Loving the sound of the way that engine goes! I've a test on the new GS in a couple of weeks and will have to see if I can sort a back to back with the KTM......

Not looking to replace my old nail just yet,..... just curious.......hope I prefer the KTM though as so far its sounding like much more my kinda thang :)

Andres
 
Sounds good. I loved my 990 so this will be a no brainer if it is as you describe.
Just when i thought i was all nicely settled with my nice and comfy GS :blast
Did you notice much vibration? The 990 had quite a 'v twin' vibe to it.
How was the screen? I'm 5' 10''.
 
Sounds good. I loved my 990 so this will be a no brainer if it is as you describe.
Just when i thought i was all nicely settled with my nice and comfy GS :blast
Did you notice much vibration? The 990 had quite a 'v twin' vibe to it.
How was the screen? I'm 5' 10''.



Didn't notice any vibration !! Mirrors rock steady at a fairly high speed :augie

Screen very good on high setting,no buffeting just some clean airflow.

But I would get the R if I had the cash and that screen is lower.
 
After your report Arsey, I hotfooted it to the Brizzle dealer and their launch is tomorrow. Sat on an 1190 (with wifey as pillion) I may add it was very comfortable so test ride booked for next friday and I can't wait
Nice and leggy considering I am 6ft 2" and the heated seat option gains another 2cm which may be perfect.
Here are some photos from the product brochure:
28444600_JRHRH4

1190%20view-L.jpg

This is a good looking bike eh? :
1190%20road-L.jpg

But is this better still?:
1190R_horizontal-L.jpg

I am hoping that there is some serious two up touring ability:
1190%20with%20pillion-L.jpg

Alloy boxes are available in two sizes:
Boxes-L.jpg

1190R%20boxes-L.jpg

1190%20Orange-L.jpg


Roll on Friday :D
p.s. after years of GS's I do feel sort of sad to talk about this orange stuff.
 
Thanks for that Arsey. I've always fancied a KTM but found the 9090 pretty fugly (but fantastic to ride). It's too early for me to change yet but will try one. I also fancy the 690 Duke
 
In my mind, I've been running the idea of changing my 1200 GSA next year, and each couple of months, have gone from Multistrada to ST10 to GS1200LC to KTM 1190 Adv and back again.

Kicked the Multi and the ST10 out the equation about 6 months ago, and narrowed it down to the GS.....................

Now, after reading these reports - the KTM is right back up there :blast

On a side note - I don't see any advantage in KTM purchasing WP. When WP were independant, they put their name to a product - looking after their reputation. KTM-ownership means that they can produce "budget" suspension with the WP branding - on KTM bikes.

Al :thumb2
 
Have to say that coming home from the NEC show, it was the KTM 1190 that had been the stand out bike of the show for me. The new GS just didn't do it and actually I thought it looked quite cheap in many areas. I was in my KTM dealers this week and I still think that the 1190 looks the biz, even tho' the GS was a whole load better looking in its showroom. At least with the GS, 1190 and Tiger Sport to try out later on this year, it'll be fun deciding if one can tempt me to part with the dosh.
 
I so wanted to like it, I had been holding off on a 990 waiting to see what the new bike was like, and I hate the looks of it, I mean I really hate it, I think it is one of the most ugly bikes I have seen.
Still on the plus side I went to the dealers and now have a 990 as my mind was made up for me.
For me its such a missed oportunity.
 
The 1190, amongst other things has optional equipment including
a tyre warmer :thumby:
69009085100-1_pu.jpg

Also a lithium battery at 1/3 the weight of usual lead acid lump, capable of achieving a 90% charge in 6 mins, but £167 :eek: I suppose Boeing have done the research.
 
Filthy, wet and in many places snowy day today, so took the 1190 to St Tropez for a blast
IMAG0209-L.jpg

Oops sorry, getting carried away there, WSM in the rain.
Do I like this bike... ooh yeah
-ve's first:
Big negative for my wife, after 25 miles she could not go further due to hip pain because she says that the foot pegs are too high, so I took her home.
Look at the pillion leg position in this KTM official pic :
1190%20with%20pillion-L.jpg

In this high leg position, pillion's don't have the a ability to counter balance acceleration for comfort.
It's smaller and less of a presence than a GSA. I am not a fat guy but am 6ft 2" Smaller bike size will be an advantage off road:
IMAG0214-L.jpg

Neutral hard to find.
IMAG0206-L.jpg

During daylight you get LED only with no way of switching the dipped beam on. (I believe that is now some sort of requirement):
IMAG0219-L.jpg


+ve's
Engine power PHWOAR and goes like stink even two up.I dropped it down into RAIN mode, because it was rather wet and that put me back to 2007GSA territory.
Lots of ride quality options available, all easy to select and COMFORT was best two up.
Handling superb, very light and very flickable. Couldn't fault it and probably couldn't beat it.
Standard screen MUCH better that my GSA and both rider and pillion had no buffeting whatsoever up to legal speeds, Very impressive indeed.
IMAG0217-L.jpg

Engine deliciously smooth up to legal speeds
Gearbox very slick. Clutch very light
Slipper clutch is so smooth that you literally cannot feel it engaging and you can zip smoothly up and down two gears with speed and hardly any jerking. (Couldn't do that so smoothly on my GSA )
1st gear very low so easy to do slow speed control
Holds line superbly on bends , but I've been riding TKC8O's for the last three years, so I suppose anything may feel good, but I'll say it anyway.

Really like this bike, really really do, but I haven't tested the 2013 GS yet. Rear foot pegs are a deal breaker for my wife as they are though, but that must be easily correctable because the foot peg mounting bracket is a bolt on option and it cries out for an aftermarket alternative.
 
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When the snow slings its hook I'll be popping off for a test ride. Do they still use inner tubes? On my 950 they just seemed to be puncture magnets.
 
No inner tubes, it has spoked wheels but tubeless tyres, similar in principle to BMW spoked wheels... but patented and different :
'Wire-spoked wheels for tubeless tyres featuring airtight rim beds patented by KTM. The rims on the 1190 Adventure combine all the benefits of a tubeless tyre (easy fitting and dynamic advantages due to no inner tube) with the stability and robustness of a wire-spoked wheel. This set-up makes the Adventure’s rims substantially more resilient than all the competition’s cast and spoked wheels – an added bonus, especially in hard offroad riding.'

Taken from a good technical summary here

There are a lot of superlatives in many reviews it could be a GS beater, but I haven't ridden the 2013 LC yet. The 1190 is so light, so powerful and handles so well that It'll take a lot to beat. The pillion issue HOWEVER, could be a deal breaker for me.

For those now paranoid about tank slappers:
"With so much propulsive power, the front wheel can become very light, which can quickly lead to unpleasant kick-back on uneven roads or following a slight stimulus at the handlebar. The Adventure prevents this safely with a reliable and sensitive WP steering damper.'
 
Can you tell that I'm in danger of becoming over obsessed about this machine but on balance, there is one more negative that I can think about:
A GS crashes better than any other bike that I know and there is nothing better for your legs than a pair of horizontal cylinders. I binned my GSA so many times off road with zero damage whatsoever, other than head protectors:
i-TNLPgZB-M.jpg

This KTM will not get off so lightly
 
I had a look at the KTM yesterday at Fowlers MC. Not tested it yet though.
But its just so damn fugly, in a truly fugly way. :eek
Yeah i know the GS/GSA isn't a pretty bike, but it has rugged good looks.:augie

That KTM just looks like a Vstoms ugly cousin...:blast

The KTM SMT looks much nicer....:thumby:
 


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