There’s no denying that KTM are waging war in our highly competitive South African ‘big-bore’ adventure market. Not satisfied with their pair of 1190s, KTM has just released their biggest, and I mean ‘biggest’ in more ways than one, adventure bike of all time. And guess whom they’re attempting to take market share from? Yes, you’re correct and go buy yourself a large bag o’ apples, because it’s undeniably BMW, or more specifically BMW’s 1200 Adventure, also a massive motorcycle, so let KTM’s ‘massive attack’ begin.
I was invited to the South African launch of KTM’s new white monster, which was held in the rolling hills of Eastern Transvaal, or Mpumalanga as it’s now officially called which, if you’re reading this from another country, is situated next door to the famous Kruger Park.
It’s the perfect spot to ride, quickly, through endless mountain passes, absorbing amazing roads which, thankfully for me, had no off-road bits because the new 1290 Super Adventure weighs in at 229kg (dry), which means, with its huge 30-litre petrol tank and other stuff, you’re rolling around on a motorbike that tips the scales at over 260kg! A bit too intimidating for my frail frame, if you know what I mean?
Thankfully though the 1290 Super Adventure doesn’t have anything like a frail frame and the fully exposed chrome-moly lattice tube work states that, in fact the whole machine oozes strength and ruggedness, which it should being KTM’s new and brash flagship. Inside those tubes sits the massive heart which, in this case, is a 1301cc 75-degree V-twin that produces a very healthy 160hp and an equally huge 140Nm of torque, which are more like superbike figures instead of ‘mere’ adventure bike ones. But if you do decided to venture off-road the ‘off-road’ setting brings the power output to a more accessible 100hp, which is still a lot to handle across a field. But the 1290 is aimed more towards touring on tarmac and their press video enforced this by showing happy touring with the wife on board, or maybe sometimes no too happy with the wife on board? The 1290 will undoubtedly gobble up the kilometers with a projected 500km range due to its massive petrol tank and it’ll be easy on these new touring seats for both rider and pillion and all the other 1290 tasty bits to keep you happy whilst on the move.
Now this all sounds good and well but the main talking point behind the 1290 Super Adventure is the massive bag of electronics that comes as standard equipment, obviously aimed to raise a large ‘finger’ to its BMW nemesis. To be honest I was a bit lost with the wealth of options available but I’m sure new owners will have hours of fun fiddling, resetting and fiddling again? Basically the 1290 Super Adventure has one of the most advanced electronic packages ever seen on any motorbike, ever but, say no more, take a trip to www.ktm.co.za which will explain all in a more professional manner than I can folks.
The 1290 also has super fancy semi-active WP suspension, which means whatever set up you chose from the menu, selected from the left switchgear, the computer will take over and constantly reset the best parameters for your riding conditions – very clever that! Personally I found the front end to feel a little ‘vague’ at times and much prefer the ‘normal’ WP forks found on their brilliant 1190 Adventure R, but perhaps I didn’t fiddle hard enough in that region? But whatever setting I chose on the day there’s no denying this is one big bike and has to be respected for that. Look, you can fly about at silly speeds and pass many ‘racer’ bikes on these sorts of roads, but when you do that it does become quite a physical experience. And, if you swing towards the top side of the rev-counter, there’s quite a bit of vibration waiting for you from the hyper-eager motor, which will catapult you to over 200km in a ridiculously quick and exciting manner. 
However, the best way to enjoy the 1290 Super Adventure is to roll through the bends and waft along reveling in the massive torque it spits out at low rpm (a claimed 108Nm @ 2,500 rpm is very, very impressive for any engine). You do feel like you can conquer the world on this monster and I’d imagine that’s exactly what KTM wanted the new owners to feel, and I certainly won’t argue with them.
To ‘take the world’ you’ll need a, also massive, R229,000 but the 1290 does have more standard extras than the latest Mad Max film, so BMW beware with those bragging rights from now on. The 1290 is, without doubt, the best touring motorcycle KTM has ever produced and for that reason alone many will be sold in SA, so please pop into your local dealer for a test ride if you also want to be ‘massive’ too? But after a day riding the Super Adventure, followed by KTM’s party night, I couldn’t really make up my mind about the new 1290. Then, the next day, we rode the new ‘baby’ 1050 Adventure and I totally fell in love! To be continued….
Go to www.ktm.co.za to find your closest KTM dealer and book a test ride on the 1290 Super Adventure today. 
