Intermot 2016: KTM reveals updated 1290 Adventure line
KTM has just revealed a revamped adventure bike line-up at Intermot. The line-up earlier consisted of the 1050 Adventure at the bottom and the bonkers 1190 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure at the top. Earlier, there was a big gap between the 95PS 1050 Adventure and the 150PS 1190 Adventure and 160PS 1290 Super Adventure. KTM seeks to fix that in 2017 with a new range that is more equally split. The new 1090Â uses a 125PS V-twin engine while the 1290 makes the full fat 160PS.
With that out of the way, let's delve into the new 1290 range. KTM has revealed three versions, starting with the 1290 Super Adventure S. This is essentially the base bike in the range and features alloy wheels (19-inch front, 17-inch rear). Suspension is also shorter travel and the seat is lower (an adjustable 860-875mm vs 890mm on the 1290 Super Adventure R). The S uses semi active WP suspension that allows the rider to make adjustments via the digital dash. The bike is packed with electronic assists like cornering ABS and motorcycle stability control. Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres are standard.
Then there's the 1290 Super Adventure T which offers all of the above but with spoke wheels, and finally the off-road biased 1290 Super Adventure R which gets a large 21-inch front wheel that supports tubeless tyres and has a tyre-pressure monitoring system. Long travel suspension offers up to 220mm of travel in the front and rear. Electronic features include a bi-directional quick shifter, hill-hold control and off-road ABS.
All the bikes get a redesigned face with new LED headlamps that are bound to polarise opinion.