KTM launched the flagship variant of its adventure tourer, the 1290 Super Adventure R, bestowed with a serious kit to take you off the beaten path!
The latest iteration of the adventure tourer gets a few significant updates in the form of a new chassis, new equipment, electronics, and other minor improvements to make it a complete off-roading package on two wheels.
Starting with the powertrain department, KTM retained the familiar 1301cc LC8 V-Twin engine platform, albeit 3.5 lb lighter, and with revisions made to comply with Euro-5 specifications. Euro-5 compliance is attributed to the lighter engine case, new pistons, altered coatings, and a revised exhaust unit. With the new engine, the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R produces 160 hp and 101.8 lb-ft of torque.
The gearbox has also been revised with a 6-speed PANKL transmission accompanied by a lighter shifting drum for more slick and precise gearshifts. All internal parts get a special Diamond-Like Carbon coating reducing friction between parts and improving performance. The engineers reworked the airbox with vertically ribbed filters is accessible by simply removing four screws, which could come in handy should you get a little carried away on rough terrain.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R gets a fresh shiny orange chrome-molybdenum stainless steel trellis frame featuring laser-cut tubes and forged elements, along with adjustments to the steering head by 15 degrees and the front engine casing by 2 degrees to maximize front-end feel. Consequently, KTM extended the open-lattice swingarm by 15 mm to improve handling in the dirt. It houses a three-part 23-liter fuel tank with two fuel cells on either end along with a central unit. It uses the top shelf fully adjustable WP XPLOR 48 mm front forks and a flagship PDS mono-shock at the rear, offering 220 mm travel each.
KTM kitted the 1290 Super Adventure R with a specially designed set of aluminum spoke rims by Alpina with a new sealing system designed to fit tubeless tires, i.e., a set of off-road spec Bridgestone A41 tires. Stopping power comes from radially mounted Brembo 4-pot calipers actuating dual 320 mm discs at the front and a two-pot fixed caliper with a single 267 mm disc at the rear. It is complemented by dual-channel 9M+ ABS developed by Bosch.
The bike’s electronics get a major update with various riding modes and settings accessed on the 7-inch tilt-adjustable TFT display. A 6-way illuminated switchgear on the handlebar makes it convenient to switch between multiple riding modes. The KTM 1290 Super Adventure R gets four riding modes as standard and an optional Rally mode if one chooses the Rally pack.
The Rally mode allows one to set their preferred throttle response along with nine-level traction control. A six-axis internal measurement unit adds cornering ABS & traction control functionality and support for a ride-by-wire system. Crucial for an adventure touring bike, KTM also included a tire pressure monitoring system warning the rider in case it drops below the optimal level. Support for the KTM My Ride app is also available with turn-by-turn navigation, call and music controls from the smartphone.
The silhouette remains mostly the same, except for a new exhaust layout and some subtle changes made to the ergonomics. The seat height has been lowered by 10 mm to 880 mm, and KTM added adjustable footpegs to improve rider comfort over long distances and terrains. The headlamp gets upgraded to a full LED unit included with cornering lamps and DRLs.
With an asking price of £15,999 ($ 22,315) for the Super Adventure R, it still misses out on a quick-shifter as standard, but it is offered as a separate accessory.
The bike will be phased out to showrooms starting by early March and is expected to arrive on North American shores by fall 2021.
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