Photo: Touratech
Spy shots of KTM’s new big-bore weapon surfaced on the web, with the bile apparently out for some road tests around the Mattighoffen factory in Austria.
We could take a peek at some copyright-protected photos, and the new bike does not appear to be dramatically different from the current 1190 Adventure. The first thing we observed was the 19’ front wheel, a rather clear hint for the road touring purpose of the new machine. Adding in the Continental Trail Attack tires deepens the thought that KTM is looking to give BMW a run for its money, with a street-touring version of the 1190 Adventure to provide better comfort and steal some of the BMW customers.
Given the presumed orientation of the new bike, we were expecting KTM to load the new bike with cast wheels, but it looks like the off-road component was left intact, even though hitting wet trails with those tires is still a no-no and requires a completely different approach for the otherwise potent bike.
As far as the photos showed, KTM revised the side panels, front cowl and added a slightly larger windscreen with a very touring “lip” for better protection. It may turn out that that fuel tanks also got larger, expanding the range the 1190 provides. Still behind the BMW R1200GS, the fuel economy of the KTM 1190 Adventure is around the 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km), while the German machines post 38 mpg (6.1 l/100 km), both being average figures.
The new KTM also showed a new type of engine guards, which seemed sturdier, given their revised architecture, with two steel tubes closing in to each other in the place where the crashbars are expected to meet the ground as the bike flips. While a debate between the fans of both bikes could last for months, one thing is certain: so far, the BMW provides the rider and passenger with better touring comfort and better mileage, while the KTM offers a significantly sportier and aggressive riding stance and way better “offroadability”. More details soon.
Given the presumed orientation of the new bike, we were expecting KTM to load the new bike with cast wheels, but it looks like the off-road component was left intact, even though hitting wet trails with those tires is still a no-no and requires a completely different approach for the otherwise potent bike.
As far as the photos showed, KTM revised the side panels, front cowl and added a slightly larger windscreen with a very touring “lip” for better protection. It may turn out that that fuel tanks also got larger, expanding the range the 1190 provides. Still behind the BMW R1200GS, the fuel economy of the KTM 1190 Adventure is around the 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km), while the German machines post 38 mpg (6.1 l/100 km), both being average figures.
The new KTM also showed a new type of engine guards, which seemed sturdier, given their revised architecture, with two steel tubes closing in to each other in the place where the crashbars are expected to meet the ground as the bike flips. While a debate between the fans of both bikes could last for months, one thing is certain: so far, the BMW provides the rider and passenger with better touring comfort and better mileage, while the KTM offers a significantly sportier and aggressive riding stance and way better “offroadability”. More details soon.
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