Photo: original photo by autoevolution
Truth is, the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure is already impressive when reading about all it can do, and knowing how serious KTM are when it comes to off-roading only makes things better. Funny thing, aside its somewhat bulky looks, this bike doesn’t let out much info. However, once you grab a brochure and start delving beneath the fairings, you’ll find yourself in a beautifully strange world.
Some say that the 1290 Super Adventure will be the R1200GS Adventure’s killer. Nothing further from the truth, friends. This bike is so different and emanates a completely different vibe to that of the GS that comparing them is rather hard.
Still, there is definitely a set of features which are aimed at leveling out some scores between these two bikes. Whether these will be heavy enough to change the almost religious following the R1200GS has is doubtful. I’d rather say that those choosing the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure over the 2015 BMW R1200GS Adventure are ready to embark on a new journey.
When it comes to comfort, BMW’s big-bore adventure tourers had always been in advantage. Better seating, a lower seat height, proverbial weather protection and similar boxes have been ticked a long time ago by the Bavarian maker.
All this time, KTM was still committed to manufacturing killer off-road machines with impeccable performance in tough conditions and if possible, squeezing in some degree of comfort.
With the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure, all this has changed. KTM understood that off-road might is just as important as better comfort and top-drawer road safety features.
The brakes are yet another display of high-tech engineering as you'll see in the photos. The front and rear brakes are combined, and the state-of-the-art Bosch 9ME ABS is modulating the braking power according to the sensors and selected scenario. That is, the ABS now works even off the road and even when leaned into a turn, as new algorithms can interpret all the data provided by the sensors and come up with the optimum response in milliseconds.
KTM’s MSC (Motorcycle Stability Control) offers a huge array of possibilities for both street and off-road riding, including multi-stage and multi-mode traction control, and even a motor slip function. Motor slip is the exact opposite of Traction Control and helps smoothing out problems cause by throttle action and gear selection.
Basically, if you abruptly roll off the throttle or downshift strongly, the ECU will use its total control of the RBW system to open up the throttle just enough to compensate for the engine drag and prevent wheels from slipping. Trick, huh?
Plus two things we didn’t know about the 1290 Super Adventure will raise the bar even higher. The first one is the Hill Hold Control (HHC), a function which senses whether the bike is on a slope and will not let go of the rear brake even if you do. That is, until the motorcycle starts moving forward.
The other awesome thing is inspired by the automotive industry, LED cornering lights. The 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure has a LED module on either side of the tank, linked to the lean angle sensor. The system thus knows your approximate track and will light the appropriate number of LED segments to provide enhanced visibility.
Still, there is definitely a set of features which are aimed at leveling out some scores between these two bikes. Whether these will be heavy enough to change the almost religious following the R1200GS has is doubtful. I’d rather say that those choosing the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure over the 2015 BMW R1200GS Adventure are ready to embark on a new journey.
Comfort-focused amenities
The “battle” between zie Austrians and zie Germans is nothing new. KTM dominates the off-road market, a market in which BMW is almost entirely absent. Anyway, in the road bike’s sector, BMW has, as already mentioned, a cult following. The same thing can hardly be said about KTM, even though the Orange Crush is spreading.When it comes to comfort, BMW’s big-bore adventure tourers had always been in advantage. Better seating, a lower seat height, proverbial weather protection and similar boxes have been ticked a long time ago by the Bavarian maker.
All this time, KTM was still committed to manufacturing killer off-road machines with impeccable performance in tough conditions and if possible, squeezing in some degree of comfort.
With the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure, all this has changed. KTM understood that off-road might is just as important as better comfort and top-drawer road safety features.
Car-inspired tech
Although we cant take this baby out in the mud for a spin here at EICMA, the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure comes with semi-active suspensions provided of course, by WP. The Suspension Control Unit monitors and adapts the damping rates in real times according to the selected preset which should turn it into a suitable all-terrain ride. The presets are Soft, Street, Sport and Off-road, all with an anti-dive function.The brakes are yet another display of high-tech engineering as you'll see in the photos. The front and rear brakes are combined, and the state-of-the-art Bosch 9ME ABS is modulating the braking power according to the sensors and selected scenario. That is, the ABS now works even off the road and even when leaned into a turn, as new algorithms can interpret all the data provided by the sensors and come up with the optimum response in milliseconds.
KTM’s MSC (Motorcycle Stability Control) offers a huge array of possibilities for both street and off-road riding, including multi-stage and multi-mode traction control, and even a motor slip function. Motor slip is the exact opposite of Traction Control and helps smoothing out problems cause by throttle action and gear selection.
Basically, if you abruptly roll off the throttle or downshift strongly, the ECU will use its total control of the RBW system to open up the throttle just enough to compensate for the engine drag and prevent wheels from slipping. Trick, huh?
What else?
As for the rest, writing about the 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure could take days. We’ll only add the 160 hp max power, 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque, of which 108 Nm (80 lb0-ft) are already available from 2,500 revs, a 30-liter (7.9 US gal) tank, heated grips and seats, a generous display and many more. You can check them all out in our mega photo gallery below.Plus two things we didn’t know about the 1290 Super Adventure will raise the bar even higher. The first one is the Hill Hold Control (HHC), a function which senses whether the bike is on a slope and will not let go of the rear brake even if you do. That is, until the motorcycle starts moving forward.
The other awesome thing is inspired by the automotive industry, LED cornering lights. The 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure has a LED module on either side of the tank, linked to the lean angle sensor. The system thus knows your approximate track and will light the appropriate number of LED segments to provide enhanced visibility.
Google News