I can add one for my extended affair with the Austrian Orange a tang 1190 Adventure.
This is not a new model, or the big Super Adventure 1290 that they sell now, it's is the 2014 1190, which was KTMs first real move to take on BMW at the GS game. Before this, they had the 990 V2 range with the Dakar replica bikes, the SuperMoto and the SMT.
So this bike is trying to be good at everything .... 2 up touring, off roading, and because it's a KTM they also want it to be "ready to Race" so it has to have the houligan DNA of their competition bikes.... But being a jack of all trades is usually a recipe for loads of crap compromises !
So for a 2014 bike this has lots of electronics, this KTM had the most advanced electronic aids of any bike out there when it was launched.
Electronic throttle with 4 ride modes (sport, street, rain, off-road) each of which changes the settings for throttle, ABS, TC and suspension, as well as the throttle action (and clips the power to 100 for rain & offroad)
Cornering ABS that will add back brake automatically when the ABS triggers off the front, And an off road setting that lets you lock up the back wheel.
A very refined multi level Traction control, with an off road setting that lets the rear wheel spin 10% higher than the front for that controlled drift.
Electric adjustable suspension, not the modern adaptive suspension that changes based on how you are riding and what the road is like, on this set up you just tell it what load and what kind of damping you want and it makes the changes for you.
But no cruise control
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
It's still the LC8 V2 motor that was used on the last evolution of the RC8 superbike, but in a much more flexible tune for midrange at the expense of the top end.
It comes in 2 specifications, the R and the normal model. The R is the more off road focused version, with a thinner 21" front wheel in place of the 19" , longer travel, non electrically adjustable WP suspension, and a lower screen. Both models have tubeless spoked wheels.
I have got the non R model.
First impressions are of its size and weight, it is much longer, higher, wider and heavier than the storm.
The seat height (with the comfort gel and heated aftermarket seat option), even in its lowest setting is still bloody tall even for a lanky bastid like me, but the riding position is very comfortable with plenty of legroom, knees at a nice bend and those wide dirt bike bars giving a more upright stance.
Once you ride off, then you notice the engine .... That is where the holigan element is waiting to tempt you to play
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I mostly ride in SPORT mode as it gives the most direct throttle reaction and sets the damping to the stiffer end of the range for the long travel adventure suspension, but have used Street for when I am 2 up and want the just waft round the lanes without frightening the pillion..
For the handling and stopping side of the equation, you are already going to pay the price for long travel suspension and the extra weight you are carrying, so there is a lot more weight transfer and fork dive under braking, and when moving at speed it would like to wallow a bit mid corner if you sit with a neutral throttle.
BUT.... It is a very composed frame and suspension set up, and if you decide to ride it aggressively, like a big SuperMoto, it gives you a cheeky wink and says "bring it on".
Pile deep into bends heavy on the front brembo's, and then transfer to a large handful of gas as soon as the bend starts to open out.... It now starts to feel pretty sporty and is both composed and giving lots of feed back. Only quick flip/flop direction changes are a struggle with the extra size fighting against you.
Riding like this, you end up with a big smile on your face, and growing respect for the capability of the bike, and a lot of people questioning how a nutter on an adventure bike just road round the outside of their sports bike.
![Twisted Evil :twisted:](./images/smilies/icon_twisted.gif)
![Waving :wave:](./images/smilies/icon_wave.gif)
Load it up with luggage and it does take the edge off the SuperMoto side a bit, but in both wet and dry conditions I was able to enjoy the bends and make indecent progress.
For long distance riding, it is pretty good, I did a few 350mile days one after the other, and it was no problem, the tank is good for 220miles, but there are some parts that are less than perfect (compared to a full on tourer, obviously already better than a storm!)
The of lack of cruise control, a bit of vibration if you are just sitting at constant throttle, a sit up riding position puts all the pressure on your elbow, so you do start to feel that and shuffle, and there is dirty air coming off the screen (or mirrors or hand guards) that adds noise and a buffeting (again this is already better than a storm, but you start to notice it when doing motorway 90mph miles).
You don't feel tired when you get off the bike, your concentration is better through the ride, you are thinking "I wonder where that road goes" never "it's time to get home". And if you saw my NI & NC500 pictures, you will see I covered 2300 miles in 11 days and still managed an average speed of 54mph.
So after that extended test ride, I can now conclude that a genre of bike I wouldn't normally have looked at, the potentially compromised Jack of All Trades Adventure bike, in the KTM flavour at least, is in fact a perfect all rounder, and still has the ability to attack bends like a holigan and make you smile.
I think the fact that KTM chose to compromise the touring part of the equation to still keep the off road and sports bike DNA (compared to BMW and Triumph competition) is where is wins for me, as that is where the smile comes from.
Everybody should try one
![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)