KTM 1190 Adventure

[TommyBwell]

I sold my Tenere a couple of months back because I was unable to shift due to a bad left leg. I think I have devised a plan to allow me to do it and I went by the local shop to see if it would work. When I walked in the door I was slapped in the face by a bright orange KTM. I have never considered a KTM before because its hard edge style did not match up with my soft edge riding. This thing is way different. It sits about like the S10 but weighs over 100 pounds less, sports 150 horsepower and has electronically adjustable White Power suspension. I am going to go back Wednesday or Thursday and ride it. So far they do not have a price but KTM has dropped some off at dealers for test rides. I have to say it has my attention.

 

[MrTwisty]

It has my attention too. If I didn't have so much money invested in my S10 I'd be considering it much more seriously. I had an '05 KTM Adventure and it was 10 times better than the S10 on dirt and only slightly worse than the S10 on the street. The missing 100 lbs. felt like 300 lbs. and that LC8 motor is a beast.

I've never owned a bike that made me grin more than the KTM, but it just had too much "character" for me. In other words, I got tired of working on it all the time. Hopefully, KTM has sorted out most of the bugs with the new 1190.

Regardless, I think KTM has certainly raised the bar in the adventure bike market with this one. With new and improved machines from BMW and KTM, don't look for the head-to-head comparisons to be favorable for our beloved S10. I doubt the Beemer will fare well either.

I just hope my will is strong enough to prevent me from selling or trading the S10 for a new KTM. That will be an expensive day.

Y'all go ahead and flame away, but that orange cool-aid is gooood! ::26::

 

[TommyBwell]

MrTwisty I notice you are not too far away. It is Mountain Motorsports in Marietta that has the demo if you want to check it out.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I would NOT get rid of my Tenere but that new KTM is a bad ass bike... If I had the means I would just go get that new KTM and have fun with it for a year... Always keep the ST though.....

 

[MrTwisty]

MrTwisty I notice you are not too far away. It is Mountain Motorsports in Marietta that has the demo if you want to check it out.

I bought my S10 from Mountain Motor Sports. I'm pretty sure they would let my take the demo for a spin.

Actually, I saw Bloke from MMS yesterday at TWO and he was on the 1190 demo. He offered, but I don't want to get my wanter wanting right now.

 

[TommyBwell]

Actually, I saw Bloke from MMS yesterday at TWO and he was on the 1190 demo. He offered, but I don't want to get my wanter wanting right now.

I saw Bloke Saturday in Conyers. He acts like that thing is his. I think KTM might argue with him. I don't blame him for taking possession as long as he can though.

 

[autoteach]

I just want to be accurate, the KTM is 477.4 lbs sans fuel. The yamaha is 578 lbs with full fuel. That puts the KTM at 513 lbs and change for a total difference of ~65 lbs .

 

[escapefjrtist]

MCN has a mini review of the new1190 in the current issue. Pricing wise, they claim that you won't get much change from $20K when it hits the dealers later this year.

I'm with y'all, I think it's a bad-ass bike...something that had my attention -- that is until I came to my senses! A shaft beats a chain any day! ::022::

--G

 

[ArthurBarkhuysen]

I'm interested too

 

[scott123007]

A shaft beats a chain any day! ::022::

--G

Uh, no...not any day.

 

[MrTwisty]

Uh, no...not any day.

I agree. Chains have several advantages over shafts.

 

[Monty]

Hi,

I took one for a test ride and it was amazing. So, so light and amazingly fast with great electronic suspension and engine modes. The best part for me was the feel from the brakes. I have not ridden any sports bikes in recent years, but I imagine the brakes on the KTM are in a similar league. The S10 felt heavy, lethargic and the brakes rather wooden when I rode home from the dealer. This is with the gen 2 reflash too.

Overall I am really in love, and if money was not an issue I would have made the trade already. However, having had a few weeks to let the raw emotions fade a little I am almost convinced that the S10 is all the bike I coukd want, when I know that in fact it is merely all the bike I NEED. The whole "want" thing is very powerful, and I do suffer from shiny bike syndrome every couple of years!

Matt

 

[Ramseybella]

Seems like we may be seeing some used S-10's coming up on the for sale listing?
Never the less drinking the Kool aid (Orange) is an acquired taste, I am sticking to the low maintenance side of things.
New flavor of the month never excited me until it had been out for awhile and taste tested.. ::024::

 

[snakebitten]

I have a 950 LC8 with the monoblock Brembos and the wicked fun quotient.

I'm keeping it too. It's definitely KTM. Nothing quite like it.

But if some law was passed for 1-bike ownership, the Blue bike stays.

The green ones, Red ones, and orange ones go.
Nobody builds anything that FINISHES like the Tenere.
They all can start stuff. But the Yamaha finishes. Period.

 

[redneckK20]

Seeing the reviews on this bike make me want to pound my head into the wall for buying my S10... But being 23 years old and having a lead wrist, the S10 will keep me out of trouble until I'm mature enough to own a sportbike again (used to have an '02 R1), then my speed thirst will be quenched.. The 100 or so hp the S10 makes is already a handful in the dirt, so I feel like more power may not help. But less weight would be a HUGE plus.

 

[polishadam82]

Who knows maybe KTM is as great as they say maybe not but I rather be a black sheep on S10 then be just like everybody else out there riding their orange bikes. Also I think S10 is more reliable then KTM ( I had katooms and also worked on them way to much I just want to put gas change oil and ride)

 

[redneckK20]

I know for a fact the KTM will be more maintenance intense, despite the extended intervals the 1190 has over the 990. But 50 more hp and a decent bit less weight? Ugh.. maybe I'll just strip my S10 down, delete the combined braking, move the battery under the seat and make a giant dirtbike out of it.

 

[avc8130]

I know for a fact the KTM will be more maintenance intense, despite the extended intervals the 1190 has over the 990. But 50 more hp and a decent bit less weight? Ugh.. maybe I'll just strip my S10 down, delete the combined braking, move the battery under the seat and make a giant dirtbike out of it.

To get down to KTM weight you need to make a chain drive swap. After pulling my swingarm it is VERY obvious the shaft drive is one of the main reasons the Yamaha outweighs the competition.

I test rode the KTM. WOW. That is all I can say. I went for ~35 miles including all types of road and even did ~5 miles on gravel. It was a "std" model with the electronic suspension.

The bike was GOOD. Dare I say GREAT.

With that, I'll put another year's riding on my S10 at minimum and watch the "Orange Crush" on that other forum for problems with the 1190. I certainly don't expect it to be unflappable like our S10s.

ac

 

[cosmic]

I just find it utterly ugly... And wtf... Exhaust pipes below the sump... No good...

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