My new KTM 1190 Adventure R

[Gremlin]

Obviously everyone's seen Mr Birch playing silly buggers on the clay on it?

WAFGC

One has to wonder if the bike looked like the R1 test ride video afterwards

So not fair one guy gets that much skill

[Devil]

I hadn't got around to watching that vid and just did. Dear god that boy has talent. Mud/clay on road tyres on a 230kg bike has me breaking out in a cold sweat.

[CBR4ME]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2NTgIN8xs

Unit !!!!!!

[Devil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2NTgIN8xs

Unit !!!!!!

Dude. Look up about 4 posts.

[CBR4ME]

Dude. Look up about 4 posts.

Yea sorry bout that, my bad

But shit that boy can ride !!! Ive riden mountain bikes in there & that hard enough.

[JimmyC]

Where is that location?

[paturoa]

Have u got it yet I got mine 1000ks on the clock already

You lucky lucky bastard!

I'm saving like crazy to get enough money together. It has now moved from a dream to a "when".

Edit: Though it is competing with Mrs P who is currently eyeing up a 68 mustang ragtop, suspect it may be her turn for a new toy -

[White trash]

You lucky lucky bastard!

I'm saving like crazy to get enough money together. It has now moved from a dream to a "when".

Edit: Though it is competing with Mrs P who is currently eyeing up a 68 mustang ragtop, suspect it may be her turn for a new toy -

Luckily, I know a guy who works in a KTM dealership and owes you a pretty big favour.

[CBR4ME]

Haha more of Birch, but this time getting it stuck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3w8l4OI14U

Starts off with Enduro Cross practice....

[CBR4ME]

Where is that location?

Its out the back of Glenn Eden

[nzspokes]

Its out the back of Glenn Eden

In the cemetery, look out for old bones.

[1KTM]

You lucky lucky bastard!

I'm saving like crazy to get enough money together. It has now moved from a dream to a "when".

Edit: Though it is competing with Mrs P who is currently eyeing up a 68 mustang ragtop, suspect it may be her turn for a new toy -

I was running in the shop domo bike for wheels of thames because I am ordering one

[paturoa]

Took the standard 19" model for a very short test ride this morning. Sure has some boogie above 6k rpm. It lifts the front wheel at 100kmph in 3rd gear with just a roll on of the throttle.

Ride impression was:
- Felt very much like I was sitting on top the bike. The sensation was that I was much higher than on the strom, but I doubt it as when I was standing still with both feet on the ground it was only marginally higher. Expect the R model to be even more so as it is definetly higher and I can't flat foot when stationary. Also the R's screen is a lot shorter so I'd expect that to enhance the height sensation.
- Siting on the R model with both feet on the ground, has both heels about 3 cm off the ground, so somewhere between tippy toe and flat foot. I understand that the R's seat is not height adjustable, does anyone know for sure?
- The T model seat is not even close to being as comfortable as my K9 strom. It has a ridge line on each side that "cut in" to my arse cheeks, unless I sat back in the seat where it is flatter. It is also very firm and my big fat lardy arse was signaling even after a 20 minute ride that perhaps a long trip might develop a bit of monkey butt. They didn't have a demonstrator R model and the seat looks and feels to be quite similar to the T but without the ridges. It also has a "fabric" finish to get stained and retain mud.
- The standard zorst was louder than I expected and sounds vtwin cool at lower revs. As the speed picks up it can't be heard unless you chop it down a couple of cogs and wot.
- The power parts akro is over $2000 for just the can - ouch! It connects under the foot pegs with a very wide diameter sleeve flange so another manufature's can would require quite a lot of custom pipe work to connect.
- The KTM luggage mounts are already on the bike.
- The rear zorst has a heat shield that got quite hot, and dont even think about touching the can anywhere else. Soft luggage would definetly need some sort of frame made up as it would melt anywhere it touched the can or zorst.
- The demonstrator bike had rust showing on the stainless steel zorst where the bracket that goes all the way around holds it. Suspect that there is a missing plastic thingie, or that it just melted.
- The standard screen was in its highest position and there was minimal buffetting on my adv style helmet.
- Did I mention it has a bunch of get go above 6k? Perhaps a radar detector would be mandatory.
- The suspenders on the road, no twisties except a couple of round abouts on the test ride, were was not noticably different to the strom. As to be expected as they have similar travel and weight to contend with. I expect that it would probably be qutie different on rough and bumpy stuff as the Strom's suspenders are budget.
- The front brake is two finger easy, not one finger, and easily hauls up the bike with plenty of feel.
- I have no recollection of the rear brake so in hindsight that probably means it is similar to the strom which is a wooden thing at best.
- I'd read quite a few times that both bikes look better than the photos and I'd have to agree. Though I think that the T model is at the ugly end of the spectrum (I know I ride a strom, so that makes me qualified to speak on this ok). The R model is much more eaasy on the eye, but is still a long way off being called eye candy.
- I bumped the horn and thought that I'd run over a kitten.
- I recently had lasic eye surgery and struggle to ready my stroms digital stuff. I doubt that the katie's is any bigger but it was easy to read.
- The side stand bottom plate is pathetically small and the bike would be on its side within seconds in many places.
- The inidcator switch is weird, but OK when I worked out that it works on pressure rather than a move sideways push sort of thing.
- I didn't get to sample the traction control or abs.
- Headed up the northern motorway and did throttle roll ons from 90ks. In 6th it was strong but not spectular and surprisingly smooth. 5th was getting the grin going and would be excellent for those short straight over takes. 4th was real strong and probably un-necessary. 3rd was a hoot, it just goes like a crazy thing. There is quite a noticable step in the accleration at about 100ks and the front wheel lifts in a power stand (sorry orificer). The rev light is quite noticable.
- I don't recall seeing any other idiot lights other than neutral.
- Engine braking is what I'd call normal for a sporty large v-twin.
- Shifting gears both up and down is nice and smooth. Not notchy at all. Note that you must blip the throttle on all down shifts.
- Back at the bike shop I stopped and was able to get the bike front on and reflecting in the window of the shop next door. The low beam and led lights were very visible and the small size indicators were plenty bright. But where is the high beam / low beam switch? Them mad Austrians forgot it. I found it eventually but had to get off the bike first. On the left hand switch block there is a index finger head light flasher like most modern bikes. If you push it in the opposite direction to "flashing", it toggles the high beam light on. Both the high and low beams are concurrently on.
- The hand guards look like they would be quite effective for branch and wind protection, except if you dropped the bike I doubt that they would protect the levers as they are just plastic.
- The bars are further forward and lower than I like, but some bar risers would quickly fix that.
- If you're going anywhere near rocks, absolutely get a sump guard. The standard plastic thing wouldn't protect shite.
- The orange crash bars on the R are quite close to the petrol tank and are requried. The T model has a plastic sacrifical cover where the tank sticks out at the bottom.
- I'd also be looking at a radiator guard as a must have for any gravel road work.


Summary of like (from a short ride and walk around):
- Nice low down and mid range power.
- Nutty top end power for this style of bike!
- The front brake was low effort, plenty of feel and strong.
- Nice clear and easy to read dash.
- Not too tall for me.

Summary of things to be improved / modified:
- definetly the seat
- side stand
- bash plate
- radiator guard
- the price - ouch. My calculations on the back of a post it note come out at $30k on the road insured with no farkles.

[BMWST?]

Obviously everyone's seen Mr Birch playing silly buggers on the clay on it?

WAFGC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2NTgIN8xs

i like how he talks to us/himself

[White trash]

Took the standard 19" model for a very short test ride this morning. Sure has some boogie above 6k rpm. It lifts the front wheel at 100kmph in 3rd gear with just a roll on of the throttle.

Awesome points. I've only just now got the opportunity to spend some time on the standard Adventure on a wet but well groomed gravel road. I had to actually force myself to slow down because I was going faster and faster trying to get it to misbehave. Chuck it in offroad mode, feed it some fat and hang the fuck on! I was absolutely gobsmacked at how hard it will accelerate on the standard Trail attacks. And the ABS is fricken amazing as well, couple of fingers on the front lever and you can feel the front tyre digging in and the thing just stops. You can get the back hanging out in great big, long power slides too but it never gets away from you. Once my brother's got his RM-Z450 sorted I think I'll have jam chasing him down a gravel road to see if the 1190 is actually as fast and composed as it feels.

There's a couple of very real downsides to all of this of course. First, the tricky electronics are soooo clever, they have you believing you're a far better rider than you actually are. Secondly, I've got to mortgage my kids so I can buy an "R" and my wife is going to shit bricks when she finds it parked in the garage. I'll win her over with a 390 Duke when they arrive