KTM 1290 Super Adventure R (2023) Review
Sitting atop the adventure bike category are a host of large displacement machines that are more than capable of taking a rider just about anywhere. The pinnacle of KTM's adventure offering, the Super Adventure in R trim is the most capable yet and spent a week exploring the wilds of the Highveld.
Emperor of Adventure
Introduced way back in the heady days of 2015, the 1290 Super Adventure has become the orange brands segment leader. Large displacement adventure bikes, though loosing their shine, still make up a large proportion of premium bike sales in South Africa with the BMW GS still holding onto the top spot. Nipping at the Bavarian's heels is the Austrian challenger, offering a host of electronic wizardry and a riding experience suited to those who do head for roads less traveled.
Related: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT (2023) Review
As the flagship model in KTM's adventure lineup and being the only adventure model still sporting a V-twin engine, the Super Adventure R carries the crown of adventure king. With a slimmer profile and features that would make a Rallye racer blush, the 1290 is really like a giant dirtbike. We had the opportunity to test the Super Adventure in and around Gauteng, seeking out and exploring for new filming locations.
Styling
If there is one thing that KTM does very well is the design of its machines. It is easy to spot the Dakar/Rallye heritage in their design. Aggressive lines and a colour scheme that is instantly noticeable make the 1290 stand out. Upfront there is an LED headlight arrangement with a height-adjustable windscreen that actually works. An orange-stressed member trellis frame peeks out from beneath the profiled fairing, that is arranged to direct heat away from the rider, which flows seamlessly into the shaped fuel tank.
The R model is equipped with a number of styling features as standard such as the orange crash bars, belly pan, serrated footpegs, fat handlebars and tubeless spoked wheels which all add to the offroad prowess of the bike and arent just for show.
Tech and Features
With the Super Adventure being the halo model it comes with a host of rider aids and electronic wizardry allowing the rdier to setup up the bike for whatever terrain you choose to take on. The 7" TFT screen allows the rider to see a crisp and clean layout of the various ride modes of which there are the standard 4 modes of Street, Sport, Rain and Offroad. The optional Rally mode completely opens up the setup capability, empowering the rider to choose their own levels of throttle input and rear wheel slip, allowing the 1290 to ridden from mild to wild.
The control buttons are a liitle fiddly at first but once you get the hang of the operating system and get to know the menus it becomes easier. If you download the KTM Connect app, you can connect your smartphone via bluetooth, letting you access your music control through your helmet comms and it opens up turn-by-turn navigation as well.
Engine and Drivertrain
Powering the Super Adventure R is the legendary 1301cc LC8 V-Twin engine that delivers 128kW and 140Nm. The engine delivers its silky smooth power in a very linear fashion with a fantastic mid-range torque curve.
The 1290 is superbly comfortable thanks to the WP XPlor shocks that soak up bumps and undulations on any road surface, yet keep the tyres firmly on contact with the road. Four pot Brembo brakes front and rear clamp down on the 320mm rotors bringing the R to a progressive stop.
Let's Ride
Ones first ride on a machine of this size and type can be a little intimidating for first-timers as the 1290 can hardly be thought of as a machine for beginners but once you get moving and quickly adjust to the dimensions and incredible weight distribution, the 1290 becomes no harder to ride than a 250cc dirtbike.
The KTM is very accomplished on tar and one could very easily pass 500km in the saddle during a day of road touring but it's once the tyres touch dirt that the Super Adventure really shows its stripes. After a little bit of meddling with the menus, you can set the 1290 up to tackle a trail and in no time you will be roosting along in a cloud of pebbles and dust, getting the back end to step out in spectacular dirt drifts.
The riding position is very comfy with almost no stress on the lower back, shoulders, or arms. The windscreen does a great job of keeping the winds at bay and heat is kept away from the rider thanks to the bodywork design. The LC8 engine does generate quite a bit of heat as we found on the SuperDuke GT, but on the Super Adventure, there was no trace of it.
Model and Pricing
| KTM 1290 Super Adventure R (2023) | R 359 900 |
* Pricing correct at time of publication
Pros and Cons
- Aggressive styling
- Beautiful power delivery
- Fantastic suspension feedback
- Smooth quick shifter
- Very comfortable riding position
- Menus and sub-menus in OBC take some getting used to
- Short folks will struggle with seat height
Competitors
Riding high in the 1000cc+ adventure bike category you have the likes of the BMW 1250 GS, Harley Davidson's Pan America, Honda's Africa Twin, Triumphs Tiger 1200, Suzuki's DL1050, and Ducatis Desert X. All highly capable machines that offer various styling options and features but overall engine displacement is king.
Verdict
I dont think anyone is going to argue the fact that BMW holds all the cards when it comes to sales figures in this segment but if it is an exhilarating ride that is going to reward you with feedback through the handlebars, the KTM is going to be it. The 1290 can just do things the GS cant. All the bikes competing in this segment are not cheap to buy nor run and once again the KTM will reward you with a flawless ride for hundreds of kilmoteres for the money. It is very hard to fault the Super Adventure, from sand dunes to boggy mud trails, the 1290 is the king and queen of adventure-capable machines.
