Heart of A Superbike, Soul of An Adventurer
HEART OF A SUPERBIKE, SOUL OF AN ADVENTURER
ROUNDUP
KTM’s 2014 1190 Adventure joins the luxury travel brigade, with more displacement, power and features
BLAKE CONNER
BEGINNING WITH THE 2003 KTM 950 Adventure, Austria’s answer to BMW’s big-bore GS series has been the ADV bike for off-road enthusiasts. Like its Bavarian competition, the 950 was inspired by long-distance off-road-racing machines, namely the LC8 950R that Fabrizio Meoni rode to victory in the 2002 Dakar Rally. For the past decade, KTM has kept the V-Twin 950/990 range focused on its core, dirt-oriented customer (see “The Original,” p. 63).
Until now, that is.
First glimpse of the new 1190 Adventure revealed a major shift in KTM’s approach to this popular category. Redesigned from the ground up, this latest machine is aimed squarely at BMW’s new water-pumper, the R1200GS (p. 34), as well as the marketshare-hungry Triumph Tiger Explorer, Ducati Multistrada 1200 and Yamaha Super Ténéré.
In years past, KTM had foregone electronic rider aids (except ABS), luxury features and anything else that may have compromised off-road exploration. With the 1190, however, the company has
added a comprehensive electronics suite, including available digitally controlled WP suspension, to compete on level terms with more tarmac-oriented ADVs.
Skeptical? We were, too. But KTM says the 2014 R model (the first 1190 to arrive in the U.S. this summer) promises to retain much of the attitude that adventure riders have come to love, while embracing new technologies.
Powerwise, KTM has stuffed a tailormade version of the RC8 R superbike’s 1195cc, 75-degree V-Twin into the Adventure’s chrome-moly steel trellis frame. Compared with the previous 999cc V-Twin, bore has grown from 101.0 to 105.0mm, and stroke has increased from 62.4 to 69.0mm. A twin-sparkplug (different-size plugs) cylinder-head design works with forged aluminum pistons to help create what should be an exciting, efficient package. The last RC8 R we tested produced 151.5 horsepower and 85.1 ft.-lb. of peak torque at the rear wheel. Can you say monster roost?!
A new ride-by-wire ECU has four modes: Sport, Street, Off-road and Rain. These are complemented by Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), with variable characteristics for each mode. Bosch/ Brembo Combined-ABS has three settings: Street, Off-road and Off. Off-road allows the rider to manually lock the rear brake, while Off gives the rider full control of both front and rear binders. Optional Electronic Damping System (EDS) suspension adds electronic spring preload and damping adjustments to the WP fork and shock.
One of the key differences between the R and the more street-oriented standard 1190 are their wheels and tires. While the R retains the classic off-road 21-inch-front/18-in.-rear combination,
the standard model has 19-in.-front and 17-in.-rear wire-spoke, tubeless wheels. Continental TrailAttack 2 tires, in 120/70 and 170/60 sizes, put a lot of rubber on the road.
Just when we thought things were getting really interesting in the big-bore adventure class, KTM and BMW have further upped the ante. We can’t wait to get these two superpowers in the same arena for a showdown. □
