Thank you for your honest and thorough review. Bought a 2020 KTM 1290 SA and will be picking up today! So thrill! Normally a Harley girl but this bike changed my mind toward more sport touring. Keeping the street glide so I can still hang with my friends. Looking forward to the next adventure in my life! Cheers
Thank so much and congratulations on your new motorcycle - how exciting to look forward to the very first ride with a brand new bike 😎 I actually started my bike journey on a Harley Davidson before switching to an adventure bike and eventually to the KTM 1290 SAS - I did a short video on it ruclips.net/video/-Jh1lb0Jt9A/видео.html. I wished I could have kept my HD too -lucky you 😉 - when I am back in the US I at least get to ride one for a day or two - last time I had a street glide ruclips.net/video/pK2X9rpG2ys/видео.html 😎 ride safe and enjoy your adventures - cheers 🤙
I got my full motorcycle license in February. At the end of February I took some bikes for test drive. The BMW 1250 GS, the Honda Africa Twin adventure sports 2020 DCT, and the manual version, the KTM 790 adventure S and the KTM 1290 super adventure S. I tested all the bikes in the same week. The last one that I tested was de Honda Africa Twin adventure sports manual, but the experience I had on the 1290SAS was so amazing that I've forgotten the feelings I had in the other bikes. What an experience, that bike is so amazing that it will be my next bike after all this coronashit ends.
Congrats to your full license. This is absolutely the way to go - try all the bikes yourself and see what you like. I tried the Ducati Multistrada first at the time - then the BMW R 1200 GS and even through I wanted to like the Ducati more I decided on the BMW ... until my first ride on this KTM and I have not looked back ;-)
I went from an Africa Twin AS to a 2018 KTM 1290 SA R. Both bikes are awesome in their own way. The KTM is much tighter and engaging, but I liked the torque curve of the AT more. Off road the AT has a sweet spot at around 4000 rpm that is absolutely intoxicating.
@@phoenix10452 Thank you Michael - the AT is another one of those bikes I have not been able to try out yet - need to put this one on the list too I guess ;-)
@@phoenix10452 I have a 2018 ATAS now, which I am in the process of trading in for a 2020 1290 SAR. I love many things about the AT, for sure. I think it both looks and sounds better than the 1290 SAR - but it lacks power. 95 horses get boring on the pavement (but is enough off-road). I find myself riding much more on pavement, but still want to be able to enjoy gravel roads whenever I want, so I'm hoping the 1290 SAR will be a good fit for me. Hoping for spring as soon as possible now, so I can go get my KTM :)
Pragmatic Tornado you will love the KTM. It is so tight and engaging. You will have to get used to the standing position on the KTM. You will not be standing almost upright like on the ATAS. The standing position of the KTM is attack mode, with your body hunched forward, which is good for dynamic off-road riding but less comfortable. You could of course compromise by installing risers. I choose to get used to it :-)
its been 2 years as well for me! amazing bike! also around 30k kms! love it everyday! make sure to add the Rottweiler Airbox System! it will transform the bike to a new level!
Good to hear - I looked at the airbox and the Rottweile kits - really cool stuff but it would likely get me into trouble as our bikes have to pass tmandatory echnical inspection and emissions testing every 2 year.
I’m actually doing all the things you’ve done with my 701 supermoto 🙂 I’m really tempted by a 1290 but I think It’s less fun to ride on mountain pass but on the other hand it’s way more comfortable on long journeys...
Sometimes it would be nice to have a lighter bike indeed. Offroad especially would be easier with a lighter bike. However, the 1290 is hard to beat on long distance rides
Huskyeleven Well, you will be surprised how nimble and agile that 1290 Super Adventure is. I do own a 2016 1290 Super Adventure (first edition, or later called T version), and I love to take corners at the mountain pass. As a little reminder, I am only 5’6” and mountain passes in my country mostly have more acute angled corners, and I can toss around that bike easily. Try ride one of them, and toss around the corner of a mountain pass, and you’ll be surprised, I gotta tell ya. Anyway, i would love to own a 701 Supermoto like the one you have. Take care and ride safely, Bro...✌🏽✌🏽👍🏼👍🏼
Very nice and interesting review you done after 2 years. I own the "R" model and I say you covered the pro and cons I also experienced with mine. Great that you wanted to share this with us. Keep up the hope that we ovecome this corona soon so we can start travelling again
Thank you for the nice feedback! At least we had some time over the late summer to travel a little bit before everything went back to shut down mode. I am hoping things will look better in 6-12 months ;-)
Hi there really enjoyed your clip and your experiences and honesty, for so many years now having not decided to buy a venture bike as so curious to see which companies are bringing to the table their willingness to perfect their bikes has me overwhelmed and a little confusing and so in appreciation on your lip here has boutique me one step closer to deciding which adv to buy thanks again I be looking forward to more of your clips cheers from Australia...
Thank you very much for your kind comment. There is indeed a lot happening with regards to developments in this segment - as always: if you wait long enough there will be something better down the line ;-) Ride Safe & stay healthy! cheers
Thank you very much - the issue has been around for a while - some manage to get it fixed. I have the 2020 R now with similar issues - but I was expecting it to some degree - the extra suspension travel of the R does not help.
Fantastic video review. This is the type of long term ownership information I had hoped to find about this motorcycle. I have seen the price on used 1290 SAS bikes coming down in my area and have been considering upgrading from my 2015 tiger 800 XRX. The triumph has been a wonderful machine for me but I have outgrown it's touring capacity. I enjoy long distance touring and the tiger just does not have the power for a rider with 2 weeks of gear on it. Also the aerodynamics of the tiger leave a bit to be desired. It is interesting about the high speed wobble though, that is a problem that I get on my tiger only with the soft bags and fully loaded above 90+ mph. How would you rate the aero as far as wind noise/buffeting? Have you or would you make any changes to the windscreen?
Thank you very much! I am glad it is helpful. High speed wobble is usually not something you have to worry about at speeds less than 120 mph no matter how much you carry on the bike. I find the wind protection as good as on my former BMW 1200 GS - I had a an aftermarket windscreen on my BMW and I also have one for the KTM. Check out this video for more on that (and other accessories) ruclips.net/video/r9qvKLRHJ4M/видео.html
@@MotoVibes Yes, absolutely. I live in the Netherlands and currently riding a KTM 790 Duke. But a bit in doubt about choosing between 1290 Adventure S and the Superduke GT. Both amazing bikes!
@@sylvano1990 Best if you could take both for a spin - ususally it is pretty clear after that. However, I did not think I was going to get into offroad riding - the 1290 SAS will allow you to explore that part of riding if you ever want. Like you said - both amazing bikes ;-) Let me know what you end up picking ;-)
Thank you very much and welcome to the channel 😉 Looks like you also like Harleys as I do - I just do not get to ride them that often anymore but this video here is from a 2-day trip through 4 States - one of my very early videos ruclips.net/video/pK2X9rpG2ys/видео.html
Great video! Greetings from Albuquerque, New Mexico! Curious on your off-road wheel setup, what size wheels did you go with? How did you arrive at your decision? Thank you!
I actually stayed with the 19" front & 17" rear size and ordered the spoked wheels straight from KTM - if you remember the first 1290 SA (the white one) it is the same wheels. You could go 21"/18" but you need a new front fender to accomodate the larger wheel. Also, your speedometer readings will be off using the same ABS ring - there are people that make custom ABS rings to bring the speed readings back to normal as reprogramming the speedometer is not something every KTM shop will do. I did a short video on the spoked wheels ruclips.net/video/XVlloFZiL1c/видео.html Hope this helps - greetings to New Mexico - one of the few states have not yet been to ;-)
Great Video, I am currently looking at the Adventures S, my 2016 GS is due a change, I also had the GEN 2 Super Duke R and really loved the engine, which made me consider a Adventure S for touring, but the GS gives great weather protection, especially with the boxer cylinders keeping feet and lower legs out of the rain, how does the Adventure S compare for weather protection?
Thank you very much. The stock windshield will not give you as good of weather protection as the stock GS windshield - with that said - I upgrade my windshield on the GS (which I previously owned) and on the KTM. This year I ran a short windshield for most of the year and somehow was fine with that too even though I had to have touring screen before that - go figure. As for the lower end of the body - honestly I was happy not to have the cylinders sticking out on the side - they always got in the way while pushing the bike either standing next to it or sitting on the bike. The only real advantage of the inline 2-cylinder engine that I see is the lower center of gravity with the benefit of better low speed handling. for everything else it is a pain and a vulnerable spot to damage the bike (which happend to 2 GS on my last trip). If you buy good ADV boots with weatherproof liner you should be fine. With my current boots (review on this channel) I am fine in the rain and in low temperatures (down to 3°C) - hope this helps ;-)
I subscribed to your channel cause Im about to buy a 1290 SAS brand new and was looking for info on it. Your content is great and very informative. I hope all the bad things I read about the motorcycle are just nonsense... but the only way to know is to have one! any advice for a new owner that is not that tall (5′ 9″) but loves going off road from time to time? Cheers!
Awesome! Thank you! I only beat you by 2 inches in height. First advice for going offroad would have been not to buy a brand new bike 😂 but all kidding aside - the frist time the bike goes down is the hardest - it gets easier from there. I have a video on this channel on the upgrades I added for getting the bike offroad ready. I have since dropped the bike countless times. The crash bars, bash plate, levers and mirros that flip up keep the damage to a minimum. However, the Akrapovic is hard to protect - it will get damaged and scratched eventually - maybe stay with the original can or buy cheaper alternatives - I am on my 2nd Akrapovic and it has quite a few scratches. With all that out of the way - see if you can get some offroad training that is specific to big adventure bikes. Depending on where you live this may not be close to home but there seem to be more and more places that have discovered the big adventure riders as a target group. It is a lot of fun to learn to move this bike offroad and professional guidance will ensure a quick learning experience. If you would have told me last October I would be riding the stuff I was riding this summer I would have thought you are crazy. Btw. dropping the bike properly and making sure you do not get caught under the bike is a big part of the learning experience and will keep you safe (like I said I am getting really good in this department 😂 ) If you are worried about ride height look for lower seat (the stock seat is very low but not very comfortable) - I would not recommend to lower the suspension. You will get used to the height of the bike eventually. Let me know when you pull the trigger on the bike - ride safe!
how are the vibrations on this one, at low speed especially, like city traffic and filtering? I have ridden the 1090 ADV and it surprised me how much vibration there was, granted I was riding an 06 FJR1300 at the time but still. I really love this 1290 ADV and would not mind to own one, thought I don't know if I could live with it every day. I am used to my smooth Explorer 1200 triple
There are definitly more vibrations coming for the KTM V-twin - especially if you compare to 3- und 4-cylinder engines. Also, when you compare the 1200/1250 GS the engine seems rougher but at the same time more potent and raw - kinda like a beast on a leash ;-) The most important thing is that KTM has managed to design the electronics to deliver the power smoothly in the low rpm range - so no jerking on the chain etc. I like the power delivery at low rpm of these massive V-twin engines and the good vibrations that go along with it ;-) but that is just personal preference. The 1090 should have give you a good idea what the 1290 would feel like - minus the Power of the 1290 of course. If you haven't ridden the BMW 1250 GS or the 1000 XR (4-cylinders) you might want to give them a try. There is a reason why the GS is so popular - the engine is a big part of it.
MotoVibes, I was considering buying 2020 1290Adv S as good deal on them right now. But I’m also torn as I see great updates to 2021 model. Problem is these won’t ship to North America until fall 2021. What would you recommend?
I can see your struggle - this the issue every time something newer and better is announced. Do you wait for it or not - then again once you finally have your hands on it - the next new thing you need to have will be lurking around the corner 😂 Since you asked for my humble opinion: Get the a good deal on a 2020 model and enjoy a great 2021 season with it. You can always upgrade in 2022 - trade in your bike for the new one. This will give you time to see if the 2021 is worth the hype and you will be able to ride it before you make a purchase descision 😎
I am at the edge of change my 790 Adv for the new (2021) 1290 super adventure S, but also thinking the possibilty of buying a good conditioned 2019 or 2020 1290 with powerparts added for the same price. What would you suggest? Thanks
Well, since the new model is about to hit stores I would at least wait to test ride one of the new 2021 models. Also, some dealers may sit on 2020 stock that they are happy to sell for a good discount once the 2021 models hit the dealerships. In Germany that is a 4000,- Euro price difference right now - you can buy a lot of powerparts for this price difference ;-) buying brand new will give you up to 2 years of manufacturers warranty just in case you do run into some issues. I hope this helps
alz the KTM carries its weight much higher therefore it’s quite a bit less stable at low speeds (like most other ADV bikes) this is why KTM introduced the ugly tank design on the 790 which pushes the weight of the bike further down for better low speed handling
@@alz4002 Look at it this way - your skill level will not get worse - only better. Have you considered doing an offroad training? I was so amazed how much I learned in just a 2-day training. Balancing any bike will be much less of an issue after that.
Yes! My opinion is that’s the better way to enjoy your passion whatever they could be....i’ll considering for sure! Also you can accept my provocation: why i bought a motorcycle whit powerful engine if i can’t make the most of because is less manouvrable and also penalized at high speed range (wobble issues)? My gsa at 180 km/h make a f***ng noise but she is glued to the ground. Final thought: what about the notorious heat issues? Now in Milan is 36^C! Thank you for sharing your experience Today i went to the dealer to negotiate for a 1290 S ( used)
@@alz4002 ok - it is late and I had a couple of gin and tonics - if you are asking about women it would be like : "beautiful & well behaved vs. hot & crazy wild" - You choose ;-)
I would like to know about the comfort of it. Is it good for long riding? Is there any limit for a mans height? I am 1,74m and i am not sure about it. Have you ever had a passenger and how was he/she about comfort?
Μιχάλης Ντουστάκης I can ride 14 hours on it no problem but only with the power parts ergo seat. The stock seat is too hard for me. I am 180 cm and the ergo seat adds another 20 mm of seat height. I cannot fully get my heels down. It’s fine for me but it’s better you try it for yourself. Once the bike moves it’s all good. I have had a passenger because she was getting exhausted riding on her friends sports bike. She came with me for the better comfort for the rest of the ride. I set my suspension to comfort (very soft) and she was happy 😉
Whats the rush in such scenery ? just dont get it, believe me you have had one " little" get of the next one is around the corner .I think i,ll stick to me HD and pick flowers around the wonderfull country side.
It's not really about being rushed but more about the rush of riding through on perfect roads through amazing scenery. It is not to say I do not enjoy just crusing down the road on a HD with a rumbling big twin when I get the chance. I enjoy it all - enduro riding, race track, touring or cruising on a big twin.
I have not really spent much focus on the exact consumption- it also depends on how hard you ride it. Normal riding should be about 6liter/ 100 km. On the racetrack it is twice that 😉
Best KTM Super Adventure 1290 video review ever!!! You've covered all the angles! That's exactly what I wanted and what most want, a real user long term review as impartial as possible. Congrats again and the image quality, video takes and scenery are just awesome! Best regards from Argentina!
Your praise is very much appreciated - I was hoping to give this review a different spin and not redo what is already online. I hope you are staying healthy in the States - the numbers are very concerning and they are rising fast - I have family in the US as my wife is American - -cheers!
What do you think about the seat? Ergo seat is good I think little to high for me, the original seat I made 13mm holes in the foam in a "pattern" to soften up the foam, let's see, need to test it how it feels. I have 32" legs so I prefer the lower seat. But it's hard.
same here ;-) the PP seat is just a tad to tall for me. I mean it works but I cannot set the heals down fully - the original seat is way to uncomfortable for me. The PP seat is great for comfort and for the most part I am fine with taller ride height.
Very good review my friend, it’s great to hear a real time “live” riders review and not a sycophantic journalist just raving because it’s the latest bike on the block. I had a Ktm 1190 adv,r in 2014 but sadly had a number of issues, reliability wise, but the bike was a blast when in good shape... I’m with you with the locations, the Alps are a riders paradise, oh to live nearer would be a dream, but as soon as the horrific Covid 19 is gone I’ll be back.... Ride safe , great vids. Cheers ....
Thank you for the appreciation. It is not like I do not watch these reviews too (I watched a ton of them before buying this bike) - I was hoping to provide a different perspective in addition to what is already available. I am sorry to hear you had all these issues. I suppose I have been lucky so for. I had a lot of troubles with my BMW R 1200 GS - all covered under warranty but still. I am keeping my fingers crossed that life will turn to normal by the time summer comes around but until then I am doing my part and staying home ;-) stay healthy!
Had the privilege of test riding the '17 1290 sa for 4hrs (city traffic, hwy & mountain twisties (no off-road)). The bike was phenomenal. The power.....sublime. Decided at that time to go with the '17 1200 gsa as I couldn't get past the elevated engine heat & chain maintenance. Whilst I can truly appreciate some "hot buns" just not my own. Otherwise a spectacular machine. mv a spot-on review ✌️✌️
Thank you for your nice comment. 😎 Good point about the engine heat - due to the design your buns (and crown jewels) are a bit closer to the hot parts of the engine - with heavy stop and go traffic that may become an issue but nothing compared to the Harley Davidson (air-cooled) big twins that I owned 😂. The BMW is much better in this respect. Keep cool and stay healthy! 👍
I have the same bike. Love it! Over 24,000 miles in 18 months! This is by far the best bike I have owned. The Alps look like a lot more fun then The Rockies are for riding. Thanks for the video! Be well! Ride fast! :)
Thanks for you comment! Good to hear you are happy with your KTM too - The Alps are amazing - come over and check them out - the Rockies are still on my list - maybe next time with an adventure bike instead of a Harley Davidson ;-)
Regarding high-speed stability, I know that the jacket plays a very important role. If it is not as stiff as a leather jacket, it will start to flap in the back and make your shoulders and therefore the handlebars move. So it's more a question of wind protection and the jacket will play a role in the stability of the bike.
Absolutely - I have noticed that wearing the airbag vest helps in this regard. I was able to go quite a bit faster last weeked coming back from my day trip ruclips.net/video/AYQ7Ps02OZk/видео.html
Thank you very much - if Offroad is your thing and you are tall enough the R is the way to go - I think the R looks more badass too - I really like the big 21" front wheel and spoked wheels look more fitting to this type of bike. The S version is almost too big for me - I am 180cm ;-)
I own an 18 SAR and I adore it. It's literally my daily rider, a job at which it excels at. It's also very capable offroad and a weapon in the twisties, so if you can fit (and have experience) I'd jump on one. Stay well.
Thanks for the perfect review! Really appreciated watching it. I ride a 1290 SAR since a couple of years after having had a BMW R1100GS since 1995 (I still have it as a second bike). All you described is so true, awesome enginge and breaks, great riding positioning, best bike I have ridden so far
Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this for us. It's most appreciated that a real owner has given us relevant information and not a waste of time Press release (journalist ).
Tighten the fork bearings by the chassis, they are often losing on these bikes, and dealers suck on checking them in Service. My 2018 Ktm 1290 SAS fork play was upwards 15+mm even after the first Service, I tighten it and high-speed stability was soo good!
It's super easy, there is plenty of info about it. Under the handle bars you se one larger alu. nut maybe 36 mm in size, that one you tighten in till free play is gone (put bike on center stand and check if there is free play by hand move fork forward and backward) but remember first loosen the locking bolt torx M8 before you start tighning on that larger nut! When you tighten that larger 36 mm nut the conical bearings inside will tighten against the outer bearing and fork will be stable. When you tighten the bearings, and free play is gone, make sure steering moves lightly left and right, if it turns with resistance you tighten to much. Very easy procedure but anyways dealers just skips it! And costumers ride a woobelie bike. I do all my service my self can't trust any dealers these days.
@@JW-cq4ez Thank you - sounds easy enough - will have a look this weekend. I have a few other maintenance items on the list anyway. Thanks again for pointing this out. Ride Safe!
Excellent review. I'm looking at getting back into biking after a 11 year break. Looking at the 1290 along with other similar bike. Just keep getting drawn back to the KTM. What accessories have you fitted to your bike as I noticed the orange rear sprocket? What ones do you have that you'd recommend? Thanks
Thank you Ian - I did 2 videos on most of the accessories that I have ruclips.net/video/r9qvKLRHJ4M/видео.html and this one for offroad use: ruclips.net/video/_yjVpDS4UqE/видео.html The orange sprocket was just some nice bling as I had to renew both sprockets and the chain as part of regular maintenance
I purchased the 1290sas very recently, still waiting for delivery, actually. I come of a Tracer 700 and did test rides on the Tracer 900GT which made clear i like twins, and the BMW GS which felt very comfy. But the thrill you feel when you ride a motorcycle that fits you perfect, i got with the KTM. Anyway, i looked as many reviews and movies on YT i could find and i really like yours. Keep it up, you have a new follower 😉!
I have a KTM 1090r, it’s the worst bike I’ve ridden at High speed, sounds like all of the KTM range are not stable at high speed which shows in your video! Nice work,👍👍👏👏🏴
The wobble issue is common to long track/long suspension, large wheel (19”+) bikes like most adventures and harleys etc, it’s made worse with load on the back, baggy clothing, big aftermarket screens and hand guards, cameras etc, these all move the center of gravity (load) back and extend the trail/front forks, also with the extra load on your upper body from the baggy clothing means you hold the bars tighter to compensate this causes the speed wobble. BMW’s, Honda’s, Yamaha, Ducati adventurer bikes, cruisers, motard and trail bikes all do it.
Thank you for the explanation - makes absolute sense. I have to admit I have not taken a Ducati Multistrada up this speed or the BMW (just would not go that fast anyway). Clothing has made a major differene in my experience and my riding gear is extremely baggy
@@MotoVibes I had both a GS and GSA LC and the GSA doesn't have this problem because of the big tank. Especially when gassed full even with luggage. In the future i'm looking to buy a Super adventure because i like the KTM agressiveness! You can get 17 inch front wheels from Alpina. Great cost but performs and looks perfect!
High quality video as usual. The KTM, ducati and BMW are all excellent bikes. I chose the r1250gs exclusive. Why ? Three main reasons - 1. BMW quality, customer service and 3 year warranty ( comes at a price !) 2.Shaft drive - I am lazy and chain cleaning, oiling etc is toilsome. 3. Stability and telelever suspension is second to none. There is a reason the GS wipes the floor year after year in sales compared with all other bikes - it is the best all rounder in my opinion ( and it is only a personal opinion).
Gordon - thanks for your comment. The BMW R 1250 GS is an excellent motorcycle and a choice you cannot go wrong with. I do miss the low to no maintenance of a shaft drive some times ;-) btw. you can get 2 additional years of warranty (to make it 4 total) with KTM - at least in Germany. Money well spent on a little bit of piece of mind. Thanks for watching & stay healthy!
I am thinking of buying this bike, & after watching this fantastic & in-depth review i am! I have watched lots of reviews on this bike - this is the best on RUclips. Thank you
I did not know how many great roads there are until I started exploring them and I have only seen a few yet. However, depending on where you live in the US there should be plenty of legal choices of riding offroad (which is quite limited in Europe) and there certainly is no lack of beautiful scenery and nature 😉 Ride Safe!
Instability at high speeds is an issue that you generally have with all touring enduros. This is simply due to the long suspension travel. And I can confirm that this problem is particularly pronounced on the KTM 1290 SAS. In my experience, there is only one real exception and that is the BMW GS. I suspect this is due to the Telelever. The GS I rode was absolutely stable even at 200 km/h.
That is true - however, the 2021 models of the KTM did better than the predecessors. The BMW is pretty stable too but it also doesn't get up to the same top speeds as the KTM
For road use try the Roadtec 01. The standard Pirelli and Conti fronts were demolished within 2k miles, just not suitable for the sort of pace the bike can handle. The Roadtec delivered 5k rear and 7k front, miles not kilometres.
Got my new 1290 SAS and managed one ride before the lock down started. I love the bike and it's a good evolution from the 1190 SA that I had. Unfortunately the dealer hadn't disabled the transport lock so it refused to start after 3 hours riding. Luckily I was back home by then! I'm hoping for a good price for its first service after their mistake. Great review 👍
Congrats to your new bike John! I did not even know there was such a thing as a transport lock ;-) That would have been a real pain if the bike had refused to start in a middle of a long tour. Let's hope we will get through this lock down phase quickly - it is especially hard because the weather is starting to get really nice now. stay healthy!
Vielen Dank Jörg! English reaches more people - it is exciting to know that fellow riders from all over the world are watching some of my content - also I like to watch content from other countries and I really appreciate if they go through the effort of allowing a international viewership to follow what is going on by speaking English or at least using English subtitles. The helmet is a Touratech Aventuro Carbon ;-)
Hi there . Really loves your videos . I got myself exactly the same bike as yours, that I brought home the day confinement started . So, it sleeps in my garage since then... cannot wait to experience it. In the meanwhile , I’m relying on you to imagine what it’s alike . Many thanks for the nice videos, and review . Be safe , and Ride safe thereafter....
Congrats on the purchase - I can feel your pain - now you have that brand new beauty of a beast in the garage and you cannot take it for a spin. Your time will come. Thanks for your comment and for watching - stay healthy!
Great review man. I really like your vlog. I too have a 1290 sas and your givi windscreen recommendation was on the spot! By the way, on insane speeds try setting the suspension on the "ride with pillion mode"while you ride alone, this will set the preload of the bike and will give you a "more to the ground" feeling of your front wheel.
James Cao the BMW sells well for a reason - it does everything well and is easy to ride. You have to decide what’s best for your needs. The BMW is close to perfect- almost too perfect for me. I like the character of the KTM, aggressive, fast and rough around the edges when you want it to be. Comfortable for long rides when you need it to be.
Well, the KTM is definitely comfortable enough for 2 and for long distance riding. Plenty of riders do. If you are ALWAYS riding with your girlfriend you may not be able to push the bike as hard as you would riding by yourself and it this case the KTM may not get to let out the "beasty side" of it. If you also ride solo and you like your bike to have a little (actually a lot) more punch have a look at the KTM - best thing is always to test ride the bikes yourself - a day on each bike and you will know what works best for YOU! Good luck mate!
MotoVibes thanks. I used to live in Herrenberg Germany so have ridden those alpine passes. Am planning to buy a 2020 Adventure S. Could we have a short call sometime? (Long trips, Corner crash in alps). Thanks James
James White sure - please use the email address on my RUclips channel page so we exchange phone numbers. I am about to leave for 2 week motorcycle trip Thursday this week so it may be getting harder to find a time slot for a call - Cheers
Very comprehensive review - enjoyed it. Not many decent mileage / time frame reviews around so made it more noteworthy. I nearly bought one several years ago but was put off by KTM reliability and poor local dealer service. Glad to hear you have had no problems. I like the fact that you invested in a set of off road wheels to truly get best value.
Thank you very much for you nice comment 😉 since I started this channel I have been reading about the hit and miss with reliability on KTMs from some owners. I know I had my fair share of issues on the BMW R 1200 GS - I also know it is not representative of all BMWs - it just really sucks when it is you. Anyway - let's see what the offroad end will bring in the future - it is a lot of fun but I definitly need more practice to feel anywhere near as comfortable as I do on the road. cheers - stay healthy!
Outstanding. Well done and highly informative. I’ve had one year with my 2019 KTM 1290 SAS and, after 6k mikes, I loved learning something new and some of your objective comments. One day I’ll get to some of those Alp roads. Thank you.
Very interesting video. You did not mension about heat from the engine and vibrations. In this model is it already solved or still anoying? One more question . If You drive trip with Gs1250 together and You want to go fast , is able gs1250 stick to You? I still did not decided which motorcycle to choose and I am afraid that Gs1250 will be to slow. But this is just when I look on acceleration table. Reality maybe different because of GS torque. Thanks for answer
Thank you very much Szymon. Vibrations and heat were never an issue for me. However, there is quite a bit of heat coming up from the engine which is noticeable the warmer the outside temperatures are. I just never noticed it through my Goretex Klim pants - if you wear Jeans or lighter pants then you will feel the heat. As for the power of the GS 1250 - it’s more than enough for fast riding and in real life scenario the rider’s abilities will be more important than the horse power of the bike and for real life touring I rarely push a bike to the absolute limit - so in short the GS 1250 can keep up with 1290 SAS - we had a T700 with us last time and that was a different story So, pick the bike that „feels“ best to you - if it’s between the BMW and the KTM you cannot really go wrong in my opinion. Best to take each of them on extended test ride - ideally for a full day. You will likely know for sure after that. Good luck and let me know how you have decided- cheers Oliver
Hola, la recomiendas? Tengo una BMW f800gs adventure, y me la cambian por una 1190 pero tiene 70,000 km. Las dos son 2014. Has tenido problemas con todos esos kilómetros? Saludos desde México
@@MotoVibes Yes I know... Anyway, the steering shakes more than necessary and I don't think the steering damper can be adjusted. As such, at these speeds I don't feel the bike very stable ...
I have a few videos on the new models ruclips.net/video/MqOoYUS8r9Q/видео.htmlsi=9KHzjkvHJgxQoGSM and this ruclips.net/video/6BGIR5pji6o/видео.htmlsi=9c6_1OEc5Fd0bXSm 😉
@@brunooberan2868 Ok - that should be something straight forward for your dealer to fix the alignment I would think but I am sure you have checked that option already. I do experience some steering bar movement at certain low speeds (steering bar is moving fast from left tor right and back etc). when riding with no hands on the steering bar.
Michal - check out KTM Parts Finder - sparepartsfinder.ktm.com/ you can search for your model and find every single part of the part incl the parts numbers - hope that helps
Thomas still rides his 1190 R - I am not sure but he must have 50-60k km on it by now. He also owned a 2020 1290 SAS which he sold again because he still rides his old KTM and the new 2020 was parked in the garage all of 2020 😂. A German bike magazine did a long term test with 50k km on the 1190 it was I believe - the openend the engine after 50k km it was as good as new. The engine should do at least 100k km but with any used bike there are other things than can and will fail over time but if the bike was maintained well and you are willing to do the occasional repair - why not?!
MotoVibes thanks buddy! We have a lot of great roads here in Ireland too, you should take a trip here sometime 👍 here’s a small clip of one ruclips.net/video/BiBtYu6LxpM/видео.html
So far the best I bought but...not for beginners and if you still want it and it is your first? Please the first 5000km in rain mode 😇 and invest in some riding safety courses
There have been prototypes like that but I am doubtful there is a large market for this. If you cannot even balance a bike at low speed it may be best not to ride a motorcycle in the first place. 😉
It really comes down to personal preference - in general the GS is more tuned for comfort and the KTM is tuned more for sport and power. I found the both great for multiple weeks of riding 😉
If you are referring to the crash - yes, the braking was completly off. For any other corner there serveral ways to approach a corner - I always stay on the brake unti I hit the apex (trail braking) - others prefer to finish the braking process before the enter the turn. There are pros and cons to both - in the end its personal preference
How much milage do you have? I have the opportunitie to buy the exact same bike, but it have 45k miles on it. Currently have a bmw f800gs 2014....should i?
Great review men,i am lookng at that bike and i have two questions:compering to gs does engine have that “im gonna chew you up and spit you out” feeling,is it to agresive and also in the traffic when is hot outside does the exhaust give you any heat problems?
Thank you very much - glad it is helpful. The 1290 is and feels more powerful than the GS - especially when you take it throught the entire rev range. Also, especially the 2018-2020 models have a certain grunt to them - the V-twin feels more purposeful and ready to race. I liked it but it is not for everyone - best thing is to take this bike on an extended test ride or rent it for a day. As for the heat - if you are stuck in slow traffic in a city on a hot summer day you will feel the heat coming form the engine like on most big bore motorcycles.
@@MotoVibes tnx on replay,i did not have chance to testride ktm but 1250 and 1300 feels kind of flat,like it does not enjoy in revs so much. It feels like you running with a wooden legs.
It should be just fine - I am the same height as you - 180cm! The PP seat will add another 2cm - not much but at our height noticable. I have gotten used to it now and it is worth the increased comfort
Only one question: what helmet camera did you use? The pictures are very good. I wonder whether you keep your head just as stable as it looks or what is your secret to get such low moving head cam footage?
KTM uses notoriously shit steering dampers, that's will probably fix the wobble. I have a 2014 super duke and it has the same issue, damper does basically nothing and im pretty sure it's filled with water and air -_-
@@MotoVibes The stock one does basically nothing haha, any aftermarket upgrade will be felt immediately! Hyperpro, Mupo, Scotts, ohlins etc etc. They're all excellent options
@@MotoVibes Hyperpro RSC. They're not quite plug and play though you need an adapter kit (which they sell) I like it because it's non lineair, it ramps up oil flow restriction with the speed the wheel whips around so you dont feel it at all at low speed. You could also look at the Mupo, their reputation is even better than Hyperpro I believe. You could also go for the powerparts WP one... tbh even a heavier oil in the stock one is noticable! Takes like 30 mins :)
Thank you - I also did that but the biggest influence seem to be the cloths for me - baggy goretex textil will be a lot worse than a tight fitting leather suit. However, wearing my airbag vest helped to keep my jacket tighter to the body which helped for top speed riding.
Best to ride them each for a day. I bet after that you will know what suits you best. They are both good bikes. I find the Honda to be a little on the heavy side
Vielen Dank für die Blumen. Pilot einer 1290 SAS bin ich schon ;-) aber im Ernst - war viele Jahre in den USA, meine Frau in Amerikanerin - wir leben mittlerweile in Deutschland - zu Hause sprechen wir mehr Englisch als Deutsch - für die Arbeit brauche ich die Sprache ebenfalls täglich.
vielen Dank! Da bist Du nicht der einzige - hab mich irgendwann entschieden, dass gleich auf Englisch zu machen, da mehr als 80% der Viewer nicht aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum kommen. Ich habe da einige Favoriten aus dem Ausland und freue mich, dass es wenigsten englische Untertitel gibt so dass ich das verstehen kann. Meine Hoffnung ist, dass die meisten Deutschen besser Englisch können als umgekehrt ;-)
You must be lucky, mine broke down in less than 5000 miles because “it had been used in the rain, £1300, not mended, KTM NEVER ANSWER CUSTOMER ENQURIES, stick with.something more reliable like an old Chinese clone, neither are any good but the Chinese bike will be easier to push
Failed to start in Corsica, £1300 spent at a Ktm dealer, fault reoccurred same day, nothing else the dealer could do, a month later it came back to England on the back of a truck, Ktm sent me a very nice “get f--d, you’re on your own”, email.
Great video, ditto great information. Re crash, you were lucky and glad for that. I total'ed my previous bike (BMW 1200GSA) in June (gravel on pavement in a turn). Was not quite as lucky as you, or luckier, all depending on point of view. Marked the end of the season, and the beginning of hospital/rehab period of 5 months. All gone well, albeit (painfully) slow. On a whim I bought a 2019 1290SAS (with low mileage) a few days ago. Have since done a lot of research. The wobbling phenomena it seems one can, apparently, mitigate by among other things balance tires/rims. But the one single taks some claim helps, is to tighten up front fork/bearing. Then there's funneling of air in front. I've noticed is that the stock wind screen isn't shaped as aerodynamic as, for instance, the stock GS/GSA screen. Latter however, flop around and causes instability in high speeds, without additional brackets. Worse if you try high speed with the stock panniers on. Latter with absolutely zero aerodynamic props. Now, after a lot of research I put Puig touring screen with spoiler on the GSA. It made a huge difference regarding stability, specifically in windy conditions. One thing is the rigidity of the screen. Another is the shape. Puig have followed the same recipe on the touring screen for 1290. With experience from BMW 1200GSA it would seem probable the funneling of air can help on high speed stability also on the 1290. That is the theory side of it. Remains to be tested. I don't live in Germany, so high speed enjoyment will limit itself quite naturally. So therefore, a potential issue I'll try to mitigate before any experience. In any event, thanks again for lots of great contributions! Cheers.
You basically brought down to the point. See if it is even an issue for you- if I did not live in Germany I would even go for a short racing screen all the time ( which I kinda did this year anyway)
My 2014 1190 S wobbles. CANNOT believe a new 1290 S still does it. I'm planning to take loosen then retorque the head bearing. It already has a hyperpro steering damper. What is your plan to fix the wobble? On my 14 1190, I also enjoy the electronically adjustable long travel suspension completely absorbing bumps that used to be harsh on previous sport touring bikes. Suspension comfort and upright seating are the primary reason for not wanting another sportbike while still being able to ride fast with 150hp.
right now the fix are knobby tires - cannot go faster than 160 km/h with them anyway ;-) But for real - wearing tigher fitting clothes or in my case wearing the airbag vest over my riding jacket helps a lot.
Well done man! You are an inspiration, I'm really enjoying your videos! Basically I was in process of deciding what adventure bike to get next, and after watching most of your videos I'm convinced in that KTM 1290 SAS is for me, so my one is arriving next week - honestly can't wait! If you ever plan of touring through UK please let me know if you want a companion, it would be my honour to come by. Just drop me an email to sasank92@yahoo.com. When this Covid lockdown ends I'm planning on traveling home to Serbia through Europe and do many routes you've covered in your videos. Ride safe, keep the videos coming and stay awesome!
Thank you very much for the kind words. I hope to get to travel the UK one day. Looks like this may have to wait it while but it is on the list 😉 congratulations to your new bike 👍
Your GREAT media contributed to my decision to purchase 1290 SA S, solid non-bias information. Question - what crash bars do you have? Obviously they performed well and like the fact they are not overwhelming aesthetically. Thanks Craig
wow - thank you for this feedback Craig - I am happy to hear that this review helped. The crash bars are actually the original KTM power parts. I am glad I get them - they are worth every penny 😎
Unfortunately, here in the UK, the extended warranty is not available. I wonder why this is. I bought mine new & the problems I have had mean I am likely to sell it when it is 2 years old. Its first engine lasted 400 miles until the gearbox failed. The engine was replaced under warranty. The keyless ignition doesn't always recognise the fob as being in range & the fuel filler cap doesn't always release when required. With 5000 miles on the clock, paint on the shock spring is coming off revealing rust underneath. There is a blister of paint about the size of a thumbnail on the swingarm (it's never been ridden in winter so it hasn't suffered with the salt used on British roads to melt ice). I like riding the bike but KTM build quality is not as good as it should be.
Mate I am sorry to read this. I have heard of people have trouble with their KTM - even with the latest one. However, I have had tons of issues with my BWM R 1200 GS at time - I do not think that is representative for all but it sucks when it hits you. Good luck with your bike maybe things will turn out OK.
I don't know why these prominent manufacturers bother making off-road versions of such big heavy bikes, which any level headed experienced rider knows are too bulky for that kind of use. There are plenty of mid-range powerful bikes that weigh far less for that sort of experience. I would rider anything bigger than a 600cc on dirt, especially considering how powerful those smaller engines are nowadays. Ride carefully and thanks for the great video.
Thank you very much. Can’t argue with this one. Still amazing what you can do with these heavy beasts. For the best off-road experience you should definitely go with lighter bikes.
The latest 1290 still has the death wobble and you 100% spot on, they are very sensitive to setup. I have had it two up with full Touratech luggage at 236km/h on the Garmin with no issues then one up at 190 the wobble sets in, makes no difference on wire or cast on my old SAS. You will never truely lean it on the track unless you remove the center and side stand as they deck out, if you have wider pegs they will deck out as well. They are fun thou and eat the tyres after a few laps as the chassis cooks them so power slides are predictable...
I switched to the 2022 1290 SAR haven’t had the chance to take it to top speed yet. The S from 2021 was quite stable at top speed - it was a three day loaner while mine was in service 😉
Is there a big difference in spoked wheels vs cast wheels? I'm looking to get into the ADV world and wouldn't realistically probably get myself into much more than your pretty regular gravel roads and such. So would I be ok to etc. buy this bike and just slap slightly knobbier tires on the bike without changing anything else?
There is a huge difference between spoked wheels and cast wheels - however, for the occasional simple gravel roads the cast wheels will likely be enough and maybe it is a good start to see if you enjoy riding on dirt roads. You just have a higher likelihood of hitting pot holes or rocks on dirt roads and need to be extra careful when riding with cast wheels - so it is not like it cannot be done. If you find this is something you would like to do more often you can alway get a set of spoked wheels when the time comes. They are not indistructable but they can take more of a beating than cast wheels.
Hey, so I have been looking at the KTM 1290 adventure, my heart pulls me to the R but after watching this I think maybe the S is good to. Have you tried the R? What do you think in comparison? My thoughts are that the R will do whatever the S will do, besides the active cruse. But maybe the S can't do what the R can do when the time comes?
Thanks for that review! Got a question about heating - is it an issue? Especially in wormer days? I had short test ride years ago when bike came out (fo first models) and I was bit surprised of the heat as it was cloudy, spring day. So I'm curious if it's any noticeable issue in long term or maybe it's not an issue at all with newer models :)
Well - I do not really have the issue but that is because I wear heavy riding gear even when it is very warm outside 98% of the time. I did notice that it gets hot in city traffic when I wear a (motorcycle) jeans which lets the heat through. I have ridden this bike in 35° C summers with the KLIM suit you see in the thumbnail. The heat from the motor was the least of my issues ;-)
Thank you for your honest and thorough review. Bought a 2020 KTM 1290 SA and will be picking up today! So thrill! Normally a Harley girl but this bike changed my mind toward more sport touring. Keeping the street glide so I can still hang with my friends. Looking forward to the next adventure in my life! Cheers
Thank so much and congratulations on your new motorcycle - how exciting to look forward to the very first ride with a brand new bike 😎 I actually started my bike journey on a Harley Davidson before switching to an adventure bike and eventually to the KTM 1290 SAS - I did a short video on it ruclips.net/video/-Jh1lb0Jt9A/видео.html. I wished I could have kept my HD too -lucky you 😉 - when I am back in the US I at least get to ride one for a day or two - last time I had a street glide ruclips.net/video/pK2X9rpG2ys/видео.html 😎 ride safe and enjoy your adventures - cheers 🤙
I got my full motorcycle license in February. At the end of February I took some bikes for test drive. The BMW 1250 GS, the Honda Africa Twin adventure sports 2020 DCT, and the manual version, the KTM 790 adventure S and the KTM 1290 super adventure S. I tested all the bikes in the same week. The last one that I tested was de Honda Africa Twin adventure sports manual, but the experience I had on the 1290SAS was so amazing that I've forgotten the feelings I had in the other bikes. What an experience, that bike is so amazing that it will be my next bike after all this coronashit ends.
Congrats to your full license. This is absolutely the way to go - try all the bikes yourself and see what you like. I tried the Ducati Multistrada first at the time - then the BMW R 1200 GS and even through I wanted to like the Ducati more I decided on the BMW ... until my first ride on this KTM and I have not looked back ;-)
I went from an Africa Twin AS to a 2018 KTM 1290 SA R. Both bikes are awesome in their own way. The KTM is much tighter and engaging, but I liked the torque curve of the AT more. Off road the AT has a sweet spot at around 4000 rpm that is absolutely intoxicating.
@@phoenix10452 Thank you Michael - the AT is another one of those bikes I have not been able to try out yet - need to put this one on the list too I guess ;-)
@@phoenix10452 I have a 2018 ATAS now, which I am in the process of trading in for a 2020 1290 SAR. I love many things about the AT, for sure. I think it both looks and sounds better than the 1290 SAR - but it lacks power. 95 horses get boring on the pavement (but is enough off-road). I find myself riding much more on pavement, but still want to be able to enjoy gravel roads whenever I want, so I'm hoping the 1290 SAR will be a good fit for me.
Hoping for spring as soon as possible now, so I can go get my KTM :)
Pragmatic Tornado you will love the KTM. It is so tight and engaging. You will have to get used to the standing position on the KTM. You will not be standing almost upright like on the ATAS. The standing position of the KTM is attack mode, with your body hunched forward, which is good for dynamic off-road riding but less comfortable. You could of course compromise by installing risers. I choose to get used to it :-)
its been 2 years as well for me! amazing bike! also around 30k kms! love it everyday! make sure to add the Rottweiler Airbox System! it will transform the bike to a new level!
Good to hear - I looked at the airbox and the Rottweile kits - really cool stuff but it would likely get me into trouble as our bikes have to pass tmandatory echnical inspection and emissions testing every 2 year.
I’m actually doing all the things you’ve done with my 701 supermoto 🙂 I’m really tempted by a 1290 but I think It’s less fun to ride on mountain pass but on the other hand it’s way more comfortable on long journeys...
Sometimes it would be nice to have a lighter bike indeed. Offroad especially would be easier with a lighter bike. However, the 1290 is hard to beat on long distance rides
Huskyeleven Well, you will be surprised how nimble and agile that 1290 Super Adventure is. I do own a 2016 1290 Super Adventure (first edition, or later called T version), and I love to take corners at the mountain pass. As a little reminder, I am only 5’6” and mountain passes in my country mostly have more acute angled corners, and I can toss around that bike easily. Try ride one of them, and toss around the corner of a mountain pass, and you’ll be surprised, I gotta tell ya. Anyway, i would love to own a 701 Supermoto like the one you have. Take care and ride safely, Bro...✌🏽✌🏽👍🏼👍🏼
Same here, doing all that stuff with a duke 690 😁 even 850 km straight on the autobahn without a problem, but next year I am going for a 1290S 😊
@@fennek2w662 Good plan 😊 - will you keep your 690?
@@MotoVibes my girlfriend will be the new owner of my 690, so I have the opportunity to ride it when I miss her 😁😁
Very nice and interesting review you done after 2 years.
I own the "R" model and I say you covered the pro and cons I also experienced with mine.
Great that you wanted to share this with us. Keep up the hope that we ovecome this corona soon so we can start travelling again
Thank you for the nice feedback! At least we had some time over the late summer to travel a little bit before everything went back to shut down mode. I am hoping things will look better in 6-12 months ;-)
Hi there really enjoyed your clip and your experiences and honesty, for so many years now having not decided to buy a venture bike as so curious to see which companies are bringing to the table their willingness to perfect their bikes has me overwhelmed and a little confusing and so in appreciation on your lip here has boutique me one step closer to deciding which adv to buy thanks again I be looking forward to more of your clips cheers from Australia...
Thank you very much for your kind comment. There is indeed a lot happening with regards to developments in this segment - as always: if you wait long enough there will be something better down the line ;-)
Ride Safe & stay healthy! cheers
My 1190 had the wobble, took it back, don't know what they did, but since then even with different tyres never had wiggle again.. nice review, thanks
Thank you very much - the issue has been around for a while - some manage to get it fixed. I have the 2020 R now with similar issues - but I was expecting it to some degree - the extra suspension travel of the R does not help.
They will have tightened the headstock 👍🏻
Fantastic video review. This is the type of long term ownership information I had hoped to find about this motorcycle. I have seen the price on used 1290 SAS bikes coming down in my area and have been considering upgrading from my 2015 tiger 800 XRX. The triumph has been a wonderful machine for me but I have outgrown it's touring capacity. I enjoy long distance touring and the tiger just does not have the power for a rider with 2 weeks of gear on it. Also the aerodynamics of the tiger leave a bit to be desired. It is interesting about the high speed wobble though, that is a problem that I get on my tiger only with the soft bags and fully loaded above 90+ mph. How would you rate the aero as far as wind noise/buffeting? Have you or would you make any changes to the windscreen?
Thank you very much! I am glad it is helpful. High speed wobble is usually not something you have to worry about at speeds less than 120 mph no matter how much you carry on the bike.
I find the wind protection as good as on my former BMW 1200 GS - I had a an aftermarket windscreen on my BMW and I also have one for the KTM. Check out this video for more on that (and other accessories)
ruclips.net/video/r9qvKLRHJ4M/видео.html
Absolutely amazing footage. Great review!
Thank you for the kind words - glad you liked it ;-)
@@MotoVibes Sure! I it helps a lot with making the right decision :-)
@@sylvano1990 Are you in the market for a new bike?
@@MotoVibes Yes, absolutely. I live in the Netherlands and currently riding a KTM 790 Duke. But a bit in doubt about choosing between 1290 Adventure S and the Superduke GT. Both amazing bikes!
@@sylvano1990 Best if you could take both for a spin - ususally it is pretty clear after that. However, I did not think I was going to get into offroad riding - the 1290 SAS will allow you to explore that part of riding if you ever want. Like you said - both amazing bikes ;-) Let me know what you end up picking ;-)
Great video, sorry if this has already been answered, what type of helmet is that?
Hi Andy - it is this one ruclips.net/video/xg8RnfKu3UQ/видео.html
Excellent review!! Made me subscribe.
Thank you very much and welcome to the channel 😉 Looks like you also like Harleys as I do - I just do not get to ride them that often anymore but this video here is from a 2-day trip through 4 States - one of my very early videos ruclips.net/video/pK2X9rpG2ys/видео.html
Great video! Greetings from Albuquerque, New Mexico! Curious on your off-road wheel setup, what size wheels did you go with? How did you arrive at your decision? Thank you!
I actually stayed with the 19" front & 17" rear size and ordered the spoked wheels straight from KTM - if you remember the first 1290 SA (the white one) it is the same wheels. You could go 21"/18" but you need a new front fender to accomodate the larger wheel. Also, your speedometer readings will be off using the same ABS ring - there are people that make custom ABS rings to bring the speed readings back to normal as reprogramming the speedometer is not something every KTM shop will do.
I did a short video on the spoked wheels ruclips.net/video/XVlloFZiL1c/видео.html
Hope this helps - greetings to New Mexico - one of the few states have not yet been to ;-)
Great Video, I am currently looking at the Adventures S, my 2016 GS is due a change, I also had the GEN 2 Super Duke R and really loved the engine, which made me consider a Adventure S for touring, but the GS gives great weather protection, especially with the boxer cylinders keeping feet and lower legs out of the rain, how does the Adventure S compare for weather protection?
Thank you very much. The stock windshield will not give you as good of weather protection as the stock GS windshield - with that said - I upgrade my windshield on the GS (which I previously owned) and on the KTM. This year I ran a short windshield for most of the year and somehow was fine with that too even though I had to have touring screen before that - go figure. As for the lower end of the body - honestly I was happy not to have the cylinders sticking out on the side - they always got in the way while pushing the bike either standing next to it or sitting on the bike. The only real advantage of the inline 2-cylinder engine that I see is the lower center of gravity with the benefit of better low speed handling. for everything else it is a pain and a vulnerable spot to damage the bike (which happend to 2 GS on my last trip). If you buy good ADV boots with weatherproof liner you should be fine. With my current boots (review on this channel) I am fine in the rain and in low temperatures (down to 3°C) - hope this helps ;-)
Very nice revue, what kind of tankbag do you have?
Thank you 😊. The tank bag is from BMW and was meant for the 1200 GS
I subscribed to your channel cause Im about to buy a 1290 SAS brand new and was looking for info on it. Your content is great and very informative. I hope all the bad things I read about the motorcycle are just nonsense... but the only way to know is to have one! any advice for a new owner that is not that tall (5′ 9″) but loves going off road from time to time? Cheers!
Awesome! Thank you! I only beat you by 2 inches in height. First advice for going offroad would have been not to buy a brand new bike 😂 but all kidding aside - the frist time the bike goes down is the hardest - it gets easier from there. I have a video on this channel on the upgrades I added for getting the bike offroad ready. I have since dropped the bike countless times. The crash bars, bash plate, levers and mirros that flip up keep the damage to a minimum. However, the Akrapovic is hard to protect - it will get damaged and scratched eventually - maybe stay with the original can or buy cheaper alternatives - I am on my 2nd Akrapovic and it has quite a few scratches.
With all that out of the way - see if you can get some offroad training that is specific to big adventure bikes. Depending on where you live this may not be close to home but there seem to be more and more places that have discovered the big adventure riders as a target group. It is a lot of fun to learn to move this bike offroad and professional guidance will ensure a quick learning experience. If you would have told me last October I would be riding the stuff I was riding this summer I would have thought you are crazy. Btw. dropping the bike properly and making sure you do not get caught under the bike is a big part of the learning experience and will keep you safe (like I said I am getting really good in this department 😂 )
If you are worried about ride height look for lower seat (the stock seat is very low but not very comfortable) - I would not recommend to lower the suspension. You will get used to the height of the bike eventually.
Let me know when you pull the trigger on the bike - ride safe!
this is great! i have the same bike and love it! need to buy a microphone to record the sound, what are you using?
Thank you - well, then you know ;-) check out this video on my video and sound setup
ruclips.net/video/DyeBTCGt_Ks/видео.html
cheers
how are the vibrations on this one, at low speed especially, like city traffic and filtering? I have ridden the 1090 ADV and it surprised me how much vibration there was, granted I was riding an 06 FJR1300 at the time but still. I really love this 1290 ADV and would not mind to own one, thought I don't know if I could live with it every day. I am used to my smooth Explorer 1200 triple
There are definitly more vibrations coming for the KTM V-twin - especially if you compare to 3- und 4-cylinder engines. Also, when you compare the 1200/1250 GS the engine seems rougher but at the same time more potent and raw - kinda like a beast on a leash ;-)
The most important thing is that KTM has managed to design the electronics to deliver the power smoothly in the low rpm range - so no jerking on the chain etc.
I like the power delivery at low rpm of these massive V-twin engines and the good vibrations that go along with it ;-) but that is just personal preference.
The 1090 should have give you a good idea what the 1290 would feel like - minus the Power of the 1290 of course.
If you haven't ridden the BMW 1250 GS or the 1000 XR (4-cylinders) you might want to give them a try. There is a reason why the GS is so popular - the engine is a big part of it.
MotoVibes, I was considering buying 2020 1290Adv S as good deal on them right now. But I’m also torn as I see great updates to 2021 model. Problem is these won’t ship to North America until fall 2021. What would you recommend?
I can see your struggle - this the issue every time something newer and better is announced. Do you wait for it or not - then again once you finally have your hands on it - the next new thing you need to have will be lurking around the corner 😂
Since you asked for my humble opinion: Get the a good deal on a 2020 model and enjoy a great 2021 season with it. You can always upgrade in 2022 - trade in your bike for the new one. This will give you time to see if the 2021 is worth the hype and you will be able to ride it before you make a purchase descision 😎
@@MotoVibes appreciate your input. It’s a tough one! Cheers 👍
@@MotoVibes bought the 1290 SAS. Couldn’t be happier!
@@RoadtoNowhere73 oh wow- that did not take you long to make up your mind 😆 congratulations to your new KTM! Happy adventure riding 👍
I am at the edge of change my 790 Adv for the new (2021) 1290 super adventure S, but also thinking the possibilty of buying a good conditioned 2019 or 2020 1290 with powerparts added for the same price. What would you suggest? Thanks
Well, since the new model is about to hit stores I would at least wait to test ride one of the new 2021 models. Also, some dealers may sit on 2020 stock that they are happy to sell for a good discount once the 2021 models hit the dealerships. In Germany that is a 4000,- Euro price difference right now - you can buy a lot of powerparts for this price difference ;-) buying brand new will give you up to 2 years of manufacturers warranty just in case you do run into some issues. I hope this helps
@@MotoVibes thanks a lot. İ'll consider it.
I have really bad confidence with my gs adv in very slow motion...you said the ktm is more dangerous and less manouvrable at low speed??? Really??
alz the KTM carries its weight much higher therefore it’s quite a bit less stable at low speeds (like most other ADV bikes) this is why KTM introduced the ugly tank design on the 790 which pushes the weight of the bike further down for better low speed handling
Thank you very much....but i’m so tempted....it’s about have fun!
@@alz4002 Look at it this way - your skill level will not get worse - only better. Have you considered doing an offroad training? I was so amazed how much I learned in just a 2-day training. Balancing any bike will be much less of an issue after that.
Yes! My opinion is that’s the better way to enjoy your passion whatever they could be....i’ll considering for sure! Also you can accept my provocation: why i bought a motorcycle whit powerful engine if i can’t make the most of because is less manouvrable and also penalized at high speed range (wobble issues)? My gsa at 180 km/h make a f***ng noise but she is glued to the ground. Final thought: what about the notorious heat issues? Now in Milan is 36^C!
Thank you for sharing your experience
Today i went to the dealer to negotiate for a 1290 S ( used)
@@alz4002 ok - it is late and I had a couple of gin and tonics - if you are asking about women it would be like : "beautiful & well behaved vs. hot & crazy wild" - You choose ;-)
What kind of helmet is that??? Love it.
Thank you - check out this video for more info
ruclips.net/video/xg8RnfKu3UQ/видео.html
I would like to know about the comfort of it. Is it good for long riding? Is there any limit for a mans height? I am 1,74m and i am not sure about it. Have you ever had a passenger and how was he/she about comfort?
Μιχάλης Ντουστάκης I can ride 14 hours on it no problem but only with the power parts ergo seat. The stock seat is too hard for me. I am 180 cm and the ergo seat adds another 20 mm of seat height. I cannot fully get my heels down. It’s fine for me but it’s better you try it for yourself. Once the bike moves it’s all good. I have had a passenger because she was getting exhausted riding on her friends sports bike. She came with me for the better comfort for the rest of the ride. I set my suspension to comfort (very soft) and she was happy 😉
@@MotoVibes thank you very much for your answer. You were very informative! Greetings from Greece!!
Μιχάλης Ντουστάκης you are very welcome 😉
Last question- what’s the brand of your helmet cam.
Black Swan Odysseys check out this video ruclips.net/video/DyeBTCGt_Ks/видео.html
Whats the rush in such scenery ? just dont get it, believe me you have had one " little" get of the next one is around the corner .I think i,ll stick to me HD and pick flowers around the wonderfull country side.
It's not really about being rushed but more about the rush of riding through on perfect roads through amazing scenery. It is not to say I do not enjoy just crusing down the road on a HD with a rumbling big twin when I get the chance. I enjoy it all - enduro riding, race track, touring or cruising on a big twin.
@@MotoVibes Ok dude just take it easy ,just an old man giving his thoughts to a young gun.
@@scootjockey all good ;-)
What is the gasoline consume of this bike?
I have not really spent much focus on the exact consumption- it also depends on how hard you ride it. Normal riding should be about 6liter/ 100 km. On the racetrack it is twice that 😉
@@MotoVibes thank bro, I was searching for a good review of this bike for be sure for the purchase, I'm going to buy it 😀
@@emmanuelvaldez3698 well I hope you have a great time with it. I still enjoy every minute of riding this bike 🤙
Very good, interesting, informative and realistic overview of 2 years with the beast! Great work and thanks.
Garry Crooks thank you for the kind feedback 😉
Best KTM Super Adventure 1290 video review ever!!! You've covered all the angles! That's exactly what I wanted and what most want, a real user long term review as impartial as possible. Congrats again and the image quality, video takes and scenery are just awesome! Best regards from Argentina!
Thank you very much for such a kind feedback! Made my day ;-) Nice to have viewers from Argentina too - Ride Safe!
@FITNESSOVER45 most of the time I used the Continental road attack 3 tires. They are also great for on road touring 😎
@FITNESSOVER45 i am not much of a wheelie expert but you should be able to bring the front up on pavement with TC engaged in sports mode
Very thorough review especially after two year ownership. Your quality videos are much appreciated in these difficult times. 👍🏼 😎 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Your praise is very much appreciated - I was hoping to give this review a different spin and not redo what is already online. I hope you are staying healthy in the States - the numbers are very concerning and they are rising fast - I have family in the US as my wife is American - -cheers!
Thanks friend, looks bad but we’ll get through this. 🙏
Be strong... greetings from Greece...
Great review, just bought an identical colors used 2018 model, your video just convinces me I made the right choice!
Good choice! Still my favorite color scheme - I do not like the new colors. Enjoy your new KTM!
What do you think about the seat?
Ergo seat is good I think little to high for me, the original seat I made 13mm holes in the foam in a "pattern" to soften up the foam, let's see, need to test it how it feels. I have 32" legs so I prefer the lower seat. But it's hard.
same here ;-) the PP seat is just a tad to tall for me. I mean it works but I cannot set the heals down fully - the original seat is way to uncomfortable for me. The PP seat is great for comfort and for the most part I am fine with taller ride height.
Very good review my friend, it’s great to hear a real time “live” riders review and not a sycophantic journalist just raving because it’s the latest bike on the block. I had a Ktm 1190 adv,r in 2014 but sadly had a number of issues, reliability wise, but the bike was a blast when in good shape... I’m with you with the locations, the Alps are a riders paradise, oh to live nearer would be a dream, but as soon as the horrific Covid 19 is gone I’ll be back....
Ride safe , great vids. Cheers ....
Thank you for the appreciation. It is not like I do not watch these reviews too (I watched a ton of them before buying this bike) - I was hoping to provide a different perspective in addition to what is already available. I am sorry to hear you had all these issues. I suppose I have been lucky so for. I had a lot of troubles with my BMW R 1200 GS - all covered under warranty but still. I am keeping my fingers crossed that life will turn to normal by the time summer comes around but until then I am doing my part and staying home ;-) stay healthy!
Had the privilege of test riding the '17 1290 sa for 4hrs (city traffic, hwy & mountain twisties (no off-road)). The bike was phenomenal. The power.....sublime. Decided at that time to go with the '17 1200 gsa as I couldn't get past the elevated engine heat & chain maintenance. Whilst I can truly appreciate some "hot buns" just not my own. Otherwise a spectacular machine. mv a spot-on review ✌️✌️
Thank you for your nice comment. 😎 Good point about the engine heat - due to the design your buns (and crown jewels) are a bit closer to the hot parts of the engine - with heavy stop and go traffic that may become an issue but nothing compared to the Harley Davidson (air-cooled) big twins that I owned 😂. The BMW is much better in this respect. Keep cool and stay healthy! 👍
I have the same bike. Love it! Over 24,000 miles in 18 months! This is by far the best bike I have owned. The Alps look like a lot more fun then The Rockies are for riding. Thanks for the video! Be well! Ride fast! :)
Thanks for you comment! Good to hear you are happy with your KTM too - The Alps are amazing - come over and check them out - the Rockies are still on my list - maybe next time with an adventure bike instead of a Harley Davidson ;-)
Regarding high-speed stability, I know that the jacket plays a very important role. If it is not as stiff as a leather jacket, it will start to flap in the back and make your shoulders and therefore the handlebars move. So it's more a question of wind protection and the jacket will play a role in the stability of the bike.
Absolutely - I have noticed that wearing the airbag vest helps in this regard. I was able to go quite a bit faster last weeked coming back from my day trip ruclips.net/video/AYQ7Ps02OZk/видео.html
Best thing about the bike is, that you can do anything with it. From the track, over the alps to dirt. Just one bike that does it all 🤩
Absolutely. 😎👍
I love that bike but for me maybe the R version because a love offroad ride.nice vide and incredible bike congratulation.
Thank you very much - if Offroad is your thing and you are tall enough the R is the way to go - I think the R looks more badass too - I really like the big 21" front wheel and spoked wheels look more fitting to this type of bike. The S version is almost too big for me - I am 180cm ;-)
@@MotoVibes really? I'm 1.85 so I must forget the R version but I tried the S and it was ok for me
@@ViajandoconMabre well -try it for yourself - maybe it is fine for you - Also, the extra 5cm will help ;-)
I own an 18 SAR and I adore it. It's literally my daily rider, a job at which it excels at. It's also very capable offroad and a weapon in the twisties, so if you can fit (and have experience) I'd jump on one. Stay well.
Thanks for the perfect review! Really appreciated watching it. I ride a 1290 SAR since a couple of years after having had a BMW R1100GS since 1995 (I still have it as a second bike). All you described is so true, awesome enginge and breaks, great riding positioning, best bike I have ridden so far
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your nice comment too ;-)
Thank you for taking the time and effort to make this for us. It's most appreciated that a real owner has given us relevant information and not a waste of time Press release (journalist ).
Thank you for your kind feedback 😎👍
Tighten the fork bearings by the chassis, they are often losing on these bikes, and dealers suck on checking them in Service. My 2018 Ktm 1290 SAS fork play was upwards 15+mm even after the first Service, I tighten it and high-speed stability was soo good!
Thank you for the tip - I need to see how I can do this myself. I asked for it at the dealership - pretty much had the same experience as you.
It's super easy, there is plenty of info about it. Under the handle bars you se one larger alu. nut maybe 36 mm in size, that one you tighten in till free play is gone (put bike on center stand and check if there is free play by hand move fork forward and backward) but remember first loosen the locking bolt torx M8 before you start tighning on that larger nut!
When you tighten that larger 36 mm nut the conical bearings inside will tighten against the outer bearing and fork will be stable.
When you tighten the bearings, and free play is gone, make sure steering moves lightly left and right, if it turns with resistance you tighten to much.
Very easy procedure but anyways dealers just skips it!
And costumers ride a woobelie bike. I do all my service my self can't trust any dealers these days.
@@JW-cq4ez Thank you - sounds easy enough - will have a look this weekend. I have a few other maintenance items on the list anyway. Thanks again for pointing this out. Ride Safe!
I also do this on my ktm mx bikes and excf's it's a must to make them more stable
Excellent review. I'm looking at getting back into biking after a 11 year break. Looking at the 1290 along with other similar bike. Just keep getting drawn back to the KTM. What accessories have you fitted to your bike as I noticed the orange rear sprocket? What ones do you have that you'd recommend? Thanks
Thank you Ian - I did 2 videos on most of the accessories that I have
ruclips.net/video/r9qvKLRHJ4M/видео.html
and this one for offroad use:
ruclips.net/video/_yjVpDS4UqE/видео.html
The orange sprocket was just some nice bling as I had to renew both sprockets and the chain as part of regular maintenance
I purchased the 1290sas very recently, still waiting for delivery, actually. I come of a Tracer 700 and did test rides on the Tracer 900GT which made clear i like twins, and the BMW GS which felt very comfy. But the thrill you feel when you ride a motorcycle that fits you perfect, i got with the KTM. Anyway, i looked as many reviews and movies on YT i could find and i really like yours. Keep it up, you have a new follower 😉!
First of all congrats to your new awesome motorcycle! Thank you for the kind words and positive feedback - Ride Safe & Stay Awesome 😎
I have a KTM 1090r, it’s the worst bike I’ve ridden at High speed, sounds like all of the KTM range are not stable at high speed which shows in your video! Nice work,👍👍👏👏🏴
Thank you Dave! I just got a tip to tighten down the steering head bearing - maybe that helps a bit. Will do that over Easter.
The wobble issue is common to long track/long suspension, large wheel (19”+) bikes like most adventures and harleys etc, it’s made worse with load on the back, baggy clothing, big aftermarket screens and hand guards, cameras etc, these all move the center of gravity (load) back and extend the trail/front forks, also with the extra load on your upper body from the baggy clothing means you hold the bars tighter to compensate this causes the speed wobble. BMW’s, Honda’s, Yamaha, Ducati adventurer bikes, cruisers, motard and trail bikes all do it.
Thank you for the explanation - makes absolute sense. I have to admit I have not taken a Ducati Multistrada up this speed or the BMW (just would not go that fast anyway). Clothing has made a major differene in my experience and my riding gear is extremely baggy
@@MotoVibes I had both a GS and GSA LC and the GSA doesn't have this problem because of the big tank. Especially when gassed full even with luggage. In the future i'm looking to buy a Super adventure because i like the KTM agressiveness! You can get 17 inch front wheels from Alpina. Great cost but performs and looks perfect!
High quality video as usual. The KTM, ducati and BMW are all excellent bikes. I chose the r1250gs exclusive. Why ? Three main reasons - 1. BMW quality, customer service and 3 year warranty ( comes at a price !) 2.Shaft drive - I am lazy and chain cleaning, oiling etc is toilsome.
3. Stability and telelever suspension is second to none.
There is a reason the GS wipes the floor year after year in sales compared with all other bikes - it is the best all rounder in my opinion ( and it is only a personal opinion).
Gordon - thanks for your comment. The BMW R 1250 GS is an excellent motorcycle and a choice you cannot go wrong with. I do miss the low to no maintenance of a shaft drive some times ;-) btw. you can get 2 additional years of warranty (to make it 4 total) with KTM - at least in Germany. Money well spent on a little bit of piece of mind. Thanks for watching & stay healthy!
Amazing review!
Great video editing, as usual... As I always say, you deserve way more subscribers man!
Cheers...
Thank you very much for the praise - I am glad you like it 😎👍
Paulo Soares indeed. Best review by far about the SAS (i have watched a lot) on top of that, a very likeable guy!
I am thinking of buying this bike, & after watching this fantastic & in-depth review i am!
I have watched lots of reviews on this bike - this is the best on RUclips. Thank you
Thank you for the kind words! I am glad to read that this video was helpful. You will have a great time with this motorcycle 😎🤘
Great video. Thank you I’m now convinced this is my next bike!
thank you very much for your nice feedback! I am curious - what are you riding now?
My dream to ride the roads you have. The states are ok. Proud to ride KTM and love my 1090R.
Thanks for the great video man. Ride safe!
I did not know how many great roads there are until I started exploring them and I have only seen a few yet. However, depending on where you live in the US there should be plenty of legal choices of riding offroad (which is quite limited in Europe) and there certainly is no lack of beautiful scenery and nature 😉 Ride Safe!
Instability at high speeds is an issue that you generally have with all touring enduros. This is simply due to the long suspension travel. And I can confirm that this problem is particularly pronounced on the KTM 1290 SAS. In my experience, there is only one real exception and that is the BMW GS. I suspect this is due to the Telelever. The GS I rode was absolutely stable even at 200 km/h.
That is true - however, the 2021 models of the KTM did better than the predecessors. The BMW is pretty stable too but it also doesn't get up to the same top speeds as the KTM
For road use try the Roadtec 01. The standard Pirelli and Conti fronts were demolished within 2k miles, just not suitable for the sort of pace the bike can handle. The Roadtec delivered 5k rear and 7k front, miles not kilometres.
Steve Duke thank you for the tip! 👍
Got my new 1290 SAS and managed one ride before the lock down started.
I love the bike and it's a good evolution from the 1190 SA that I had. Unfortunately the dealer hadn't disabled the transport lock so it refused to start after 3 hours riding. Luckily I was back home by then!
I'm hoping for a good price for its first service after their mistake.
Great review 👍
Congrats to your new bike John! I did not even know there was such a thing as a transport lock ;-) That would have been a real pain if the bike had refused to start in a middle of a long tour. Let's hope we will get through this lock down phase quickly - it is especially hard because the weather is starting to get really nice now. stay healthy!
You do a great job on your content. Love watching your stuff.
Thank you Tod 👍🏼 😎 and thank you for watchig 👍
schöne Zusammenfassung deiner Erfahrungen. But why in english? nice to see you use your phone for the Blitzer app... What brand is your helmet?
Vielen Dank Jörg! English reaches more people - it is exciting to know that fellow riders from all over the world are watching some of my content - also I like to watch content from other countries and I really appreciate if they go through the effort of allowing a international viewership to follow what is going on by speaking English or at least using English subtitles. The helmet is a Touratech Aventuro Carbon ;-)
MV, you forgot about how outstanding engine braking is on the 1290, downshifting to first gear can hel[ you save a lot on brake fading.
Modiene KANE absolutely right- I almost take it for granted 😎👍
Hi there . Really loves your videos . I got myself exactly the same bike as yours, that I brought home the day confinement started . So, it sleeps in my garage since then... cannot wait to experience it. In the meanwhile , I’m relying on you to imagine what it’s alike . Many thanks for the nice videos, and review . Be safe , and Ride safe thereafter....
Congrats on the purchase - I can feel your pain - now you have that brand new beauty of a beast in the garage and you cannot take it for a spin. Your time will come. Thanks for your comment and for watching - stay healthy!
Great review man. I really like your vlog. I too have a 1290 sas and your givi windscreen recommendation was on the spot! By the way, on insane speeds try setting the suspension on the "ride with pillion mode"while you ride alone, this will set the preload of the bike and will give you a "more to the ground" feeling of your front wheel.
Thank you very much - glad the Givi screen worked for you too. I will try the preload setting - thank you for the tip ;-)
So, basically, the BMW 1200GS is the best for adv bikes? It seems that everybody is really into that bike.
James Cao the BMW sells well for a reason - it does everything well and is easy to ride. You have to decide what’s best for your needs. The BMW is close to perfect- almost too perfect for me. I like the character of the KTM, aggressive, fast and rough around the edges when you want it to be. Comfortable for long rides when you need it to be.
Ktm 1290 SAS or BMW 1250 gs? Looking for trips with my girlfriend and quite charged... Thank you!
Well, the KTM is definitely comfortable enough for 2 and for long distance riding. Plenty of riders do. If you are ALWAYS riding with your girlfriend you may not be able to push the bike as hard as you would riding by yourself and it this case the KTM may not get to let out the "beasty side" of it. If you also ride solo and you like your bike to have a little (actually a lot) more punch have a look at the KTM - best thing is always to test ride the bikes yourself - a day on each bike and you will know what works best for YOU! Good luck mate!
Great video but I dont see anywhere what year this bike is. What year is this Adventure?
James White thank you very much. This is a 2017 Modell first registered in Jan 2, 2018. at the time of the video recording it was exactly 2 years old.
MotoVibes thanks. I used to live in Herrenberg Germany so have ridden those alpine passes. Am planning to buy a 2020 Adventure S. Could we have a short call sometime? (Long trips, Corner crash in alps). Thanks James
James White sure - please use the email address on my RUclips channel page so we exchange phone numbers. I am about to leave for 2 week motorcycle trip Thursday this week so it may be getting harder to find a time slot for a call - Cheers
What’s the up/down buttons marked “CLS” on the right handle bar?
Adam B this is the control unit for the chain oiler
MotoVibes Thank you! Just watched your video on must have accessories, very interesting!
Adam B thank you very much. 😉
Very comprehensive review - enjoyed it. Not many decent mileage / time frame reviews around so made it more noteworthy. I nearly bought one several years ago but was put off by KTM reliability and poor local dealer service. Glad to hear you have had no problems. I like the fact that you invested in a set of off road wheels to truly get best value.
Thank you very much for you nice comment 😉 since I started this channel I have been reading about the hit and miss with reliability on KTMs from some owners. I know I had my fair share of issues on the BMW R 1200 GS - I also know it is not representative of all BMWs - it just really sucks when it is you.
Anyway - let's see what the offroad end will bring in the future - it is a lot of fun but I definitly need more practice to feel anywhere near as comfortable as I do on the road. cheers - stay healthy!
Outstanding. Well done and highly informative. I’ve had one year with my 2019 KTM 1290 SAS and, after 6k mikes, I loved learning something new and some of your objective comments. One day I’ll get to some of those Alp roads. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback Anthony! Keep enjoying your KTM! I am about to head out the door for some afternoon riding ;-)
Great review. May i ask what helmet you have ?
mikee field thank you. The helmet is a Touratech Aventuro Carbon. I did a review a while back on this. Channel if you are interested
Very interesting video.
You did not mension about heat from the engine and vibrations. In this model is it already solved or still anoying?
One more question . If You drive trip with Gs1250 together and You want to go fast , is able gs1250 stick to You?
I still did not decided which motorcycle to choose and I am afraid that Gs1250 will be to slow. But this is just when I look on acceleration table. Reality maybe different because of GS torque.
Thanks for answer
Thank you very much Szymon. Vibrations and heat were never an issue for me. However, there is quite a bit of heat coming up from the engine which is noticeable the warmer the outside temperatures are. I just never noticed it through my Goretex Klim pants - if you wear Jeans or lighter pants then you will feel the heat.
As for the power of the GS 1250 - it’s more than enough for fast riding and in real life scenario the rider’s abilities will be more important than the horse power of the bike and for real life touring I rarely push a bike to the absolute limit - so in short the GS 1250 can keep up with 1290 SAS - we had a T700 with us last time and that was a different story
So, pick the bike that „feels“ best to you - if it’s between the BMW and the KTM you cannot really go wrong in my opinion. Best to take each of them on extended test ride - ideally for a full day. You will likely know for sure after that. Good luck and let me know how you have decided- cheers Oliver
Hi! I really enjoyed your video, could you tell me wich rim stickers you put on at 13:10? Keep on riding!
Thank you very much - I bought these of Amazon amzn.to/3b6iqHS
Esos 35000km están muy bien, aún le faltan unos pocos, hasta los 126200 de mi 1190 adventure R de 2013💪💪👏👏
thank you ;-)
Hola, la recomiendas? Tengo una BMW f800gs adventure, y me la cambian por una 1190 pero tiene 70,000 km. Las dos son 2014.
Has tenido problemas con todos esos kilómetros?
Saludos desde México
I have the 2019 model and KTM did not solved the high speed issue... 240km/h was my top speed so far with a top case mounted...
but 240 with a top case is not bad at all ;-)
@@MotoVibes
Yes I know... Anyway, the steering shakes more than necessary and I don't think the steering damper can be adjusted. As such, at these speeds I don't feel the bike very stable ...
E. Pereira Sá change the oil on your steering damper use something heavy
Most enjoyable of your videos. I should have started with it. Being a Porsche mechanic and a ex AMA racer I really related to your views! Thank you!
Thank you very much for your feedback - that means a lot 😉
Hello. It’s 2024. Have they improved some of the things you talking about on this bike?
I have a few videos on the new models ruclips.net/video/MqOoYUS8r9Q/видео.htmlsi=9KHzjkvHJgxQoGSM and this ruclips.net/video/6BGIR5pji6o/видео.htmlsi=9c6_1OEc5Fd0bXSm 😉
Hello, great video but does the bike pull on right side when you let go off you're hands?
Thank you - the bike stays straight - I actually ride with my hands of the handle bars a lot when I am coasting through towns. Do you have this issue?
Yes unfortunately....i don't know why it happened
@@brunooberan2868 Ok - that should be something straight forward for your dealer to fix the alignment I would think but I am sure you have checked that option already. I do experience some steering bar movement at certain low speeds (steering bar is moving fast from left tor right and back etc). when riding with no hands on the steering bar.
Bruno Oberan probably the camber on the road surface
Mbal 40 I don’t know what’s wrong
Hi, could You send me Vin number of Your previous bike model? I cant find plastics with colour like Yours, I live it black. Or some parts number :).
Michal - check out KTM Parts Finder - sparepartsfinder.ktm.com/ you can search for your model and find every single part of the part incl the parts numbers - hope that helps
Is a 2014 1190 adventure Still a good choice? I have the chance to buy one, but it has 70k km.
Is KTM relieble at high milage?
Thomas still rides his 1190 R - I am not sure but he must have 50-60k km on it by now. He also owned a 2020 1290 SAS which he sold again because he still rides his old KTM and the new 2020 was parked in the garage all of 2020 😂. A German bike magazine did a long term test with 50k km on the 1190 it was I believe - the openend the engine after 50k km it was as good as new. The engine should do at least 100k km but with any used bike there are other things than can and will fail over time but if the bike was maintained well and you are willing to do the occasional repair - why not?!
I just traded in my MT10 for a new 1290 SAS, I pick it up in a few days and I’m very excited. Thanks for the review, some of those roads are amazing
Mbal 40 very cool. Congratulations to your new ride. Keep the shiny side up 🤙
MotoVibes thanks buddy! We have a lot of great roads here in Ireland too, you should take a trip here sometime 👍 here’s a small clip of one ruclips.net/video/BiBtYu6LxpM/видео.html
Great minds think alike, congratulations mate. I traded my 1190S yesterday for 1290SAS, just waiting for it to arrive. All the best in riding!
@@EddieHayes Congratulations to your new KTM ;-) I hope you get it soon!
So far the best I bought but...not for beginners and if you still want it and it is your first? Please the first 5000km in rain mode 😇 and invest in some riding safety courses
probably not the best beginner bike but the power is easy enought to control ;-)
If i may ask, When motor manufacture put gyro fore Drive stability in some of models? Is it science ficrion or just an expensive item. 😎 🍀
There have been prototypes like that but I am doubtful there is a large market for this. If you cannot even balance a bike at low speed it may be best not to ride a motorcycle in the first place. 😉
14-20 days of riding , which one is better Ktm 1290s 2017 vs Gs 1200 2017
It really comes down to personal preference - in general the GS is more tuned for comfort and the KTM is tuned more for sport and power. I found the both great for multiple weeks of riding 😉
🤔 if you are flying in to a turn the last thing you won’t to do is use the brakes …. No …
If you are referring to the crash - yes, the braking was completly off. For any other corner there serveral ways to approach a corner - I always stay on the brake unti I hit the apex (trail braking) - others prefer to finish the braking process before the enter the turn. There are pros and cons to both - in the end its personal preference
I’ve loved my 2014 1190S, I bought another for 2nd home. Putting crash, skid, bark busters on her! 😎
That is the way to do it 😎
How much milage do you have?
I have the opportunitie to buy the exact same bike, but it have 45k miles on it.
Currently have a bmw f800gs 2014....should i?
10k and 17k, you will love the power and suspension on these KTM 😎🤙
@@DiegoGonzalez-jo5gj see below
Hi,,good review, just wondering what caused you to go over the bank in your bike crash....cheers
This is my end of the analysis ruclips.net/video/LfppoCxR11I/видео.html
😉
Great review men,i am lookng at that bike and i have two questions:compering to gs does engine have that “im gonna chew you up and spit you out” feeling,is it to agresive and also in the traffic when is hot outside does the exhaust give you any heat problems?
Thank you very much - glad it is helpful. The 1290 is and feels more powerful than the GS - especially when you take it throught the entire rev range. Also, especially the 2018-2020 models have a certain grunt to them - the V-twin feels more purposeful and ready to race. I liked it but it is not for everyone - best thing is to take this bike on an extended test ride or rent it for a day.
As for the heat - if you are stuck in slow traffic in a city on a hot summer day you will feel the heat coming form the engine like on most big bore motorcycles.
@@MotoVibes tnx on replay,i did not have chance to testride ktm but 1250 and 1300 feels kind of flat,like it does not enjoy in revs so much. It feels like you running with a wooden legs.
Great video! I was wondering if the Powerparts seat is suitable for me. I'm measuring 1m80.
It should be just fine - I am the same height as you - 180cm! The PP seat will add another 2cm - not much but at our height noticable. I have gotten used to it now and it is worth the increased comfort
MotoVibes ok thanks!
QVC needs to hire you.
😂
Only one question: what helmet camera did you use? The pictures are very good. I wonder whether you keep your head just as stable as it looks or what is your secret to get such low moving head cam footage?
This is the vlogging setup that I use ruclips.net/video/d7eh1HCxp0c/видео.htmlsi=ryue52UgDFtFQp2a 😉
@@MotoVibes Thank you, also for your prompt answer 👍
KTM uses notoriously shit steering dampers, that's will probably fix the wobble. I have a 2014 super duke and it has the same issue, damper does basically nothing and im pretty sure it's filled with water and air -_-
I was wondering the same thing - how much does the steering damper really help.
@@MotoVibes The stock one does basically nothing haha, any aftermarket upgrade will be felt immediately! Hyperpro, Mupo, Scotts, ohlins etc etc. They're all excellent options
@@Juuul89 what are you using on your super duke?
@@MotoVibes Hyperpro RSC. They're not quite plug and play though you need an adapter kit (which they sell) I like it because it's non lineair, it ramps up oil flow restriction with the speed the wheel whips around so you dont feel it at all at low speed. You could also look at the Mupo, their reputation is even better than Hyperpro I believe. You could also go for the powerparts WP one... tbh even a heavier oil in the stock one is noticable! Takes like 30 mins :)
Hi great video, i just tightened the steering head bearings about half a turn no more wobble.
Thank you - I also did that but the biggest influence seem to be the cloths for me - baggy goretex textil will be a lot worse than a tight fitting leather suit. However, wearing my airbag vest helped to keep my jacket tighter to the body which helped for top speed riding.
Also drop the fork legs down will also help lots
I am still trying to decide between the Super Adventure and the Africa Twin
Best to ride them each for a day. I bet after that you will know what suits you best. They are both good bikes. I find the Honda to be a little on the heavy side
Fantastic English.
Thank you Steven 😉
Super Video! Du sprichst fantastisches Englisch, bist du Pilot?
Vielen Dank für die Blumen. Pilot einer 1290 SAS bin ich schon ;-) aber im Ernst - war viele Jahre in den USA, meine Frau in Amerikanerin - wir leben mittlerweile in Deutschland - zu Hause sprechen wir mehr Englisch als Deutsch - für die Arbeit brauche ich die Sprache ebenfalls täglich.
Finde deine Videos echt Klasse 👍 komme nur mit der englischen Sprache nicht so zurecht.
vielen Dank! Da bist Du nicht der einzige - hab mich irgendwann entschieden, dass gleich auf Englisch zu machen, da mehr als 80% der Viewer nicht aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum kommen. Ich habe da einige Favoriten aus dem Ausland und freue mich, dass es wenigsten englische Untertitel gibt so dass ich das verstehen kann. Meine Hoffnung ist, dass die meisten Deutschen besser Englisch können als umgekehrt ;-)
You must be lucky, mine broke down in less than 5000 miles because “it had been used in the rain, £1300, not mended, KTM NEVER ANSWER CUSTOMER ENQURIES, stick with.something more reliable like an old Chinese clone, neither are any good but the Chinese bike will be easier to push
Sorry to read that. Sucks when something breaks during warranty and you still need to pay. What exactly happened if I may ask?
Failed to start in Corsica, £1300 spent at a Ktm dealer, fault reoccurred same day, nothing else the dealer could do, a month later it came back to England on the back of a truck, Ktm sent me a very nice “get f--d, you’re on your own”, email.
@@stuartcarefoot4804 That really sucks - totally get the frustration!!
Great video, ditto great information. Re crash, you were lucky and glad for that. I total'ed my previous bike (BMW 1200GSA) in June (gravel on pavement in a turn). Was not quite as lucky as you, or luckier, all depending on point of view. Marked the end of the season, and the beginning of hospital/rehab period of 5 months. All gone well, albeit (painfully) slow.
On a whim I bought a 2019 1290SAS (with low mileage) a few days ago. Have since done a lot of research. The wobbling phenomena it seems one can, apparently, mitigate by among other things balance tires/rims. But the one single taks some claim helps, is to tighten up front fork/bearing. Then there's funneling of air in front. I've noticed is that the stock wind screen isn't shaped as aerodynamic as, for instance, the stock GS/GSA screen. Latter however, flop around and causes instability in high speeds, without additional brackets. Worse if you try high speed with the stock panniers on. Latter with absolutely zero aerodynamic props.
Now, after a lot of research I put Puig touring screen with spoiler on the GSA. It made a huge difference regarding stability, specifically in windy conditions. One thing is the rigidity of the screen. Another is the shape. Puig have followed the same recipe on the touring screen for 1290. With experience from BMW 1200GSA it would seem probable the funneling of air can help on high speed stability also on the 1290.
That is the theory side of it. Remains to be tested. I don't live in Germany, so high speed enjoyment will limit itself quite naturally. So therefore, a potential issue I'll try to mitigate before any experience.
In any event, thanks again for lots of great contributions! Cheers.
You basically brought down to the point. See if it is even an issue for you- if I did not live in Germany I would even go for a short racing screen all the time ( which I kinda did this year anyway)
My 2014 1190 S wobbles. CANNOT believe a new 1290 S still does it. I'm planning to take loosen then retorque the head bearing. It already has a hyperpro steering damper. What is your plan to fix the wobble? On my 14 1190, I also enjoy the electronically adjustable long travel suspension completely absorbing bumps that used to be harsh on previous sport touring bikes. Suspension comfort and upright seating are the primary reason for not wanting another sportbike while still being able to ride fast with 150hp.
right now the fix are knobby tires - cannot go faster than 160 km/h with them anyway ;-) But for real - wearing tigher fitting clothes or in my case wearing the airbag vest over my riding jacket helps a lot.
Well done man! You are an inspiration, I'm really enjoying your videos! Basically I was in process of deciding what adventure bike to get next, and after watching most of your videos I'm convinced in that KTM 1290 SAS is for me, so my one is arriving next week - honestly can't wait!
If you ever plan of touring through UK please let me know if you want a companion, it would be my honour to come by. Just drop me an email to sasank92@yahoo.com.
When this Covid lockdown ends I'm planning on traveling home to Serbia through Europe and do many routes you've covered in your videos.
Ride safe, keep the videos coming and stay awesome!
Thank you very much for the kind words. I hope to get to travel the UK one day. Looks like this may have to wait it while but it is on the list 😉 congratulations to your new bike 👍
Your GREAT media contributed to my decision to purchase 1290 SA S, solid non-bias information. Question - what crash bars do you have? Obviously they performed well and like the fact they are not overwhelming aesthetically. Thanks Craig
wow - thank you for this feedback Craig - I am happy to hear that this review helped. The crash bars are actually the original KTM power parts. I am glad I get them - they are worth every penny 😎
Unfortunately, here in the UK, the extended warranty is not available. I wonder why this is. I bought mine new & the problems I have had mean I am likely to sell it when it is 2 years old. Its first engine lasted 400 miles until the gearbox failed. The engine was replaced under warranty. The keyless ignition doesn't always recognise the fob as being in range & the fuel filler cap doesn't always release when required. With 5000 miles on the clock, paint on the shock spring is coming off revealing rust underneath. There is a blister of paint about the size of a thumbnail on the swingarm (it's never been ridden in winter so it hasn't suffered with the salt used on British roads to melt ice). I like riding the bike but KTM build quality is not as good as it should be.
Mate I am sorry to read this. I have heard of people have trouble with their KTM - even with the latest one. However, I have had tons of issues with my BWM R 1200 GS at time - I do not think that is representative for all but it sucks when it hits you. Good luck with your bike maybe things will turn out OK.
I don't know why these prominent manufacturers bother making off-road versions of such big heavy bikes, which any level headed experienced rider knows are too bulky for that kind of use. There are plenty of mid-range powerful bikes that weigh far less for that sort of experience. I would rider anything bigger than a 600cc on dirt, especially considering how powerful those smaller engines are nowadays. Ride carefully and thanks for the great video.
Thank you very much. Can’t argue with this one. Still amazing what you can do with these heavy beasts. For the best off-road experience you should definitely go with lighter bikes.
The latest 1290 still has the death wobble and you 100% spot on, they are very sensitive to setup. I have had it two up with full Touratech luggage at 236km/h on the Garmin with no issues then one up at 190 the wobble sets in, makes no difference on wire or cast on my old SAS. You will never truely lean it on the track unless you remove the center and side stand as they deck out, if you have wider pegs they will deck out as well. They are fun thou and eat the tyres after a few laps as the chassis cooks them so power slides are predictable...
I switched to the 2022 1290 SAR haven’t had the chance to take it to top speed yet. The S from 2021 was quite stable at top speed - it was a three day loaner while mine was in service 😉
Is there a big difference in spoked wheels vs cast wheels? I'm looking to get into the ADV world and wouldn't realistically probably get myself into much more than your pretty regular gravel roads and such. So would I be ok to etc. buy this bike and just slap slightly knobbier tires on the bike without changing anything else?
There is a huge difference between spoked wheels and cast wheels - however, for the occasional simple gravel roads the cast wheels will likely be enough and maybe it is a good start to see if you enjoy riding on dirt roads. You just have a higher likelihood of hitting pot holes or rocks on dirt roads and need to be extra careful when riding with cast wheels - so it is not like it cannot be done. If you find this is something you would like to do more often you can alway get a set of spoked wheels when the time comes. They are not indistructable but they can take more of a beating than cast wheels.
Hey, so I have been looking at the KTM 1290 adventure, my heart pulls me to the R but after watching this I think maybe the S is good to.
Have you tried the R? What do you think in comparison?
My thoughts are that the R will do whatever the S will do, besides the active cruse. But maybe the S can't do what the R can do when the time comes?
I actually own the R now - this video may help to clarify the difference ruclips.net/video/TYFYFEbIkZE/видео.html
Thanks for that review! Got a question about heating - is it an issue? Especially in wormer days? I had short test ride years ago when bike came out (fo first models) and I was bit surprised of the heat as it was cloudy, spring day. So I'm curious if it's any noticeable issue in long term or maybe it's not an issue at all with newer models :)
Well - I do not really have the issue but that is because I wear heavy riding gear even when it is very warm outside 98% of the time. I did notice that it gets hot in city traffic when I wear a (motorcycle) jeans which lets the heat through. I have ridden this bike in 35° C summers with the KLIM suit you see in the thumbnail. The heat from the motor was the least of my issues ;-)