I have ridden around 10,000 miles on the new 1290 SAS through Switzerland, France, Spain and Italy and I’d like to share my feeling with the new orange beast. The bike is not just cool, is really surprising, we could spend hours talking about the phenomenal engine (oh my god that engine), the sound of the new Akrapovic or the sensational new design.. The 2021 model has been totally revisited from the previous model, I am one of the lucky guys who possessed both the S and the R version with whom I traveled 4 years throughout Europe and South America covering over 70k miles and very often, especially in South America, in off road, with the R version.
From last June I have the new thrilling 1290 SAS and I’m so in love with this new prodigious toy. First thing to consider is: S or R version? Easy choice guys, if you ride most of the time on-road and you go off-road from time to time, the S is the best choice. If you are an off-road guy but sometimes you ride on-road, then take the R. Be aware that the 2 bikes are similar but designed for different uses; the R is incredible on the off but on the asphalt has some limits that the S outclasses (bending angle, braking, intersection on a curve, etc.). So, choose the one that suites best your riding style (and please don’t be that guy with the R version with road tires).
KTM have thrown a lot of thoughtful details at the Super Adventure, the new 1290 is really another bike and I want to summarize my impressions of the 3 main things that most impressed me:
Chassis
Longer, lower, a blade on the road. You have the feeling that the bike wants to tackle the curve and bend as much as you can, breathtaking. That’s so funny and you have the feeling that you are stuck on the asphalt. Just incredible.Suspension
Yes, if you know me a bit you probably know that I am a suspension maniac and that’s totally true. I am a suspension fanatic. Let me be clear, there are 3 things that make up 80% of your motorcycle safety: tires, brakes and suspension. So, always pay huge attention to these 3 dudes.
The WP’s latest semi-active forks are WOW! You can set it up as your convenience and on the go, just managing the main control on the left on the bar. Preload and damping settings of suspension have never been so easy to set, just try, play with it and enjoy the road. There is also the anti-dive function (that can be turned off, if desired).Electronic
Yes, electronics have nowadays an important role on bikes, without electronics you literally can’t handle the 160 hp of these beasts, unless your name is Brad, Miguel o Danilo. You can easily switch between riding modes, sport, street, enduro, rally, rain in few seconds and in the Rally mode (my favourite) you can also regulate the TC from 1 to 9, according with your riding style.
Moreover, the new 1290 has a big, coloured dashboard where you can check everything with a glance. Green is fine, yellow means there is something to check and it could be low tire pressure or low fuel or the oil still at a low temperature. Red means you have to stop asap, you are almost out of gas (like I did) or you punctured a tire or something else.
I’ve had also the opportunity to try the CCA system, in the highway on a commute day. Guys, impressive, really impressive. The settings are so easy and the system really works! The bike magically accelerates and breaks keeping the distance you preset from the vehicle ahead. It keeps you so safe.
This bike is addictive, so powerful and technologically advanced that astonished me. Now I am thinking about the next trip, many options, stay tuned, I'll reveal it very soon.
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