KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

The more svelte and off-road focused cousin to the KTM 1290 Super Adventure, this R model is meant to defend KTM’s domain in the ADV world against would-be competitors.

The R gets a rather distinctive new face, which you’ll either love, or think looks like a baboon’s backside. At its core is an aluminium carrier for the new LED lights, which also acts as a heat sink. Integrated into the lower part of the headlights are LED cornering lights which are controlled by the MSC lean angle sensor.  

The 1301cc V-twin was used in the 2016 Super Adventure, but for 2017 it gets Euro4 homologation, and its intake has gained newly developed expansion chambers for improved refinement and smoother power delivery, especially in the low and mid range.

At 2500rpm there’s already 80ftlb of torque heading for the back wheel. The engine and chassis are all tied together with the Bosch MSC package in its top specification with integrated, lean-angle sensitive C-ABS, Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) and five riding modes (Sport, Street, Rain and Off-road).

In off-road mode, the ABS will allow the rider to lock the rear wheel, while retaining ABS on the front wheel. There’s also keyless ignition, cruise control, and an options list that includes Hill Hold Control (HHC), Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) and a bidirectional quickshifter – all of which can be controlled seamlessly via the new 6.5in TFT colour dash. There’s even a waterproof mobile phone compartment with integrated USB charger. And, of course, there are acres of luggage options, too.

True adventure takes guts, so KTM’s rally experts brought out the big guns and packed 1.301cc, 140 Nm of torque and 160 hp into the world’s most advanced Travel Enduro chassis. This makes for a mile-munching omnivore, ready to carve its name into any terrain – the tougher, the better. It is our most extreme ADVENTURE ever, full stop. Full throttle.

Engine
Based on the 1,301cc V-twin of the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, aka “The Beast”, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R is clearly the Alpha in its segment. The engineers adapted the cylinders to a newly developed cylinder head and crankshaft to give this bike a powerplant that perfectly fits its sovereign appearance. It packs one hell of a punch for fully loaded tours, has truckloads of torque from the bottom up and hardly ever needs hurried downshifts. Therefore, the 1290 R is equally happy cruising around town as it is giving Superbikes a run for their money when the chips are down. With 160 hp and 140 Nm of torque on tap, of which 108 Nm is already available at 2,500 rpm, we wouldn’t bet against it.

Cylinder heads
A key element in the flawless power delivery of the 75° V-twin is each cylinder’s state-of-the-art 4-valve cylinder head. These combine twin plug ignition, flow-optimized ports and a slick low-friction valve train with cams from each cylinder’s twin overhead camshafts driving DLC-coated cam followers.

DLC coating
DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) is an extremely hard, durable and tribologically (i.e. in terms of sliding behavior) particularly well-suited coating that KTM uses in many parts (cam followers, piston pins, etc.). Our engines love it.

Twin ignition
The twin plug ignition system controls the two differently sized spark plugs in each cylinder head independently of each other in order to optimize combustion. The result: more (and more controlled) power, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions. Good for the planet and good for you.

Pistons
The forged piston structure on the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R, borrowed from Formula 1 technology, results in a high loading capacity despite its extremely short and lightweight design. Although they have grown in diameter by three millimeters compared to those of the KTM 1190 ADVENTURE, the pistons on the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R are a whole 47 grams lighter. This way, reciprocating weight is minimized, thereby maximizing the responsiveness and frivolous nature of the engine. The piston skirts have an additional state-of-the-art, Grafal® finish. Not only does this even further reduce friction, it is also particularly hard-wearing.

Long service intervals
A unique mix of the highest quality components combined with a fully developed and reliable engine allows extremely long service intervals of 15,000 km. That’s a lot of adventures.

Crankshaft
The responsiveness and free-revving nature of the engine are also enhanced by the very low reciprocating weight of its crankshaft. Moreover, the flow-optimized shape of the crank webs boosts the particularly low-loss running of the crank drive.

Smooth sailing
A spread transmission on the primary wheel transfers the power to the clutch basket without any backlash, which eliminates vibration and reduces engine noise. On the intake sides there is a newly developed resonator chamber, designed to polish the torque output in the lower to mid-range rpms. This substantially increases the smoothness of the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R power train.

Chassis
In adding the ‘R’, we add a promise: excellent offroad abilities. So you get a 21 inch wire-spoked wheel at the front, 18 inch at the rear, floating on 220 mm of fully adjustable WP suspension. On top of that, KTM’s signature tubular trellis frame, steel crash bars and a high strength, die-cast, open-lattice swingarm are more eager than ever to earn their stripes. And that’s just the chassis side of things.

Tires
Those who want to ride off into the unknown will find a wide selection of suitable tires for the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R’s wheel dimensions. But you might as well start that trip right off the dealer floor: the standard Continental Trail Attack II tires, sized 90/90-21 and 150/70-ZR18, are durable, versatile and grin when you take them off the beaten track.

Wheels
Offroad standards demand suitable tools, so we fit the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R in-house with our patented, tubeless, wire-spoked 21"/18" wheels. They combine all the benefits of a tubeless tire (easy fitting and dynamic advantages due to the lack of an inner tube) with the stability and robustness of a wire-spoked wheel. This set-up makes the SUPER ADVENTURE R's rims substantially more resilient than all the competition's cast and spoked wheels. You’ll see.

Power-to-weight ratio
The combination of lightweight chassis engineering and a compact but powerful engine take the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R to the top of its class in terms of power-to-weight ratio and ride dynamics. This fully equipped adventure bike tips the scale at 240 kg, while carrying a substantial 23 liters of fuel. This makes the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R – in typical KTM style – one of the lightest motorcycles in its segment. Add an outstanding geometry, well-balanced stiffness distribution and high quality suspension components and you end up with a true corner stormer. This also boosts safety, since it is far easier to fling a nimble motorcycle around a source of danger than a heavy one.

Frame
The chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame makes a major contribution to the bike’s excellent chassis geometry. It’s a rugged, laser-cut, robot-welded thing of beauty with a glorious surface finish. And at only 9.8 kg, it helps to keep the total, unfueled weight at a spectacular 217 kg. All muscle, no fat.

Suspension
A robust 48 mm UPSD fork with extra stiff springs in the front, a PDS shock absorber in the rear. All made by WP, all fully adjustable, all happy to take a serious beating. And they’ll make you enjoy it too. Suspension travel: 220/220 mm.

Swing arm
The die-cast, open-lattice swingarm is not only particularly light, it's also precisely manufactured. The design has been optimized for stiffness and stability while still offering excellent flex characteristics.

Brakes
Precise. Powerful. Stunning. Just as you would expect from a set of Brembo brakes. Up front you’ll find twin 320 mm discs, radially mounted, 4-piston fixed calipers and a radial master cylinder. At the rear, excess speed is taken care of by a generously dimensioned 267 mm disc. And in case of an emergency, Bosch’s two-channel 9ME C-ABS speeds to the rescue.

Steering damper
With so much propulsive power, the front wheel can become very light, which can lead to unpleasant kick-back on uneven roads. The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R prevents this with a subtle WP steering damper that will be there when you need it.

MSC with C-ABS (Combined ABS) and Offroad mode
The ultimate in safe deceleration: one component of the comprehensive Bosch MSC assistance package is the world's first lean-sensitive cornering ABS. Based on the high-quality 9ME modulator, it unites the talents of combined braking and lightning-quick, efficient pressure modulation with the high quality Brembo hardware to make the most advanced braking system on the market - no-one brakes more progressively or safely, even at extreme lean angles. When the front brake lever is actuated, the rear brake is applied simultaneously to optimize stability. If required, not only can it be switched off, but also placed in Offroad mode. This allows the rider to block the rear wheel when required - a prerequisite for committed offroad riding and deliberately executed slides. The ABS function remains active on the front wheel, even in this mode.

MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control)
The Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), a lean-sensitive traction control system, reacts immediately if the rotational speed of the rear wheel is disproportionate to the riding situation. In a matter of milliseconds, MTC reduces the engine output with an extremely smooth, barely perceptible intervention at the throttle valves, until the system has reduced slippage to optimum proportions for the selected ride mode and current angle of lean. Depending on that mode, MTC allows four different levels of traction slip at the rear wheel. ‘Sport’ is game for respectable drifts and a perceptible amount of slippage, ‘Street’ keeps things smooth for comfortable, controllable riding with full engine power, ‘Rain’ is all about early intervention and maximum grip in the wet and ‘Offroad’ allows up to 100% of slippage - i.e. double the wheel speed - for ambitious offroad use. And that’s not the end of it. Daredevils, we give you: the off-switch.

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
As its name implies, the TPMS monitors tire pressure (visible in the display) and warns the rider in the event of pressure loss, for example due to tire damage.

Stamina
The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R is not only light, powerful and dependable; thanks to low fuel consumption, a 23-liter fuel tank and 15,000 km service intervals it also hardly ever needs to take a break.

Equipment
The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R offers so much more for your money than any of its esteemed competitors. Take a look. Do the math. Fully adjustable suspension featuring PDS shock absorber, MSC featuring cornering ABS, C-ABS (combined ABS), MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control), Cruise Control, LED headlight with integrated cornering light and daytime running light (DRL), LED indicators with auto reset (ATIR), Multi function dashboard with 6.5" TFT display, RACE ON (Remote Key System), Illuminated menu switch, Waterproof phone pocket with USB, Adjustable ergonomics, Easy adjustable windshield height, Ultra-stable tubeless offroad spoked wheels, Immobilizer, Aluminum handlebar (black anodized and tapered), Luggage rack and case brackets, Handguards, Side and center stand, Steel crash bars, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)

Multitalented
Laid-back touring? No problem. Scorching up and down the backroads? Yes, please. Feel free to throw in a big, bad stretch of dirt on the way. This extremely wide application range is made possible by the ground-breaking electronics package featuring Bosch MSC. And what’s particularly impressive is that the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENURE R’s different guises result in virtually no perceptible compromises. When you ride relaxed, the bike follows suit. There is no overly sharp responsiveness or a taut chassis setup. But if you do want to turn up the wick, you won’t find yourself riding a rocking horse either. The bike’s many riding modes seamlessly fit to wherever you might find yourself. Whether that’s an alpine pass, a bone-shaking track, winding curves or simply the urban jungle, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R is the ultimate Travel Enduro for adventures on all the world’s roads. From the backyard to the outback.

Ergonomics
At KTM, individualists are welcome. The bike’s ergonomics can be adjusted to suit the preferences and stature of any rider, wherever they may roam: Two handlebar clamping positions: horizontal +/- 10 mm, Two footpeg positions: 10 mm up and back (diagonally), Hand levers with 5 reach settings

Seat
This is where you’ll - hopefully - spend a lot of time, so the seat has to provide support, feedback and freedom of movement. Thanks to KTM’s state-of-the-art 3D foam padding, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R has your back. No matter if you ride it to the local shops or the ones across the Sahara, both rider and passenger will get there in comfort.

Adjustable windshield
The windshield’s height can be changed as quickly as you can change your mind, thanks to the easily operated self-locking winder.

Multifunctional LED headlight
Form and function are integrated beautifully in the 1290 R’s design. Take this headlight, for example. The central aluminum part holds the LEDs and keeps the unit cool. It is flanked by two more LED strips: the daytime running lights. Another set of LED cornering lights round things off at the bottom. They use the lean angle sensor of the MSC system to adjust their intensity in real-time. Unlit corners? A thing of the past. With a KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R, the future is bright.

RACE ON
Forget about ignition keys and mechanically locked fuel caps. All you need is the transponder in your pocket.

Ride-by-wire
At KTM, ride-by-wire is more than simply the absence of a throttle cable. It’s the guarantee of a smooth throttle response. The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R's system ensures perfect application of the readily available and plentiful torque. It also electronically translates the throttle commands of the rider into throttle valve positions perfectly suited to the riding conditions. The RBW system is fully compliant with the strict DIN 26262 safety standard from the automobile sector.

Cruise control
The standard cruise control laughs at long motorway journeys. Switches on the left side of the handlebar and a display in the TFT dashboard allow the rider to intuitively set and change the requested speed, so you’ll arrive at the fun bits with energy to spare.

Slipper clutch
Not only does the slipper clutch open when the engine back-torque becomes too high, it also assists when you open up the throttle. The former prevents destabilizing rear wheel chatter when braking sharply or decelerating; the latter reduces the lever force required for changing gear, allowing the clutch to be controlled with just one trigger happy finger.

Overdrive
The sixth gear serves as a long overdrive in the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R’s well-spaced gearbox. This saves fuel and adds to your cruising comfort.

Dashboard
The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R supplies its rider with all necessary and desirable information on a state-of-the-art, clearly arranged 6.5” TFT display. Even in direct sunlight, core data is displayed clear and crisp thanks to its bonded, anti-glare surface made of a strong sheet of glass. But don’t worry about spots or smears; the anti-fingerprint coating has this covered. The screen also automatically adapts to ambient light levels and its angle is adjustable, so you won’t miss one bit of information. On top of the obvious data (speed, revs, fuel level etc.), the computer can show a favorites menu with up to 8 adjustable features, an MSC ride modes overview and a riding conditions page (outside/oil temperature, onboard voltage, various trips, average speed, average and current fuel consumption, range and the distance to your next service). Crystal clear and easy to operate, even when you’re in a hurry.

Menu switch
Different modes for the various rider aids can be selected using an illuminated menu switch on the left side of the handlebar. It's very simple and intuitive: "up" and "down" through the menu selection, select the desired menu item with the left button, confirm it with the right. Child’s play, basically. And you can make it even easier by personalizing your settings pages with two quick-select menus.

Waterproof USB phone socket
A waterproof compartment keeps your smartphone safe and dry on the road. It keeps it charged too, thanks to its integrated USB socket. Meanwhile, the optional incoming calls and audio function links the phone to the bike via Bluetooth. It’s always nice to let people know you absolutely have to take that enormous detour.

Offroad ABS
The Offroad ABS mode allows the rider to block the rear wheel as and when required - a prerequisite for committed offroad riding and deliberately executed slides. The ABS function remains active on the front wheel, unless you turn it off entirely.

Offroad TC
The Offroad TC mode allows up to 100% slippage - i.e. double rear wheel speed - for ambitious offroad use. Turn it on and master controlled drifts with ease.

Offroad ride mode
Once this mode is engaged, the ride-by-wire limits the throttle response and peak power, putting you in full control wherever you take your bike. Offroad TC is enabled at the same time. Some serious trail scorching awaits.

Quickshifter +
Upon your request, the SUPER ADVENTURE R can be equipped with a quickshifter + that allows slick, clutchless up- and downshifts under any load. It reads and responds to your riding, so the shift action is fast when you are, but buttery smooth at half-throttle.

MSR (Motor Slip Regulation)
The optionally available Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) works in the opposite direction of the MTC. If, due to quick downshifts or abrupt throttle chopping, the engine drag torque is too high, the ride-by-wire system opens the throttle exactly as much as is needed to prevent the rear wheel from drifting. With the help of MSC, this system is also lean-angle sensitive. Safety first, but the pleasure that comes with it is always a very close second at KTM.

HHC (Hill Hold Control)
The optional Hill Hold Control (HHC) prevents the motorcycle from accidentally rolling backwards. It identifies if the bike is on a slope and at a standstill. After the rider has released the brake, the function automatically keeps the brakes applied until you are moving forward. In short: a smooth take-off, time and time again.

KTM MY RIDE
Your smartphone can be tethered to the bike via Bluetooth, giving you full control over incoming calls and an audio player. All the information pops up on the bike´s display and you manage this optional extra with the mode switch, keeping your hands where they belong. On the handlebar.

The benchmark
The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R sets new performance standards: 160 hp and a weight of only 240 kg (ready to ride - fully fueled) produce a power-to-weight ratio previously unheard of in this class. The dynamics are stunning. At the same time, the powerful yet cultivated engine enables either particularly relaxed riding or, if required, super-sporty propulsion – with every conceivable level in between. The chassis combines lightness with outstanding geometry and suspension, which, together with every electronic riding aid we could muster, allow undreamed of riding pleasure in all conditions, at whatever speed you desire. From very relaxed to very, very fast.