2017 KTM Adventure Lineup | First Look Review

2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T
2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T

When KTM introduced the 1190 Adventure for 2014, it pivoted away from the dirt-focused 990 Adventure and rolled out a more balanced street/off-road adventure tourer. Living up to KTM’s “Ready to Race” motto, the 1190 Adventure’s 1,195cc LC8 V-twin made 150 horsepower (claimed), was the first production motorcycle to offer cornering ABS and featured state-of-the-art electronics such as riding modes, lean-angle-sensitive traction control and electronically adjustable suspension.

Read our 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure review

KTM’s Adventure lineup grew to include the more dirt-oriented 1190 Adventure R, with taller, manually adjustable suspension and a 21-inch front wheel, and the 1290 Super Adventure, which offered more power from a larger 1,301cc engine and more touring capability thanks to a larger fuel tank, more wind protection and comfort, semi-active suspension, standard saddlebags and more.

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Read our 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure R review

Read our 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure review

For 2017, KTM’s Adventure family is being reconfigured. The 1190 Adventure and 1190 Adventure R are going away. Instead, there will be smaller displacement, dirt-focused model—the 1090 Adventure R—that’s powered by a 1,050cc version of the LC8 V-twin. And there will be two versions of the 1290 Super Adventure to choose from—an off-road-ready R model and a more touring-oriented T model.

2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R
2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R

2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R
First offered in Europe to meet certain horsepower restrictions, the smaller displacement version makes a claimed 125 horsepower at the crank (compared to 150 on the 1190). The liquid-cooled, 1,050cc V-twin, which has chain final drive and a 6-speed transmission with a slipper clutch, is carried in a chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame. The 1090-R features riding modes and multi-mode ABS and traction control (both with dedicated off-road modes, but they’re not lean-angle-sensitive). WP suspension, with 8.7 inches of travel front and rear, is fully adjustable and the shock has progressive damping. Tubeless spoked wheels in 21-inch-front/18-inch-rear sizes are shod with Continental TKC80 knobbies. The footpegs, handlebar and windscreen are adjustable, hand guards and steel crash bars are standard and there are integrated mounts for accessory panniers. Pricing and availability are TBD.

2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
For ADV riders who are serious about off-road capability and want more power, there’s the 1290 Super Adventure R, which makes 160 horsepower at the crank (claimed). Like the 1090-R, the 1290-R is equipped with fully adjustable WP suspension with 8.7 inches of front/rear travel, progressive damping for the rear shock and tubeless spoked wheels in 21-inch-front/18-inch-rear sizes wearing Continental TKC80 knobbies. It features riding modes, lean-angle-sensitive Motorcycle Stability Control with off-road ABS and TC modes, cruise control, TPMS, an LED headlight with integrated corning lights and a daytime running light, a new 6.5-inch, full-color TFT display, a remote keyless system, a waterproof smartphone compartment with USB socket, a new one-hand-adjustable windscreen, self-cancelling turn signals, standard hand guards and steel crash bars, and integrated mounts for accessory panniers. The optional Travel Pack adds Hill Hold Control, Motor Slip Regulation, Quickshifter + (up and down clutchless shifting) and Bluetooth control of incoming calls and audio. Pricing and availability are TBD.

2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T
2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T

2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure T
Now with a “T” added to its name to distinguish the touring-oriented 1290 Super Adventure from its off-road-ready “R” stablemate, the 2017 model returns mostly unchanged. It has the same 160-horsepower engine with multiple riding modes, Motorcycle Stability Control, cruise control, TPMS, WP semi-active suspension with 7.9 inches of front/rear travel, an LED headlight with integrated cornering lights, tubeless 19- and 17-inch wheels fitted with Continental ContiTrailAttack 2 tires, a big, 8-gallon fuel tank, a large, manually adjustable windscreen, heated grips and seats, and standard panniers. For 2017, Hill Hold Control and Motor Slip Regulation are now standard, and the 1290-T gets Quickshifter + (up and down clutchless shifting), improved protection from engine heat and an insulated header pipe. Pricing and availability are TBD.

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