MCN Fleet: KTM 1290 Adventure S – Arrival imminent!

Published: 30 March 2017 Updated: 30 March 2017

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To say I’m excited about the impending arrival of my longterm KTM 1290 Adventure S is an understatement. Having got up close and personal with the model at the MCN London show in February, I was seriously impressed with the look feel and the plethora of features it boasts.

I’m not an overly big fan of electronic rider aids, but having spoken to Adam Child our road tester that went on the launch of the bike – I’ve already taken a step towards being converted. From seriously advanced traction control to lean angle sensitive ABS, Adam was raving about it – and coming from a man that has intimate knowledge of the latest crop of 1000cc sports bikes – the standard and level of electronic intervention is high.

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The styling and especially front head light design seems to be splitting opinion in the MCN office. For some it resembles female genitalia due to the layout of the LED’s, personally that didn’t cross my mind and even if it does in the future I’m not worried as I’ll be the one riding it – not looking at it.

Having run the excellent Honda Africa Twin in 2016, the KTM Adventure may seems to be shooting for a different target market. While the Honda was hugely capable off-road and a mellow ride on-road, the KTM with its wide road focussed tyres and 160bhp motor will be a different ball game all together.

For me 2017 will be about big mileage – some great road trips but with some off-roading thrown in for good measure. I really can’t wait.

Looking for the perfect two-wheeled companion? Visit MCN Bikes For Sale website or use MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.

By Michael Guy

Sports Editor - If you’re looking for sport insight that’s got its finger firmly on the pulse and gets to the very heart of the action with the fattest contacts book in bike sport (rather than simply relying on watching TV coverage and hoovering up what other people are saying on social media) – then Michael is your, erm, ‘guy’. An integral part of MCN’s in-depth sport coverage for over twenty years, Michael has been a fixture in every major bike sport paddock, and a few minor ones, too. He has spent a significant portion of his life living in the World Superbike global travelling circus, inside the British Superbike paddocks all around the UK, as well as traipsing the corridors of power within MotoGP and regularly making the Isle of Man a working destination for the legendary TT. Not only is he the consummate racing aficionado and journalist, but he’s also appeared on numerous podcasts, has delivered live race commentary from the booth, and has competed in trials, enduro, rally and track racing to a high level (with plenty of trophies and scars to show for his efforts, too). I you want to be in the know, Michael and the MCN sport team will get you close enough to the biggest stories in racing to be able to tell if they brushed their teeth this morning.