If you want to let the beast off its chain, be prepared to give it your full attention.So the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is about as close to perfect as motorcycles can get in my opinion. Want to set things up for carrying luggage and gear? And my iPhone 7 Plus didn’t fit due to its size and case in the KTM’s integrated smartphone cubby, a disappointment that I chased away with a quick flick of the wrist.There is nothing quite like taking a break and enjoying a snack away from the roadway.That’s the thing about an adventure bike—its go-anywhere spirit will enhance your life in a way that few vehicles can, and this particular one offers an unrivaled balance between its civilized and wild sides.

And you know what? The KTM is unfazed.For the next five hours, I’m committed to the highway.

However, it won’t be fitted as standard on either the R … Select the two-up mode. The bike is marketed by KTM as a high performance adventure touring machine. It’s here, it’s massive, and we’d better get used to it.

Snap the throttle open in first or second, or slip the clutch in third, and the front wheel will levitate toward the heavens like it’s being called home. The cars at the edge of my vision begin to blur with speed, and as I look down at the beautiful 6.5-inch LCD display between my hands I realize I’m way over the limit. Friends, the wait is over: if you’ve been plagued by incessant thoughts about the,Our good pal Secret Squirrel tells us that all that new body cladding isn’t there because the 1290 Super Adventure got cold. It weighs 560 pounds with a full tank of gas, and the bike’s Sport mode (accessible through a Super-Nintendo-like directional pad on the left-hand grip) tightens up the suspension and throttle response beautifully.Granted I am not getting a knee down here with 100 pounds of gear in tow, but that doesn't mean that you can't with the KTM Super Adventure S. It is more than capable of track day level thrills.With the tiniest flick of the wrist, power is put down to the rear wheel and the 1290 Super Adventure rockets forward like the USS Enterprise hitting warp speed.

I’m also conditioned to stop and stretch my legs constantly on a moto trip thanks to my 6’5”.An easy to read 6.5 LCD display prominently displays critical information and settings like speed, rpm, ride modes, suspension settings, battery wattage, fuel consumption, heated handgrips, etc...After a good night out with great friends, my buddy and I rise with the sun and head for the Pacific coast the next day. KTM 1290 Super Adventure Motorcycle: 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. Back in my twenties, I drooled over bikes like the Ninja ZX-6R and Honda Interceptor. I wished to channel my inner Maverick and fulfill that bone-headed need for speed.When the 1290 Super Adventure debuted, I thought its new face was a tad disturbing and far too alien. But where does it fall a little short? If I had the scratch, this is the motorcycle I would go out and buy today.Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox.We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to,Smokejumping with the 2017 Ducati Desert Sled.A rugged ride through burn-scarred Big Sur changed my mind about motorcycles.New Motorcyclists Experience Adventure Motorcycles During RawHyde Adventure Days.Venturing into the world of adventure motorcycling can be daunting. Apply too much throttle in a corner and the back end can kick out; brake too abruptly, and the four-piston Brembo brakes are liable to lock up the front. So I roll off the throttle, set the cruise control at an acceptable velocity, and lean into the hours of comfortable travel in front of me with this do-it-all.I’m heading to San Francisco to meet up with a buddy for three days of riding and camping along the California coast and its mountainous backroads. It's simply just that good.Before setting off, I loaded out this Austrian mountain goat.Want to account for the passenger you are ferrying?

It really is the.I'll say it right now, the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is very high my list of favorite motorcycles ever. It’s a pretty tall bike, so while my gigantic self felt perfectly comfortable, shorter riders might have a different experience. There’s an option for that too.