Comments on: 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure: MD First Ride (Bike Reports) (News)

By: dcolak

dcolak — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:16:04 +0000

He he he, spoken like a true wisdom. Hi from another 800XC guy that traded in his v-strom 650

By: Dezso

Dezso — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:13:27 +0000

I think they’re discontinuing the 990. I have a 2006 990 now, along with a Ducati MS 1200S. I prefer the KTM…weight, enough power, more dirt. Can’t wait to see what the 1190 is like.

Report this comment

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:11:38 +0000

owned a 2007 KTM 990 and it was one the a love hate relationship. great when I twisted the throttle but it was always in the shop for one issue or another. Spent a few thousand getting the fueling sorted and over $700 fixing poorly designed charging system and wiring.
On a Yamaha Tenere it is not as fast or as fixable but it does start every time.
The RC8 bikes have had more than normal amount of problems lets hope KTM has gotten the bugs out.

By: randy

randy — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:01:19 +0000

I’ve owned GS and Multi, this 1190 look fanastic! I won’t go over 500 pounds anymore, I was thinking Tiger 800 next but for about the same weight…

Report this comment

By: randy

randy — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:55:38 +0000

Wendy, I get a mental image of you riding two Multistradas at once, like a movie stuntman on a runaway stagecoach!

Report this comment

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:22:46 +0000

“Of course the sprockets and chain life will depend on the type of rider. With that much power on hand replacement could be as early as every other oil change.”
You,re joking aren’t you?

Report this comment

By: DaytonaJames

DaytonaJames — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:12:45 +0000

If that is your criteria for a tour bike Dave, then you’d better send BMW a letter too… it wasn’t that long ago that the boxer motor required a valve adjustment at 1,000 kms. You can’t tell me that’s cheap. As a past service manager for BMW product, I have a great deal of respect for the product and thier customers. Buying decisions are made by very different criteria with those people. You have to understand that you can’t lump everyone together and assume we all measure a bike’s value by the almighty dollar. There is enormous value in a passionate riding experience. Personally, I think the bike has much less to do with that experience than the rider, the company he chooses, and the paths and roads they choose to ride on.

Report this comment

By: Dave G

Dave G — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:14:03 +0000

Another nice bike from KTM. Most likely does all it was designed to do and more. However, when you attach a touring designation to a bike one must assume high mileage. That translates to more then average maintenance and service intervals. Whether you do your own or pay to have them done, two hour oil changes and four hour valve adjustments are unacceptable. That’s a $600.00 dollar bill at the dealer. For a touring bike that could be $1200.00 a year easy, $100.00 a month just to ride. Of course the sprockets and chain life will depend on the type of rider. With that much power on hand replacement could be as early as every other oil change. So let’s just drop the touring designation for this bike. Adventure works just fine without the touring attached.

Report this comment

By: DaytonaJames

DaytonaJames — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:56:46 +0000

Hey Tom… and give up the V-Strom? I’m surprised. The TDM 900 would make a great adventure-tour platform though. Hmmm.
Be well my friend.

Report this comment

By: skybullet

skybullet — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:44:24 +0000

I guess the normal progression is to to bump displacement from 990 to 1190 and add riding modes. Considering how most large adventure bikes are used, Cruise Control would be a much more useful addition. My guess is the electronic farkles are not very expensive at the mfg level. KTM upgrades suspension components out-of-the-box so I would expect this bike to be a great all around handler. Those with concerns about seat height could just slide the forks up an inch or so, buy a shorter rear shock spring and have a built in excuse to skip off-road.
My 2013 SMT is one of my all time favorite bikes for it’s wide, powerful mid-range and near perfect suspension. Add Cruise Control to the future SMT 1190 and I might upgrade, (KTM already offers aluminum side and top cases).

Report this comment