Say no to slow KTM 1190R in the right hands

It wasn't supposed to be like this. The next bike added to the stable was supposed to be the insanely powered Aprilia Tuono RSV and its wicked 170 hp twin, strapped to a naked bike frame adorned with every manner of high tech gadgetry, all designed to prevent you from killing yourself. It was the motorcyle equivalent of a Viagra washed down with a wheat grass juice smoothie.



Or the ultra rare heirloom that is the Metisse 8v Café, with 140 hp fuel injected custom parallel twin on a nickel plated oil-in-frame chassis, handbuilt by master craftsmen near Oxford.



Then I happened upon the KTM booth at the recent Seattle show, and climbed aboard an 1190R. Something inside clicked.

I wasn't meant to get an ADV bike. Sure, the PNW crew has been slowly succumbing to the ADV bug infecting the crew like a bout of head lice that methodically makes its way around a third grade elementary class, taking up residence on some while avoiding others. I'd avoided it, whilst the first of the crew, Chris and Diane, started scratching their hair with an RGS1200. Then Sportsguy got the itch with his STenere and it wasn't too long before EscapeArtists started itching his scalp with the Tenere too. SportsGuy let me try his S10 around the block, and yes, it was torquey and fun and stone cold reliable. Just wasn't sure what I'd do with one. Would it gather dust like the Bonneville and Matchless? Or caked on dried mud like the Husky?

Then I made the mistake of walking into a KTM dealer while on a recent trip to S. Cal. Had a few hours to kill, and thought I'd kick the tires. I walked in and spied the R, all dressed up in Touratech livery. (BTW, dressing up your KTM with Touratech bits is like putting mens overalls on a naked supermodel - sure it protects those pretty bits and pieces, but who wants to cover up a naked supermodel?). The dealer was using this as his demo, in addition to the more common 1190 Adventure which is more street oriented.

Don't you want to take it for test ride?

Of course you could borrow a helmet and jacket.

Here, before you head out, let me switch the riding mode to sport, so you can get the feel of all 150 horses.

Going out for an unplanned test ride on a KTM 1190R is like shopping at Costco on an empty stomach. Before you know it, you'll be walking out with a 60lb side of cured proscuitto and a wheel of cave aged Comte, congratulating yourself on how much you saved per pound by shopping in bulk, and mentally arranging the garage fridge to figure out where the hell you're going to find room. It's a futile exercise in forced rationalization.

I should know better. I once walked out of Costco with a $700 Little Giant ladder with full accessories, which I had no intention of buying when I walked in. It has come in handy, and no you can't borrow it.

I came back from the test ride with a dopey grin on my face. Suddenly I'm a twelve year-old who has just discovered girls and got his first woodie.

Do yourself a favor. Don't ride the KTM in full sports mode, and don't grab a handful of throttle while standing on the pegs just before you sail across a railroad crossing and get a few inches of air. Don't even think about pressing down on the wide handlebars while screaming down a freeway cloverleaf onramp to see if you can stick it hard like the FJR. And certainly don't drop down to third, nail the throttle, and see how quick it takes to get distance between you and that Peterbilt that's not slowing down to let you merge on the freeway.

Just don't do any of those things. Unless you plan on walking out of the dealership with a large mass of cured beef and aged cream.

Luckily for me, they won't have any R's in stock until May/June. Unlucky, they take deposits to hold one.

Well... Now I wish i had never seen that..... Thanks a lot...

Does it still take 5 hours to change the oil on a KTM since you almost have to remove the engine from the frame to do an oil change???

I had the itch for a 690 Adventure but a good friend is the KTM mechanic at the local KTM dealer and he was not keen on it and recommended the big brother as a more reliable bike.

Now that the Super Tenere has the ES version and cruise control I'm getting the itch but the FJR would have to go and I like the FJR too much. For now I'm not planning on scratching the Adventure bike itch but the day may soon come.

I think the 1190 avoids the hassle of the 990, where you had to pull off a shit ton of plastic bits to change out the oil. That said, oil changes are pretty close to the process on my Husky. The oil filter is an internal one, like on most dirt bikes, and the engine has two other "screens" behind a cover that are pulled out and cleaned, and placed back into the engine. Process is:

1. Take off skid plate

2. loosen drain plug and drain oil

3. remove oil filter cover and remove and replace oil filter

4. Remove, clean, and replace oil screen #1

5. Remove, clean, and replace oil screen #2

6. Fill with new oil.

Comparison to the FJR which is about as easy as it gets, there are three more steps (skid plate, and two oil screens). Adds about 15-20 more min to the FJR's 20 min oil change.

Check out this (otherwise annoying French) video, starting at 3:25.



The killer is the new MSC ABS system from Bosch. It has 4 ABS modes, plus "off", and a lean angle sensor that varies ABS based on the rider's lean angle. In off-road mode, you can hammer the brakes and lock the rear to slide through corners without locking the front tire. Enduro mode lowers power output to "only" 100hp and various modes alter traction control.

The standard adventure adds E-Suspension on 17" rear and 19" front wheels, while the R version provides more suspension travel but at the expense of deleting E-Suspension, and rides on 18" and 21".

The R weighs 478lbs dry and 507lbs wet, vs. a 544lb wet for the R1200GS and 575 lb for wet for the Super Tenere.

Man, if I lost 30lbs I could fit into my wedding tuxedo.

If I lost 70lbs, I'd try out as an extra for the stage production of the Dallas Buyer's Club.

If you get one, you know I'm gonna want to give it a shake down

Randy too, eh? Paybacks are hell.

Help me sell my pit bike and motorcycle trailer so I can find some damn room when one comes in in May, and I'll mebbe ride it over to Tech day. Via Rattlesnake Lake ridge along the Cedar Falls watershed... cause it's a dirt bike too, doncha know. I could go round the world on it. And maybe I'll just do that. Yeah. Tiera Del Fuego in Winter sounds mighty nice.

Dayum....I don't have the nads to ride my WR250F like that, much less a 500 lb, 170 hp beast like that!

I've ridden 3 Multi-Stradas, I hope you have better success than I did putting all that top end HP to the ground )

Hook, line and sinker...can't wait to check out the new "R" Hudson!

--G

My brother would probably be better suited to giving it a proper dirt break in. He takes his 990 adventure on the "a" course poker runs. (think of the difference between "A" and "B" course enduros) The look on peoples faces at the check points is priceless.

My intro was on my Son In Law's 990 on the Big Island Hawii. Wow. Thsi much fun might be illegal, even for a pudgy old guy.

MC007, I didn't know how to wheelie a big bike before the test ride, and I still don't, but for one brief ride, you'd think I was a wheelie expert in the 1190. It badly needs either wheelie control or a better rider.

The engine was the clincher for this hoopty. It's a honey of a motor, great sound, tractor pulling torque all up and down the range, with a high redline. I've admired but never lusted after any KTM, but now, like George said... hook line sinker.

Approx price of entry?

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/155841-mother-of-all-mexico-dirt-bike-rides-april-in-2015/page-1 Congratulations Hudson, fantastic machine; perfect motorcycle for the Mexico ride to Real de Catorce and Huasteca / Potosina in April of 2015, You and CHRIS_D would both be on your big Trailie KTM's offroad with us! This is the KTM Chris D is riding South of the Border 13 months from now:



Man oh man Hudson, this beautiful Brit Iron gives tus Papa Chuy Viejo some Major Wood! jes' sayin' and nuff said!

Well documented Dave! Now, of course, I must own one...so it looks like the KTM 690 Enduro R must find a new home this Fall, to encourage the entanglement with the new 1190R! Naturally, by then I'll be able ti ride it like your Kiwi video friend, and I won't miss the light and lithe 690R.

Please watch carefully in Sept/Oct as pigs fly in your area, too...LOL

Yummy, yummy bike the 1190R is. Well done Crusty!

Congrats, Hudson.

Wish I had the coin to join the team. But alas, I'll just remain orange with envy.

Dave, since I know you don't have time to break the new ride in properly I'll put this offer up to you. I'll for-go my early September trip east and offer to do a test ride up the Dempster Hwy to Inuvik. A man of your great stature needs to know if a machine is worthy and I'd be a good test mule for you and would give you good feed back!

AuburnFJR said:

If you get one, you know I'm gonna want to give it a shake down

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