QUICKSPIN I 2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
P86
smooth combustion that feels almost
electric at mid-rpm ranges.
Don't let the docile nature fool
you—there's still 160 horsepower
and 101 lb-ft on tap here, and it
will take a brave sport bike rider to
outrun a 1290 S in the twisties given
the ease of use and fluidity of steer-
ing offered by the revised chassis.
It's got so much low-down torque
and such a great feel from the
clutch you can take off from the
lights in fourth gear and not stall
(although I wouldn't recommend
repeated attempts at this), the motor
chugging along quietly like a train.
Being a modern KTM, there's
plenty of adjustment at your finger-
tips—there's a six-axis IMU, modes
(Above) Big, imposing
and a pussy cat. Yes,
this is a beast of a bike,
but it has impeccable
manners. (Below) KTM's
seven-inch TFT is one of
the best on the market
and only a little smaller
than the massive unit
that adorns the BMW
R18 Transcontinental.
There's a fair argument to say the
1301cc LC8 is KTM's greatest produc-
tion motor to date. As such, internal
changes have been minimal. It's a
mammoth of arm-wrenching torque,
it's twin-spark heads providing creamy
