2016 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE
RIDING IMPRESSION
P114
suspension damping to provide
an optimal and consistent ride
for which ever suspension mode
that you have chosen, and you
have four of them: Comfort,
Street, Sport and Off-Road. Not
only do these modes affect how
the bike rides down the road but
also how the fork dives under
braking, because the WP fork
also features a built-in anti-dive
function. Street mode, again the
one I preferred most, offers the
most anti-dive resistance than
either Comfort or Sport modes.
It's a subtle difference but I liked
the more constant balance of
Street mode, doubly so while
carrying a passenger.
Speaking of passengers, rear
preload is electronically adjust-
able, as well, and you have four
options: single rider, rider with
luggage, rider and passenger, and
rider and passenger with luggage.
And, speaking of luggage,
large saddlebags (42 liters on the
left and 31 liters on the right) are
standard equipment. In place,
they are a little bulky for every day
commuting, especially if you're
a Californian and a lane-splitter
like me, so I usually rode the
bike without the bags. Luckily,
the mounting brackets aren't too
conspicuous, so the bike stays
(if not gets a little more) pretty
without them. The bags are a little
clunky to take on and off at first,
but once you get the hang of it,
it's a pretty simple process.
Back to the electronics. You
make pretty much all of the
bike's electronic adjustments
(Ride Mode, MTC, suspen-
sion, heated grips, etc.) via a
small, simple and intuitive mode
switch on the left handlebar
and a menu page right next to
the speedo. It's so simple that
you can pretty much figure out
how it all works by just fiddling
around with it for a few minutes;
it's that easy. You won't need the
manual. Cruise control is on the
right handlebar but it's a bit of a
reach for your thumb.
When the weather was crappy
it didn't keep me off the bike,
because the Super Adventure
is probably the best bike I've
ever ridden when it's wet and
"WHEN YOU COMBINE ENGINE MODE,
MTC AND C-ABS WITH THE SUPER
ADVENTURE'S NEW SUSPENSION
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, YOU PRETTY
MUCH HAVE A BIKE THAT ANYONE CAN
RIDE WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE."
For such a small switch on the
left handlebar, the control mode
can do so much.
