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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/812433
started getting really rocky. Trail- ing the front brake down some gnarly descents and having the wheel come off the ground all the time meant the ABS kicked in at the wrong time, forcing the pads back and making the lever go hard for a split second. Turn- ing the system off cured this, but you shouldn't have an issue unless you're really hitting rough terrain. The engine and electronics might be good, but the real star of the 1090 show is the new suspension. The 1090 rides the rough stuff so much better than the 1190 Adventure, which we tested back in December last year. The PDS shock gives a much more compliant feel and holds itself up better under hard acceleration and when bouncing over rocks. It's a similar situation to the front. The heavier fork spring makes for a more compliant and comfortable ride, and the fact the front and rear both ride higher in the stroke means you'd have to try pretty hard to bottom them out in normal adventure rid- ing conditions. On the street the ride is more comfortable, but it's not earth shatteringly different. These changes make for a far better off-road bike, although I'd love to try a 1090 R with street-based tires because running TKC80s and really getting into it on the tar doesn't inspire a huge amount of confidence. The KTM 1090 Adventure is the bike KTM should have built a long time ago. Having not rid- den the big daddy 1290 Super Adventure R, I'll save my "best ever KTM ADV bike" line until I have, but it better be damn good because the 1090 R is, so far, my favorite KTM ADV bike. KTM's gone down the same path their great rival Honda took with the Africa Twin, making it more Ready To Adventure than Ready To Race. It's lost weight, horse- power, and especially price, but in return you get more bike for your money—and that's a pretty good deal to me. CN VOL. 54 ISSUE 15 APRIL 18, 2017 P69 With a slightly less ferocious engine output, the KTM is now a bike most ADV riders can get serious enjoyment from. S P E C I F I C A T I O N S 2017 KTM 1090 ADVENTURE R ($14,699) ENGINE: .................................... 75° V-twin POWER: ...........125 hp @ 8500 rpm (claimed) TORQUE: .....80 lb-ft @ 6500 rpm (claimed) DISPLACEMENT: ............................1050cc BORE X STROKE: ................. 103 x 63mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .....................13.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ......Keihin EFI, 2 x 52mm throttle bodies EXHAUST: ............................................2-2-1 TRANSMISSION: ...........................6-speed CHASSIS: ..........Chromium-Molybdenum- Steel trellis frame, powder-coated FRONT SUSPENSION: ......48mm inverted WP fork with, rebound and compres- sion damping adjustability. 8.6 in. wheel travel. REAR SUSPENSION: ....................WP PDS shock with spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 8.6 in. wheel travel. FRONT BRAKE: ... Brembo 4-piston, radially mounted caliper, 320mm disc; ABS REAR BRAKE: ...... Brembo 2-piston, fixed caliper, 267mm disc; ABS FRONT TIRE: ..................... 90/90 x 21 in. REAR TIRE: ....................... 150/70 x 18 in. HEAD ANGLE: ....................................... 26° TRAIL: ...............................................4.8 in. WHEELBASE: ..................................... 62.2° SEAT HEIGHT: ...................................35 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................ 6.1 gal. WEIGHT: ................471 lb. (dry, claimed). COLOR: ....................White/orange, black