KTM 1090 ADVENTURE R VS. HONDA AFRICA TWIN
SHOOTOUT
P88
If It Were Mine…
Sean Finley and I had
pretty similar thoughts
when it came to the ques-
tion of what we'd change
if we owned these bikes.
•12V POWER PLUG
"This is a necessity for using your
phone or other GPS navigation," says
Finley. "The KTM 1190 did have one as
standard, and like the Honda, the 1090
has a spot to easily add one, but KTM
left it off when trying to narrow the cost
difference to the Africa Twin. That would
be my first purchase for the KTM or
Honda."
•CRASH BARS
"These are dubbed the Light Bar from
Honda and will set you back $499.95,"
says Finley. "The KTM came standard
with crash bars, so that was certainly a
plus for Austria. I'd definitely get a light
bar for the Honda—like quick."
•CENTER STAND
"Neither bike comes standard with a
center stand," Finley says. "This is one
thing every ADV rider—me included—
must have on their bike, especially bikes
as big as these."
The KTM center stand will cost
$250.00, and the Honda's is $199.95.
•DOUBLE TAKE MIRRORS
"These mirrors are nearly unbreakable
and offer a lot more adjustability for
$120.00 from Double Take Mirror." For
sure, they would be on my Christmas
list. https://www.doubletakemirror.
com/
•WIDER FOOTPEGS
"There are lots of companies that make
good pegs for the Africa Twin," Finley
says. "KTM fitted proper off-road pegs
to our test bike and they certainly made
a difference, and I'd quickly put them on
mine."
Here are some peg options:
Fastway: $180.99. https://fastway-
performance.com/footpegs.html
Touratech: $179.95. https://
touratech-usa.com/Store/Touratech-
Works-Footpegs-Honda-Africa-Twin-
CRF1000L
IMS: $225.00. https://imsproducts.
com/Products/index.cfm?IDset=5556
SW-Motech: $156.95. http://www.
twistedthrottle.com/sw-motech-foot-
peg-enlarger-kit-for-honda-africa-twin-
crf1000l-16?gloc=1&gclid=EAIaIQobCh
MI8678h5Gy1QIVg4SzCh0jTgDHEAQY
AiABEgKj5PD_BwE
•STEERING STABILIZER
"The steering stabilizer was standard on
the KTM and I didn't feel that a steering
stabilizer was a must on the Honda, but
I know from experience that they really
help on rough roads," Finley says. "Down
the road, my Honda would get a steering
stabilizer."
GPR Stabilizer: $575.00.
www.gprstabilizer.com
•BAGS/LUGGAGE
We tested both bikes without any bags
or luggage. Both KTM and Honda offer
standard hard bag options and there are
a lot of aftermarket hard and soft bag op-
tions. "Again, bags would eventually find
their way on either one of these bikes if
they were mine," Finley says.
Some of our favorites:
Hard Bags:
Touratech: https://touratech-usa.
com/
Givi: https://www.giviusa.com/givi-
products/cases/dolomiti-series
Soft Bags:
Giant Loop Siskiyou: http://www.
giantloopmoto.com/product/siskiyou-
panniers/
Givi Gravel T line: https://www.
giviusa.com/givi-products/soft-lug-
gage/gravel-t-range
Wolfman E-12 Saddle Bags:
https://wolfmanluggage.com/
products/e-12-saddle-bags
•TIRES
"For sure, I'd switch to the Continental
TKC80 rubber. Those are great tires for
off-road use with decent street perfor-
mance," Finley says. "If you will be riding
off-road, you will want to put a more
dirt-worthy tire on the Honda. The Dunlop
Trailmax d610 tires that come on the
Honda are great if you will be primarily
riding on the street, and are okay for hard-
packed dirt, but even well-maintained
gravel roads can be unpredictable in
terms of conditions."
