When it comes to off-road performance, few companies hold the same level of authority as KTM. From lightweight motocross machines to heavyweight all-terrain adventurers, KTM definitely has it dialed in. In fact, they’ve long been known for producing some of the most performance-oriented bikes—both for on- and off-road use. Machines like the KTM 1290 Super Duke and the 1290 Super Adventure both dominate the super naked and adventure segments respectively.
In their never-ending quest for performance, KTM has updated the 1290 Super Adventure R to feature a few notable revisions. All the updates on the Austrian company’s flagship adventurer have been meticulously engineered to provide the rider an even better experience, no matter the terrain. For starters, the bike’s chassis has been redesigned to be stiffer and more flickable in the corners. This has been done by shortening the frame, and equipping it with a swingarm that’s 15mm longer. This translates to a more rigid front end, and even better compliance from the rear end.
The bike’s weight distribution was also enhanced by adopting the same fuel tank design found on the KTM 790 Adventure. As opposed to a standard fuel tank which sits atop the frame, the new bike features a split fuel tank which sits on either side of the bike’s engine in front of the rider. This gives the bike an even lower center of gravity, drastically improving stability at speed, as well as off-road handling characteristics. Despite this odd configuration, the tank manages an impressive 23-liter capacity.
Lastly, perhaps the biggest improvement on the bike would be its suspension. The new bike boasts a fully adjustable suspension setup consisting of 48mm inverted front forks which feature a massive 220mm of travel. The rear mono-shock is also equipped with 220mm of travel, and can easily be adjusted for preload, dampening, and compression with a turn of a knob. WP, the folks responsible for developing KTM’s suspension systems disclosed that the new bike’s suspension package was tested in multiple terrain conditions, as well as long distances of varying road conditions across America and Europe.
As far as pricing is concerned, KTM Philippines has yet to announce the official price of the new and improved 1290 Super Adventure R. For reference, the current generation bike fetches P1.39M. Given the massive updates to the new bike, we wouldn’t be surprised if its price tag would soar significantly higher than that of the current generation.
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