London Motorcycle Show: KTM Bike Highlights

KTM will be displaying a whole host of new metal on stand M150 at the London Motorcycle Show from February 13th, 14th and 15th.

If you’ve seen this week’s MCN you’ll probably still be drooling over the official Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle Show supplement.

Outside of all of the talks, presentations, live interviews and riding shows taking place, there is – of course – a mountain of beautiful, new, 2015 bikes to lust over.

We’ve taken a look at what each manufacturer is bringing and pulled out our own, particular highlights…

 

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 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE

• Power 160bhp
• Weight 229kg
• Seat height 860/875mm

KTM have long been the go-to brand for on-road bikes that are rather good at doing off-road.
Their 
Adventure models have been the stalwart of many a filthy adventure, and many serious globetrotters preferred the 950 Adventure over BMW’s do-it-all GS.

With this new addition to the range, the Austrians are taking the concept of their 1190 duo a step further, to create what they hope will be the ultimate adventurer. Far more on than off-road, the 1290 wants for nothing in terms of spec. The rider aids package includes everything you’d expect from a range-topper, with multi-mode electronic WP semi-active suspension, which is able to constantly adapt the damping rates in real-time to the riding surface and rider inputs, multiple riding modes, stability control and a slipper clutch. Linked to these systems is the excellent Bosch cornering ABS, which allows the rider to brake at max force while still leant over mid-corner.

For hours of endless straight tarmac, there’s also electronic cruise control to stop your wrist getting cramp. Wrapping up the electronics is a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard, allowing you to keep a real-time eye on your pressures, as well as LED cornering headlights – yes, they actually see round corners – and an optional ‘hill hold control’ for effortless fully-laden hill starts. Also standard fitment are heated grips and a heated seat.The heart of the Super Adventure is the newly-developed 1290 motor.

This isn’t just a straight transplant of the mill from the firm’s Super Duke R, while it does steal the pistons, cylinders and conrods, but mates these to a new cylinder head, and a heavier crankshaft and flywheel to smooth out the delivery of its 160bhp peak power, and 103ftlb torque. 

 

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KTM will be displaying a whole host of new metal on stand M150 at the London Motorcycle Show from February 13th, 14th and 15th.

Tickets are available on the door and more information can be found atwww.mcnmotorcycleshow.com