KTM unveils look of the 2003 Adventure 950

KTM unveiled how its 2003 950 Adventure will look, at the Milan Show on Tuesday.

The bike shown here is actually the competition bike, called the 950 Rally, and the firm has decided the Adventure will look just like it.

KTM is hoping the Rally will help it cream the opposition in next year’s Paris-Dakar rally. It was first revealed on motorcyclenews.com in May.

The biggest difference between the bike you can buy and the one competing in the world’s toughest race is 30 litres – the Adventure will carry 25 litres of fuel instead of the Rally’s tanker-like 55-litre load.

The only other changes will be to the suspension, tyres and front brake. Both bikes will have WP forks and shock, but the Rally’s will be slightly higher-spec. The Adventure will have two discs instead of the Rally’s one for more braking power on the road.

The 942cc V-twin engine will make 102bhp. The firm claims it’s the lightest and most compact of its kind thanks to its 75° layout – it’s shorter than a 90° motor and doesn’t need a 60° V-twin’s heavy balancer shaft.

The Rally weighs 199kg (438lb), but removing the rear tanks will take the Adventure’s weight down to 189kg (416lb).

No price has yet been confirmed for the Adventure, but expect it to be pitched at around £8000 to make it competitive with its R1150GS-based BMW namesake.

Keep up to date with all the latest we have on new bikes. Click on LATEST ON NEW BIKES, from the menu, left.