The completely redesigned KTM 1290 Super Adventure Models (both R and S) released to Europe last year are coming to the U.S. market for 2022 according to the following press release from KTM. KTM is also announcing some less-significant changes to the 390 Adventure. These models fill out the adventure line-up at KTM, along with the unchanged 890 models.
Here is the press release from KTM:
MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM North America, Inc. is pleased to introduce its 2022 lineup of ADVENTURE motorcycles, ushering in a new era of rider-focused design and ground-breaking technology. Leading the way are the all-new flagship models, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S and KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R. Taking full advantage of the feedback from riders across the globe, these 2022 ADVENTURE heavy-hitters fully encapsulate what it means to explore any terrain, from the pavement to the most unbeaten of paths. These new generation liter-class machines are the unquestioned halo Adventure models in KTM’s travel arsenal.
For 2022, they take their place among a pair of incredibly capable middleweights, the agile, travel-ready KTM 890 ADVENTURE and the extreme, offroad-focused KTM 890 ADVENTURE R. For riders looking for the perfect blend of travel-enduro capability and sporty, agile packaging, the updated KTM 390 ADVENTURE enters 2022 with new looks and a list of refinements. Rounding out the segment is the beloved KTM 690 ENDURO R—the do-it-all king of versatility—featuring class leading performance and technology.
ARRIVING THIS DECEMBER – THE KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S REDEFINES RIDER-FOCUSED PERFORMANCE
Introducing a third generation of liter-class KTM ADVENTURE models, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S is the sportiest and most technologically-advanced ADVENTURE bike to roll its wheels off the production line in Mattighofen, Austria. Forged to provide the benefits of a versatile sport-tourer with diligence paid to ergonomics and comfort over any terrain, in brief it’s the ultimate high-performance ADVENTURE bike.
Redesigned ergonomics
Focusing on keener handling, the new KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S introduces a chassis overhaul that further enhances weight distribution and riding agility. A sharper cornering sensation is achieved by moving the steering head back by 15 mm and re-locating the front section of the engine. Additionally, the longer open-lattice swingarm contributes to a more stable feeling under acceleration. The subframe has been crafted to provide a lower seat height without sacrificing durability or practicality.
Surrounding the rider is a new 6.1-gal. (23-l) keyless-cap fuel tank and a set of bodywork that augments the bike’s agile handling. Every inch of the paneling has been analyzed so as not to impede comfort or performance. Providing additional comfort for the long rides, the new seat is two-tiered and adjustable by 20 mm. Also customizable are the handlebar levers, the all-new TFT dash and the windshield, which has been developed through wind tunnel testing and can be moved by 55 mm. Overall, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S excels for its lower centralization of masses and refined weight balance. It begs to be ridden hard or caressed to speed over long distances.
Technology to boost performance
Regulating the ride is the new generation of electronic aids with a less intrusive level of traction control in RAIN, STREET, SPORT, OFFROAD and an updated (optional) RALLY mode. To take you to the best riding terrain with less fuss, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S introduces an innovative Adaptive Cruise Control system as standard for 2022. Developed in collaboration with Bosch, the radar-based system automatically adjusts speed and the distance to traffic ahead according to five stages that can be set with the re-designed handlebar switches.
The riding experience is further boosted with the brand new 7” TFT display that is hooked to a new Connectivity Unit for seamless smartphone pairing. The larger dashboard view has quicker and more practical menu systems as well as clear aesthetic infographics to clearly indicate various sections of the bike. The dash sits on top of a redesigned storage compartment with a USB charging socket. To communicate with the new display, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S comes with all-new switches on both sides of the handlebar, which offer a new and more seamless user experience. A new set of quick select and favorites buttons will allow for setup changes on the fly, while the rider stays focused on the roads ahead.
Advanced componentry
The heart of the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S is the revised V-twin. The eye-widening power and torque come in a lighter form (-3.5 lb / -1.6 kg) thanks to thinner engine cases and a new oil circuit. The engine breathes through an upgraded two-headed exhaust and shifts with a revised PANKL gear mechanism that brings big improvements in the optional Quickshifter+ function.
New pistons have further raised reliability, and the whole unit retains better cooling thanks to a new water/oil system. The two new radiators work with the redesigned bodywork to channel warm air away from the rider’s legs, and 15,000 km service intervals and low fuel consumption round-off the re-energized powerplant.
Furthermore, the lean-angle dependent Motorcycle Traction Control has two different controllers, one for wheel slip and another for pitch angle, with their own data and strategies. The Cornering ABS and Offroad ABS systems are products of the new Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control, while Motor Slip Regulation (optional) assists with abrupt downshifts.
The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S will hurtle along bumpy trails, courtesy of a new generation of WP APEX Semi-Active Technology suspension. The SAT boasts augmented damping thanks to new valves, while the 6D lean angle sensor inputs directly into the unit for a thorough outline of rider behavior.
Part of the updated range of KTM PowerParts specifically designed for the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S is the Suspension Pro package that offers individual damping for the fork and the shock, automatic preload adjustment and an on/off Anti Dive setting. With the additional Rally Pack featuring the RALLY riding mode and the respective MTC slip adjuster, all of the Suspension Pro and Rally Pack features together with the Quickshifter+, the Motor Slip Regulation, the Hill Hold Control and the adaptive brake light are included in the all-in-one Tech Pack.
KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S – MODEL HIGHLIGHTS
• New ergonomics –> new fuel tank, lower seat & new plastics
• Reworked bodywork –> shorter chassis, new subframe & longer swingarm
• Optimized weight distribution –> added agility & comfort
• New generation electronics –> innovative ACC & reworked cornering MTC
• More intuitive 7” TFT display –> optimal accessibility
• Redesigned handlebar switches, improved CCU
• Revised 1301 cc LC8 engine –> lighter without sacrificing power
• Next generation of Semi-Active Suspension
• Remodeled optional technology Suspension Pro, Rally Pack & Tech Pack
THE ALL-NEW KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R ALLOWS FOR LIMITLESS TRAVEL POSSIBILITIES EVEN WHERE THE ROAD ENDS
The second installment in the new generation of liter-class KTM ADVENTURE models comes in the form of the all-new KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R. Engineered to cross the wildest and most challenging terrain, this motorcycle has the capacity to take adventurers anywhere.
Primed and ready to plant its flag anywhere on the planet, the 2022 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R shares many of the same updates found on the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S but has been designed from the ground-up with a different aim – to conquer all that comes before it, paved or unpaved.
All-terrain agility
Riding the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R across rough terrain in the easiest and most intuitive way possible has been a development priority for the completely reworked 2022 edition. All new bodywork, providing excellent ergonomics and allowing the fuel in the three-piece tank to be held as low as possible, has been designed for better agility, a lower center of gravity and optimal feeling in all riding conditions.
Control and balance is enhanced by the new subframe, which has also been reconstructed and is topped with a sporty stepped seat coming in at 880 mm of height with slim dimensions and handy storage underneath.
Further enhancing handling and offroad performance is the reworked WP XPLOR suspension. The KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R benefits from KTM’s racing-won suspension tuning knowhow and has been set up to deliver the absolute best offroad capability, while still maintaining its essential touring rideability. Comfort and performance have been blended into the fully-adjustable 48 mm front forks with an impressive 220 mm of travel and split damping functions. Quick modifications are done with a twist of the respective compression and rebound dials. The same 220 mm travel graces the WP PDS shock. The confidence-inspiring versatility of the system was achieved through countless hours of test riding in the California desert, as well as long stretches of varied European landscapes.
Performance-tailored technology
The 2022 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R is a vessel for the latest electronics packages and continuation of the collaboration with first-rate pioneers like Bosch. A new six-axis lean angle sensor filters information on the exact pitch and position of the bike and its behavior. In turn, this affects the degree of Motorcycle Traction Control, Motor Slip Regulation, Motorcycle Stability Control and forces of Offroad ABS. Like the suspension, these systems endured endless miles of testing and tweaking to ensure their intervention improves both street and offroad performance. To fit the needs of the modern all-terrain riding enthusiast, all rider assists can be tweaked or disengaged.
As found on the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S, standard RAIN, STREET, SPORT and OFFROAD ride modes, and the optional RALLY mode, round out the full suite of electronic rider aids found on the new KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R to allow riders to get the most out of their machine.
Premium-spec components
With a lot of effort going towards optimizing the air flow through the bike, the 2022 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R features two separate radiators instead of the one-piece unit of its predecessor. With cleverly designed air ducts, the amount of hot air streaming towards the rider´s legs has been significantly reduced and the difference becomes easily noticeable in the slow, tight sections.
Thanks to a reworked airbox, riders can now easily access the air filter by simply removing four screws. The filter itself now features vertical ribs, instead of horizontal, which helps direct dust or sand towards the bottom of the air box. Overall, a better design for hardcore adventurers.
To cope with the rigors of life away from the beaten track, the KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R is armed with premium level equipment. New Adventure-specific Bridgestone tires are wrapped around ALPINA aluminum spoked wheels, which can be run tubeless with a reassuring O-ring sealant in the spoke nipples. This new-generation 2022 KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R comes with modern and eye-catching paint and graphic set.
KTM ‘RACE ON’ technology takes keyless ignition to a new level of autonomy, as its separate Tire Pressure Monitor system sensors provide more detailed customization and four-piston radial mounted Brembo calipers bring the whole show to a fearsome stop or satisfying slide. The windshield, levers, pegs and handlebars are all adjustable to further enhance rider adaptability.
As is the case with its S model counterpart, the new KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R benefits from a remodeled optional software package policy. With the Rally Pack offering the RALLY riding mode, MTC slip adjuster and adjustable throttle response, the all-in-one Tech Pack includes the Quickshifter+, Motor Slip Regulation, Hill Hold Control, adaptive brake light and all the features of the Rally Pack.
KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R – MODEL HIGHLIGHTS
• All-new ergonomics offering extra agility
• Redesigned seat with lower height
• Reworked long-travel, adjustable WP XPLOR suspension
• Optimized weight distribution with lower-placed fuel tanks
• Cutting-edge electronics that enhance the ride
• New, intuitive 7’’ TFT display with redesigned handlebar switches
• New LED headlight with LED daytime light
• Revised V-Twin engine with improved heat dissipation
• New Adventure-spec tires by Bridgestone
KTM BOLSTERS NEW KTM 390 ADVENTURE WITH MORE FREE-ROAMING SPIRIT FOR ADVENTURERS OF ALL DEMANDS
Receiving select key upgrades in its 2022 trim, the KTM 390 ADVENTURE is here to let every biker experience the utmost adventure. No matter the rockiness of the mountain pass, the length of the wilderness trail or the demands of daily mileage, the new KTM 390 ADVENTURE is a highly-capable exploration companion every step of the way.
Setting the benchmark in the smaller cylinder segment for outstanding power-to-weight, technology and riding agility, the KTM 390 ADVENTURE is getting a fresh look and some key upgrades for 2022 that bring it closer than ever before to the full range of larger-displacement KTM ADVENTURE machines.
Further enhancing its potential to take riders to places far beyond the ordinary paths, the 2022 model’s extensive list of electronic features has been amplified with the addition of STREET and OFFROAD modes for Traction Control. Selecting OFFROAD from STREET will give the KTM a degree of rear wheel slip to enable even easier use of the bike in loose or wet terrain.
The KTM 390 ADVENTURE can be pushed to the extreme and if the conditions momentarily get the better of the rider, the OFFROAD TC will remain activated in the event of a brief stall or fall. The additional Traction Control capabilities make it easier to get even more exploratory, allowing the KTM 390 ADVENTURE to solidify its spot as the segment leader in terms of technology and electronic features.
Allowing riders to reach new extremes, KTM has given the 2022 KTM 390 ADVENTURE a set of even more robust cast wheels. The construction of the components is based around five spokes – instead of six – thus permitting increased stiffness and resistance for the rims.
For 2022, the visual identity of the KTM 390 ADVENTURE is bringing it even closer to the race-winning RALLY machines around the globe. Available in two distinct color versions, both options highlight the sharp lines of KTM’s ultra-versatile adventurer.
Curious and skilled riders can also fulfill their needs at the throttle of the 2022 KTM 390 ADVENTURE. To prove the point, KTM enlisted the help of multi-time Baja winner Quinn Cody and world traveler Paolo Cattaneo to provide the ultimate verdict from their own weekend adventure HERE.
The bike’s famed agility is combined with the carefully considered ergonomics that place the rider right in the heart of the bike’s movements. The 2022 KTM 390 ADVENTURE can be steered like an offroader as much as it can flip into cruise for longer highway stretches, and the new look through the colors and graphics mean that the aesthetic is as sharp as the attributes.
KTM 390 ADVENTURE – HIGHLIGHTS
• Enhanced electronics as standard & OFFROAD TC for added adventuring potential
• Stronger & more resistant wheels for tougher riding
• Segment-leading electronics including lean-angle sensitive ABS & TC
• Dakar Rally-proven chassis architecture & settings
• Removable steel trellis subframe fitted with just four bolts
• WP APEX adjustable suspension for the best response whatever the terrain
• Dependable BYBRE brakes with 320 and 280 mm discs, two channel ABS
• 3.8 gal (14.5 l) fuel tank for excellent range & possible 400 km with one fill
• Two-part seat & crafted bodywork as part of superlative ergonomics setup
• Brand new graphics & fresh look for both 2022 color versions
The 2022 KTM ADVENTURE range and KTM 690 ENDURO R will be landing at authorized KTM dealers starting December of 2021. The KTM 390 ADVENTURE will be available from February 2022 onward. For more information, visit ktm.com.
KTM can’t get your parts to install your heated grips on 890 ADV before December 2022!
Stay away from KTM.
The front end looks like a dragonfly hit a windshield at 80 mph eyeballs first. That is a face only a mother could love. Man.
After giving it a full week, I still don’t see any comments about the way they have engineered so many positive upgrades into the machine. Nothing about the lowered seat height, saddle style fuel tank, dual radiators for heat management, upgraded electronic suspension, or even the weight reduction. I don’t understand, why that damned headlight is so much more important than the capability of the bike?
Just goes to show how the slightest design element can almost completely tarnish an otherwise excellent product. Manufacturers make choices, as do consumers based on all kinds of criteria, whether its weight, horsepower, ammenities or features riders feel were not included or that should not have been included, price or looks. It’s a package.
In addition to what mickey said, well, let’s face it, it’s a high-end KTM. We all know it’s a technical marvel. It’s a right beast, in terms of outright performance. It was before, and it’s doubtless even more so now.
The thing is, no one really cares anymore about the latest whiz-bang techno gadgetry. No one asked for it, but the manufacturers clearly feel compelled to ram it down our throats anyway. It’s all for marketing purposes, and somehow the industry has arrived at a point in which they’ve decided that electronic nannies, Bluetooth phone compatibility, suspension/display screens/traction control/engine mapping/ABS adjustability overkill are what will keep their product ahead of the competition.
The KTM Faithful will look upon this new bike and applaud it for moving the game forward once more, however incrementally it may do so.
The rest of the motorcycling world? They look upon this thing with detached bemusement, disinterest, and even a bit of contempt. Sure, it’s obviously a great bike, but it’s downright hideous to look at, it’s unrealistically expensive, and it seems its sole raison d’etre is to try to answer countless questions that most motorcyclists never asked.
It’s trying way too hard to be bougie, for no good reason.
This is where I find myself much more in alignment with Mick. Stop pushing for ever more unnecessary horsepower and torque. It’s a touring bike that’s meant to do a small bit of offroading, for gawd’s sake. It doesn’t need a Superbike-spec engine for such duties. Once you stop pushing the hp wars into insanity levels, go ahead and ditch 95% of the electronic nannies. Retain a simple form of on/off switchable ABS and traction control for dirt applications. Shitcan all the rest. Simplify everything throughout the machine, including every rider interface. Less is more. Easy is better. User-friendliness trumps menus overkill.
Do all these things, and you can drop the weight a metric shit-ton, as well as the price, which will bring a much broader cross-section of buyers back into the fold. Not only will the bikes be more manageable, affordable, and reliable, they’ll be easier and cheaper to maintain, and far more enjoyable to ride and own.
And, yeah, drop the stupid avant-garde try-hard headlight designs. Just give us effective illumination that doesn’t viscerally offend the aesthetic sensibilities of the vast majority of punters with working eyeballs.
ever ridden a bike with IMU traction control…its amazing ! we all like vintage low tech bikes…however when you want to get serious about performance and handling the gadgetry works really well !
Actually, when you truly want to get serious about performance, you turn off the traction control. TC is there to prevent you from receiving too much of the bike’s available performance.
Unless you’re talking about Moto GP-levels of power ridden by world-class riders at race speeds, nearly all fast lap times and major fun in the dirt occurs with the TC turned off.
Surely it has very good lightning, but that nose is ugly…
So, unlike virtually everyone else, I really like this 1290, particularly the R model as the colorway, 21-inch front, headlight/front fairing shape, and spoke wheels really really come together to whisper sweet nothings of BDR routes and high desert blasting.
That is the best looking one of those pictured above, but imagine how much better it would look with a more normal looking headlight, or do you like that headlight too?
Honestly, I’m digging the headlight, too. It works for this bike, IMO. I think a “normal” headlight arrangement would detract from the menace this design gives off.
“Menace”? You think that headlight offers a menacing look?
Wow. To me, and to most others, judging by the majority of the reactions we see, it just looks odd. Deformed. Vaguely surprised. Definitely not aggressive or menacing.
Yes, I do think the design on the whole looks menacing. I like it, even moreso the more I look at it And I acknowledge my opinion is definitely in the minority with respect to the regulars here at Motorcycle Daily.
However, it would seem my opinion is pretty consistent with the normal group of off-road junkies I ride with, most of whom fall between the ages of 35 and 55 years old. So perhaps KTM’s design work is getting through to their intended audience?
I suspect that what you’re seeing there with your KTM brethren is simply a lot of people who accept the KTM’s odd looks in lieu of its excellent performance. I highly doubt any of them are looking at this latest 1290 Super Adventure and Super Duke GT and saying to themselves, “Those headlights…yep…nailed it. Love ’em!”
It’s probably more like having a wife with an amazing body and great personality, but she has a nose like Barbara Streisand and a speaking voice like Fran Drescher. You weigh the good and bad and accept the negatives because the positives are worth it.
Remember, I’m not talking about the entire bike, or the headlights on the older models. I’m only talking about the new headlights on these two models.
I think you are on the right train of thought with respect to the appreciation for performance, but your “ugly from the front” analogy misses the mark, IMO.
You presume that the looks are tolerated because of the performance, but my position on it is – and I feel pretty confident this rings true for many if not most riders who participate in the off-road leaning side of this market – that the KTM’s design work is becoming (or has already become) what hardcore off-road performance incarnate looks like in the same way that Ducati sport bikes have traditionally embodied speed.
It’s certainly not for everyone and no doubt completely unrelatable to some, but to those who identify with the language, the bike’s design has nothing to apologize for. It’s not a super model with a hooked nose. It’s the bogeyman, and it looks like it is supposed to. This is not a design to be sexualized. I’d say it is more of a Ring of Power type of attraction.
Jeremy, these two bikes with these two new sets of gawdawful headlights haven’t hit the market yet. They have gained no acceptance yet out on the trails and highways.
What you say may be true, to a degree, of other KTM designs, and even other KTM headlight designs, but I think you’re lumping the headlights into the overall bike design when you talk of acceptance among the off-road crowd.
None of those people have had the misfortune yet of seeing these new headlights out in the wild. When they do, they will doubtless have a similar reaction to the rest of us: “Wtf is up with those ridiculous headlights? Why on earth did they do that? Cool bike otherwise, though. I bet it rips.”
I do lump the headlight into the overall bike design since it is part of a design as a whole, though I don’t know why that would matter much. It can work altogether, or it can be the one design element that ruins everything else for you. Or the one design element that really sets it off.
However, I don’t agree with you that it hasn’t yet been evaluated and accepted by the market. Despite all of the moaning and gnashing of teeth on this discussion board, this headlight assembly is not really a drastic departure from the 2018 model or even the generation before that. The evolution is pretty clear to me.
In any case I’m fine to agree to disagree.
I keep seeing different things when I look at it. The 1290 R headlight.. Roman Gladiator helmet…a bull or a Zodiak sign for Taurus..a Wasp or hornets face
All of which sound pretty menacing, no? 😀
LOL.. yep
I can’t decide whether it looks merely surprised, or horrified. It definitely has that raised eyebrows look of surprise, but it doesn’t look pleasantly surprised. It looks surprised, yet also terrified: horrified.
Appalled. That’s the word. It looks appalled, like someone who just witnessed the discovery of Auschwitz.
The mask from the movie Scream is spot on. Droopy, melted eye sockets, and a droopy, horrified, ghostly maw.
I’m a function first guy who is looking at a piece of equipment when I look at a motorcycle. In this bike I see a touring bike styled after a dirt bike.
It’s for the way too much is almost there crowd. Starting with the headlight. “Which headlight?” “Yes, all of them. Let God sort them out.” “Which engine?” “Biggest one DUH!”…
Holy Cheese wiz, that is a huge headlight. So much performance and cool features. But i just can’t wrap my eyes around KTM styling. Easy access to the air filter, very smart. Headlights that look like a cartoon squirrel that just got kicked in the nuts… not my cup o tea.
I could live with a SuperDuke GT 2022 : has all the good stuff fast and grunty engine
23 lt tank sexy TFT all the electronic gizmos with NO RADAR! not too weighty hard bags
Only no centrestand. Biggest bug is PRICE.
If the objective is to sell motorcycles (and it is). KTM needs to review the comments here. How many more bikes would KTM sell if they had the same visual appeal as the new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello (see V100 compliments)? Styling to match the engineering, what a combination! Super Duke 1290 GT owner seriously considering a Multistrada V2S when it is available.
Yea, imagine cutting edge performance and admirable looks in the same package. What a concept.
“3.8 gal (14.5 l) fuel tank for excellent range & possible 400 km with one fill”
Not much of an adventure on the 390. But it will get you part way there.
A woman I know here averages between 65 and 70 mpg on hers. That will take you pretty far even with just 3.8 gallons.
Reminds me of the alien in the window goldblum and fresh prince see when they dock up to the mothership in Independence Day.
i like the S version , the headlight is huuuge, whats up with that
Is it true that the 1290R no longer has tubeless rims, did I read that correctly?
I can do without a keyless gas cap and a keyless ignition for that matter. I chose a 1090R over a 1290R partly for that reason. Keys pretty much always work. I really wish they would make a “base model” 1290S without all the electronic gizmos…..just CC, TC, and ABS.
I kind of like the way KTM headlights look from behind the handlebars in that they do a great job of lighting up what’s in front of me. I’m different that way though since I ride my KTM’s instead of sitting around looking at pictures of them on the interweb.
It’s nice to get an unbiased opinion.
It’s as ugly as the old Multistrada.
Wow! That’s harsh. Do you really think so? While I whole heartedly agree that the old Multistrada is a failed attempt at art deco. This thing is cheap sciance fiction B movie prop skank.
Are you sitting down? I took my wife around to some dealers in 2004 to select “her” bike, the one she rides pillion on, and she selected a silver Multistrada. She tried to wrangle with idiot sales guy but he just said that the price was on the windshield, turned his back on her and walked away in the opposite direction he was going when she stopped him. How rude!
She looked at me and asked me to find a used one. I found a red one with 1100 miles, a DP exhaust, ECU and airbox mod for $3000 less. When we moved to NL I got a great deal on a low mile 2003 with a tour pack and a center stand. When we moved back that stuff came back with us. All these years later it’s still our two up bike. We’ve covered a lot of ground on the things in the US and all over Europe, including Corsica which is about the best place you could ever go to ride. Ugly as they are. They certainly work quite well. Just be sure to set the rear preload with the handy knob. The front and rear have a different amount of travel. Setup is important to make them work in concert.
The wife is a francophile. The Multistrada looks like something that the French cooked up. What do you do?
You have to admit. The old Multistrada is basically what passes for an ADV bike now days. As such, it was way ahead of its time. Some of the ADV bikes are starting to come in 17 inch wheel versions, you know, like an old Multistrada. I think it’s funny that the street bikers are finally starting to figure out that dirt bike ergos are where it’s at for comfort and control. Um, Duh!
Underestimate the dirt bikers at your peril. They got the motorcycle industry to produce zillions of bikes that weigh half as much as the street bikes do. The street bike guys should pay closer attention while they look down their noses.
My first thought on this bike was the Alien Movie. Mickey mentioned a grasshopper. I see that too. Now I have liked some quirky bikes in my time. Hell, even from certain angles, I kinda like the NM4. I just can’t this one.
The headlight reminds me of….the SCREAM movie mask!
Yep.
Good call.
Above all their engineering expertise, KTM’s shining achievement is their ability to market the ugliest motorcycles in existence.
Yawn….. Same bike as ALL the previous years. I have a 2015 Super Adventure I see little difference and it almost looks identical to the “all new” 22 model.
I really like KTM but the styling needs serious help. The new 901 Husky head light area looks much better than these bug faces in my opinion. I don’t want all the radar stuff as well as all the ransom ware “upgrades”. KTM has enough trouble with their reliability already.
I’ll just have to stay with my old bike. Pity the new one isn’t better than the old ones.
Horse-face!
Actually I found the perfect helmet for this bike. Star Wars Scout Trooper helmet.
https://www.amazon.com/Scout-Trooper-Helmet-Costume-Cosplay/dp/B094HYWPP4/ref=asc_df_B094HYWPP4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=508682629389&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7744903353456792524&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001839&hvtargid=pla-1321881085659&psc=1
I do not understand how 5 spokes are stronger than 6, and I see 10 of the spindly suckers on the 373cc bike. No need to comment on the stupid headlight assembly.
Naw – I can’t let it go. With all the ministuation now a days, why can’t the dastardly designers put the clocks and headlight back on the triple clamp area, instead of why out front like a insect with a hard on ?
I can think of two reasons that the light/fairing/gauge cluster would be positioned that way. #1 is the desire for the headlight and gauge cluster to be stationary and positioned optimally for viewing #2 is that the further forward the wind protection is, the better protection the fairing and wind screen provides at speed.
If it brings those benefits then I don’t care what it looks like.
Adding to what Dave said, having the gauges and headlight attached to the triple clamp adds weight right where you don’t want it and negatively affects handling (just like big old bat wing fairings attached to the fork tubes do).
The 690 Enduro is the only model (barely) mentioned yet it’s the only one with a decent looking headlight. https://www.advpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2021-ktm-690-enduro-r-2.jpg
Wow, a nice looking KTM with the smallest turn signal lights . Wonder if they are legal. Is there an underseat fuel tank ?
Yes, street legal dual purpose bike. Yes, underseat tank to keep the full up weight low.
I’m kind of bored with KTM styling. I think they’ve boxed themselves in with only three colors for every model and all the angular features. It’s a shame because they have a lot of cutting edge performance. At some point though, the 2022 models look identical to the 2012 models except for the ridiculous headlights.
Yeah, they step so far out of the box with some design and performance elements, and then there are some things – like the tired orange, white, and gray – that they feel they can’t step away from for marketing reasons… As if you wouldn’t recognize it as a KTM I’d there were no orange on the bike.
Hopefully Bimota isn’t going to drive future styling trends or KTM will really go crazy. Bimota does have fairly conventional headlights, but wow! Bloodshot your peepers on the new KB4 RC. Styling that wants to do you harm.
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/bimota-kb4-rc/
That thing is so over-the-top ridiculous and awful, it must be a joke. I mean, come on. It has to be.
Ummm…doesn’t it?
Bimota is definitely lost.
I think each company VP had something they wanted .
The VP’s:
I like cafe racers.
I like late eighties sport bikes.
I like naked Ducati bikes.
I like technology in the gauge cluster.
The designer:
Done, done, done and done.
Nice headlight on the Bimota.
Man! I don’t get the headlight thing. Is it some kind of appeal to the truck guys? Two truck headlights minus the grill?
I just don’t get it. Maybe this is something related to the four stroke guys that I will never understand. Four stroke “race” bikes and designed on acid headlights.
I’m just glad that a man can still buy an honest dirt bike and take a vacation from this madness. And oh yeah. Lately I have been buying XC (no F) from KTM. Hopefully they get that FI stuff sorted. I do like to support people who support me. But the FI two strokes are not ready for prime time in my garage as yet.
What’s interesting is that throttle body seems to be a better idea than the current transfer port right now. I’m sure the guys that worked so hard on the transfer port systems are really loving the state of affairs.
Right now I’m and old fart that can set up a carburetor. I would welcome being dethroned. But I can wait, or get old and die on the throne like my uncle. 🙂
Grasshoppers
Been looking at these all evening try to think what the headlights remind me of, and it finally came to me. They look like the eyes on a grasshopper.
KTM makes nice bikes. The software paywalls are a bit moneygrubbing.
At least the headlight doesn’t double as the front fender/beak. But still ugly. On a positive note, I really like the color combo on the R model. That does help.
These look awesome! KTM has by far the best model lineup of any motorcycle manufacturer. Just totally hitting it out of the park.
Okay, that’s it. I’ve had enough of looking at KTMs.
I think that’s actually the ugliest headlight I’ve ever seen. On anything.
I thought the motorcycling headlight world had reached a new, unsurpassable nadir with the subject of Dirck’s last report, the new 1250 Super Duke GT, but this one may have opened the door to a tenth (or seventy-third?) ring of Dantean hell.
Now, which KTM model has the ugliest headlight?
This article courtesy of L Ron Jeremy. 👍
Thanks dude. I feel so much better…