AGGRESSIVE NEW ADVENTURE SPIED

Cleaner and leaner KTM 1290 Super Adventure for 2020

With Euro5 emissions regulations due to come into force in January 2020, KTM have been busy developing new models, including this new 1290 Super Adventure spied testing on the road in Spain. Beyond forcing changes to the engine and ECU, there are plenty of external changes, too – most obviously a full new set of bodywork, and what appear to be low-slung side-mounted fuel tanks, which will help to position a potentially greater fuel mass lower down in the package. It looks a lot like the 790 Adventure prototype revealed last year, and soon to become a reality. Both the incoming 790 – which we expect to be unveiled as a production bike this Autumn – and the 1290 have clearly been styled to look like the firm’s 450RR Rally bike that also made its debut last year. Flanking that tweaked engine, and nestling beneath the new fairings are two new side-mounted radiators and what appears to be a new oil-cooler. Assuming KTM have retuned their existing 1290 engine to meet Euro5, it’s likely been leaned-off to reduce emissions, as required by the incoming regulations. This means KTM will need to improve the cooling to keep the engine temperature stable, which explains the increased volume of cooling hardware. Interestingly the back end remains virtually unchanged, although it is fitted with a one-piece R seat despite being otherwise kitted out as the road-focused S model.

As it’s a Euro 5 update model and this test mule is clearly in a rough state, we’re not expecting to see this unveiled until late 2019 as a 2020 model.

Its looks a lot like the firm’s 450RR Rally bike

Going the distance So long, old friend Front mounted oil cooler should mark the end of the ‘spam tin’ unit, and make more room for fuel pods Wider, more scalloped new fairings provide increased weather protection for the rider’s legs Keep it simple...