KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

Despite those looks and the impressive on-paper statistics, the reality of the 1290 is that it’s not intimidating in any way. It might be capable of covering ground very rapidly, but KTM has clearly not forgotten its intended market, making the bike just as adept at trundling through town or taking you to some far flung land in a comfortable and civilised fashion. It also has lots of very clever electronics to constantly keep matters under control.

You can’t ignore the fantastic engine. As you’d expect with nearly 160bhp on tap, it never feels lacking in any forward thrust. Allied to its 75° V-twin configuration, throttle response is virtually always instantaneous. But though the punch is strong, it’s also friendly and predictable, and can be used to great effect. The gearbox might well be slick but choosing the best ratio isn’t at all critical to any required increase in pace. Being in a gear or two higher than you might think is ideal is still good enough to give you all the acceleration you need.

There’s no obligation to use all of what’s available and having such a high peak power figure means there’s also lots on offer at lower rpm. Most of the time sitting within the engine’s gutsy mid-range is more than enough to make solid progress.

The advanced electronics do provide a crucial safety net to any insensitive or erroneous throttle use. Without the trickery, there’s no doubt you could easily find yourself in very hot water. Four different, easy to access, riding modes are available to help tailor the bike to your needs at any given time.

Most of the time I chose the Street riding mode which still gave me full power, with a slightly calmer response to my throttle twisting, and more immediate assistance from the ECU’s cleverness to keep things in check. In the interests of the test I did also try the Rain setting which delivers just 100bhp, slows the throttle response still further, and gives the most intrusion from the ABS and traction control.

But even when I rode the bike on wet roads, the sportier settings still suited me perfectly well, such was the engine’s predictable and reliable nature. The Off-Road mode also limits power to 100bhp and allows full wheelspin and locking of the rear wheel.

With an all-up kerb weight of 238 kilos, you’d expect hurrying the 1290 along might sometimes be a handful, especially when the route gets twisty. That’s categorically not the case, with the combination of the leverage offered by the wide bars, rigidity of the chassis, impressive semi-active electronically controlled suspension, brilliant brakes and last but not least, sticky Pirelli tyres combining to let you take on all routes in full confidence. That suspension is a real boon to the overall control. Adjusting its damping to suit different terrain or rider preferences couldn’t be more simple. Pushing buttons to instantly and appreciably alter the setup is hardly what you’d describe as a chore. But what’s the KTM like to live with in the real world? The answer is, it’s good to go, always able to take you off to your chosen destination without strain or pain. If you told me to head off to somewhere as distant as Gibraltar on it at short notice, I wouldn’t pause for thought. The 1290 might have lots of sporting ability but can still cut it as an adventure bike and eat miles with ease. Bars, seat and footrests are arranged nicely to fit most riders well enough.

The fairing and screen stave off the wind well enough to retain some calm at higher cruising speeds, with the screen itself being hand-adjustable to tailor the protection all the more. The 23 litre tank means longer runs between pit stops giving a fuel range of 160-250 miles.

Combined with the KTM’s comfort, 500-mile days wouldn’t be too taxing.