A little helping hand
KTM 1290 ADVENTURE R 4916 MILES Clever electronics really can make your riding life more fun
Like it or not, electronics and rider aids are now an integral part of motorcycling. For some manufacturers this started out as a token gesture or a simple box-ticking exercise, but over the years electronics have gone from being a crude interference to some seriously impressive technology. The level of tech now available is due to the trickle-down effect of racing, where firms develop advanced electronics which give them the ability to adapt the algorithms to suit each and every one of the bikes in their range.
There’s no doubt the
1290 Super Adventure R is an interesting one for the KTM electronics boffins given that it’s essentially an over-grown dirt bike with big power and a monstrous amount of torque (158bhp and 101lb.ft). Add to the equation that it’s a V-twin, which provides an instant hit of acceleration even at low RPM, plus the fact that many riders will fit off-road focused or 50/50 tyres – meaning grip is compromised.
I’ve spent the last few thousand miles using Dunlop Trailmax Raid tyres which are billed as a 50/50 with the expected off-road performance, but very impressive road characteristics.
Yet despite their on-road grip I’ve had to play around with the electronics to get the best out of the rubber. In full power ‘Sport’ mode there’s enough BHP under hard acceleration induce wheel spin; meaning that the power gets cut. Yes, the cut is subtle, but its still there. The 1290 also has a Rally mode which is where, in my opinion, this bike belongs. In Rally mode it gives you everything the KTM has to offer. Wheelie control is disabled and the power is as raw and undiluted as you want it to be. And that means instead of relying on a pre-set fuel mapping like Rain, Street or Sport, the Rally mode allows you to set your own level of traction control from one to nine using a simple up and down buttons which can all be adjusted on the fly.
In recent months I’ve settled on level four which means the bike will accelerate to its full capacity on the road without any power being cut – unless it really needs to be. Go off-road and setting four also works well, allowing a certain amount of spin to help turn the bike and finish off corners. It also means you can ‘lean’ against the traction control in slippery conditions and allow the bike to find any available grip through a combination of the power being cut while also allowing a certain degree of wheelspin.
Despite progress year on year, I’m still not the biggest fan of intrusive rider aids, but when they are as good and as easy to use as this, it’s hard not to accept that they have a worthwhile place for today’s riders.
LIKES
Electronics. Ease of use
DISLIKES
Pillion seat is narrow