Motorcycle Explorer Nov 2015 Issue 8 | Page 150

The Concept The Austrian Heavy Weight Champion has well and truly thrown it’s hat into the ring. With a bigger engine than most small cars and so much torque if you put enough weight on the bike and tried to pull away I’m convinced the Earth’s rotation would start to speed up! This is the highest spec bike in the range from entry level 1090, 1190 and we look at the full whistle and bells of the 1290. My first opinion of any bike in this class is that it’s going to be used for touring on tarmac, plain and simple. You could take the KTM on gravel of course; anything like the Dalton Highway is going to be fine for the standard rider. Anything that becomes tricky means you need more skill because you can’t dab a foot to get something this big out of trouble. KTM have loaded the 1290 with a wonderful array of electronic options that will get you out of a tough spot when over cooking the brakes or rolling on the more than ample power too quickly; the ABS and the traction control checking what you’re doing at the speed of thought as you ride along. The balance is sublime and once you get the Austrian cruise missile rolling she is very happy to punt into corners and more than capable of ripping back out of them. I took the KTM up in the Dales to Tan Hill Inn (highest pub in England) in Richmondshire. Here there are plenty of 20% inclines, declining single track and switchbacks that undulate like a rollercoaster for you to play and test any bike. The thrill of powering the KTM down these roads is a perfect analogy. It’s brilliant fun that gives you the odd scare, just enough to make you chuckle a nervous laugh in your helmet. I was running on the stock tyres of Continental – Trail Attack 2 and we will look more at those later on. Sat having lunch at the pub I took a window seat overlooking the KTM in the parking bay. Just about every biker that pulled up stopped on his or her way to the pub to have a look and chat with a mate about the KTM. Lots of pointing and nodding going on; the KTM is most definitely a head turner. There is a feeling; speaking to people while I was out and about that the KTM 1290 is either too big or too powerful. Too big for what is the question? Too big for speedway, yeah I’d agree whole heartedly with that but too big for rolling over the Alps? Not at all, in fact it’s perfect for it and the 1290 is going to take you, your gear and your pillion over the range in comfort and style. Too big for gravel perhaps? The KTM 1290’s slightly smaller sister the 1190 is the bike of choice for South African tours with Kaapstaad having no issue rolling around on the red dirt down there. Too powerful as a concept; this is the first time I’ve been on a big KTM and they do have a reputation for being aggressive on the throttle. I expected some monster runaway train when I got down to Northampton. What I found is there are buckets of power at your disposal in the 1290 but it is very much down to you how much power you want to let run. Unless you snap at the throttle she is well behaved and ladylike. In fact any gear I was in there was no issue of over cooking unless I wanted it to. Pulling away from the KTM home the 1290 just chugged gently away in first, there is a noticeable clunk and slight jolt as you drop her into gear but the power is very much and very easily controlled by you (and the computer). If the rumours are putting you off this bike then you really need to just book a test ride and when you get back you will be grinning from ear to ear with what you have to play with and that you can control all that power in very simple roll on stages of confidence.