The offer to ride 5,000 km across Kazakhstan on a KTM 1190 Adventure R came unexpectedly a week before the start of the editorial automobile expedition. We talked, chatted, I shared my thoughts and dreams, and within a few hours the participants of the future trip were updating the trip plan, taking into account the addition of two-wheeled transport. For me and for the editors, this was the first time for such a marathon on a motorcycle, which makes it more interesting - you have to start it someday!
Map of our trip
I had heard a lot about this motorcycle before, and periodically thinking about long-distance travel on something similar, I watched test drives and reviews about it. But then I had a chance to check out Adventure in person. And today, when thousands of kilometers are behind us, we can say with complete confidence that the motorcycle is worth attention. But there are features that are worth considering when buying this motorcycle for long trips, and it is these that I will talk about in more detail.
The first practice of packing for a long trip was successful. All belongings and parts were loaded onto the KTM. The car was not even considered as an assistant
Motorcycle weight
Neither more nor less - for 250 kg with gasoline and luggage. But as soon as the motorcycle starts moving, it demonstrates incredible lightness - it turns into fluff, as Alexander correctly noted in his review of the same “Adventure”. Nevertheless, at first, each stop requires some effort - a very small angle of inclination of the motorcycle is enough, after which, if the support is unsuccessful or the surface is tilted, it is not at all easy to hold it. Which, in fact, happened on the very first day of the expedition: I stopped on asphalt covered with sand, unsuccessfully stuck out my right leg and began to slide... For some time I tried to hold the two-wheeled machine with my weight (and I weigh 80 kg) and return the motorcycle to horizontal position, but after ten seconds I still laid the motorcycle as carefully as I could on the asphalt. It’s okay, at the same time you can test how to lift the Adventure alone, since falls on long journeys happen to absolutely everyone. Despite the high center of gravity, the motorcycle rises “in one”. Not without effort, of course, but it is quite possible to do it.
These were the first 30 km on a vehicle that was unfamiliar to me, and this funny thing happened the only time during the entire trip when the motorcycle did not do what I wanted. On the second day, after the first 600–700 km, you get used to the motorcycle and the mistakes of the first day seem funny and banal. My advice to future owners of a heavy Adventure: ride the first thousand on asphalt, feel the motorcycle, lean angles at low speeds, and only then try the ground and other off-road conditions.
For my part, I can note that after 5,000 km I no longer felt its weight at all and returned the motorcycle to the garage effortlessly, moving around the city as if on an endurike weighing 120 kg.
Speed and grip
I rode without side panniers, and this turned out to be a plus from an aerodynamic point of view. Comfortable speed is 130–150 km/h. At this speed, the motorcycle shows a minimum fuel consumption of around 4.7–4.8 liters per hundred, the engine operates at comfortable speeds, and the windshield effectively removes air flow from the rider.
Adventure is not very demanding on fuel quality. They said that they also drove on Uzbek 80-octane fuel - and nothing, the main thing was not to strain the engine. The manufacturer still recommends pouring 95. We had no problems with fuel along the way.
Of particular note is cornering, where the Adventure handles like a sportbike, leaning heavily while maintaining excellent traction. And from the outside it looks very impressive!
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to photograph on the road how our Adventure turns around, so we borrowed a photo from our colleagues
Kazakhstan, as you know, is “famous” for its winds, which in some areas does not allow you to relax. Sometimes the crosswind was so strong that the angle of the motorcycle was almost 45 degrees! Especially when overtaking long trucks at the moment of leaving the “air bag”. This is where the KTM Adventure comes in with its power, traction, suspension and weight. They won’t write about this after half-day tests outside the city.
The above referred to asphalt, and I was driving on road tires, which, in principle, allowed me to move comfortably at 100 km/h on the ground, dust, rough roads and other delights. But I would recommend bringing replacement tires with you or installing tires with a worse tread if more than 30% of the route is supposed to be on dirt, country or mountain roads.
This will allow you to drive more confidently and be less likely to puncture on sharp stones, although you will lose traction on the asphalt. In our case, bad roads, detours and dirt were less than 10%, and the choice of road tires was obvious. They performed poorly only on sand, but that’s normal, these tires are not for him.
We had a navigator, but a paper version will never hurt on a long journey. The map was successfully placed in a transparent window on the bag
On bypass roads the KTM is in its element
More than once I had to drive in the rain
Here it is, freedom!
Ease of bike control
Speaking about the qualities of a motorcycle that determine its ease of control, it should be noted that the design is well thought out. The driver feels comfortable behind the wheel due to the fact that: • the bike's separate seat, handlebars and footrests can be adjusted in height; • control levers operate smoothly; • with the help of a wide steering wheel, the Ktm easily fits into any turns and holds the track well; • The gearbox shifts smoothly and the hydraulic clutch engages with light pressure. The KTM 1190 adventure is equipped with an electronic gear shift knob, which gives the bike the required acceleration with perfect precision. Smooth traction allows the 1190 adventure to move confidently in any of its gears and quickly reach the desired speed. Ktm uses fuel economically, which does not require frequent refueling. The motorcycle has a tank with a capacity of 23 liters, which at average speed is enough to cover a distance of 460 km. This distinctive feature is an undeniable advantage. Well-adjusted suspensions can operate in several modes. The front suspension of the motorcycle is electronically adjustable to the “Street”, “Sport” and “Comfort” modes, which depends on the driving style chosen by the driver and the quality of the road surface. The rear suspension of the model can be controlled in four modes: • the first is designed to transport one driver; • the second – for luggage transportation; • the third comes into force when there is a passenger on board; • fourth – when traveling with luggage and a passenger. Motorcyclists who took the KTM 1190 adventure for a test drive were satisfied with the created suspension. Thanks to it and the reliable braking system, they felt confident and comfortable behind the wheel.
Rider comfort
On the second day of the expedition, after I had gotten used to the motorcycle and had time to evaluate the fit, I positioned the luggage differently to create a backrest behind me. And the ride became more fun. But I never got used to the seat itself during the entire 8 days of the trip. It’s like a classic enduro, only a little wider. After eight hours in the saddle, all you can think about is how much your butt hurts. For Adventure buyers who are going on long trips, I recommend purchasing a very inexpensive cover that will make the seat softer. Although, perhaps these are my individual additions. There are people who travel by bicycle for six months at a time.
This cyclist is traveling from Serbia to Japan (Google calculated about 11,000 km from Belgrade to Vladivostok alone) and at the time of our meeting he had been on the road for 54 days! He couldn’t even answer how long he still had to go. He most likely no longer complains about any inconvenience. Reconciled
On-board computer
KTM has an excellent warning system! When you travel far, the motorcycle inspection is usually done once a day, in the morning. But over 700–1,000 km on the road, anything can happen, from banal, hidden punctures, when the tire gradually goes down, to engine overheating. With KTM Adventure you always know what's wrong with the bike. I saw three alerts during my trip. The most common thing is, of course, a low fuel level in the tank, and this is all clear. On the fourth day, the air temperature dropped significantly, the air compressed, and the on-board computer signaled low tire pressure. In my case this was not a problem. But if it was a puncture, the tire would slowly deflate, and I would find out about it at a speed of 150 km/h? And the third alert, the most unpleasant one, is the temperature of the engine oil. More about this below.
Advantages of the model
- Reliable, powerful V-twin engine.
- All systems are controlled electronically, which, on the one hand, simplifies control, but, on the other hand, makes control predictable and a little boring.
- The ability to choose one of four control modes, in which the performance of the main systems will be different.
- Good handling and maneuverability.
- Lightweight, reliable frame and powerful suspension, which is electronically adjusted depending on the selected driving mode.
- Possibility to adjust the fit in the range of 860-875 mm.
- Reliable braking system from Brembo, equipped with ABS. This contributes to high driving safety.
- Remarkable appearance.
- Comfortable seating – comfortable seat, correctly positioned levers, wide steering wheel.
- For tourist trips, it is possible to install luggage compartments on the rear and sides.
KTM 1190 Adventure R in the city
Most people who have tested the motorcycle write about the versatility of the Adventure in such a way that they want to ride it to work every day. My opinion: this motorcycle is not made for traffic jams and city bustle. It gets very hot during long stops in the heat. It is tall even for me with a height of 186 cm. It is wide, which makes it impossible to pass between the rows, and this motorcycle needs freedom, bad roads, bad weather and high speed. There are many more suitable types of motorcycles for the city, such as street or supermoto in the end. Don't lock the KTM 1190 Adventure R in traffic light prison. Only when traveling does it fully reveal itself.
Disadvantages of the model
- The wide tank creates inconvenience when driving while standing.
- High cost of a motorcycle and its maintenance.
- When the electronics are turned off, the motorcycle turns into an aggressive, powerful monster.
- The data on the left display is difficult to read when driving at high speed.
- The complexity of the design creates certain problems if it breaks down during a tourist trip. The abundance of parts and elements leads to the fact that it is often impossible to identify a malfunction very quickly.
Reviews about the ktm adventure 1190 are mostly positive. A versatile motorcycle allows you to diversify your life by testing the bike in different conditions. The motorcycle is available in two variations – Adventure and Adventure R. The first option is more focused on riding on asphalt, and the second – on off-road. The difference between them is the wheel diameter and suspension travel.
The peculiarity of the motorcycle is that, using electronics, a novice driver can master it, and by turning off the on-board computer, it becomes possible for a professional to experience all the delights of riding. The motorcycle was conceived for all occasions and for different audiences. This is what makes it special.
Reliability
For this motorcycle, 5,000 km, of course, is not a distance, but it is still worth noting that during the entire time nothing broke, fell off, unscrewed or became loose. After arriving, I had the feeling that I could drive the whole 50,000 km this way. Many people say that the new Adventure has a thousand and one parts that can fail on the road and cannot be repaired. But many people forget that most of these features allow you to drive further without any problems. The Adventure will simply turn into a regular motorcycle and will still get you out of any trouble.
We decided not to install side panniers, but they still asked us to screw the brackets for them. And for good reason - they have become protection when a motorcycle falls.
The rear case held a zip: there I put two inner tubes, engine oil, a couple of bottles of chain lube, a compressor, a couple of crowbars, a spark plug and other small things
We didn’t need additional headlights - we rested at night, it got dark late and dawned early. The headlights only collected midges
Side fairings covered in road color...
... however, like everything else
In my opinion, 2 bottles of lubricant, as KTM recommended for us at 5,000 km, is too much - everything around was all messed up, and we still have half a bottle left. Although, of course, you can’t spoil porridge with butter
5,204 km or 57 hours and 1 minute behind the wheel of the Adventure flew by in an instant, no matter how strange it may sound
Classmates
Perhaps the only direct competitor to the Adventure R is another “Adventure”, only of the German brand, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, popularly called the “goose”. Despite the different design features, namely the boxer engine with a cardan drive in BMW, this motorcycle also has a sports pedigree and its equipment is no less rich. But in order to catch up with the basic version of KTM in terms of equipment, you will have to fork out extra money - BMW, at least in Kazakhstan, costs noticeably more. But if the price difference doesn't bother you, and you're not already a fan of either BMW or KTM, then it's probably easier to just flip a coin. Otherwise, you can damage your brain in an attempt to determine the best.
And now about the trip
We all love to travel. Some people like to do this in comfort on a plane, others travel by car to the mountains, to the sea, or simply from city to city. But there are people who choose a motorcycle as their transport. And almost all motorcycle manufacturers have one, or even several models for tourism in their line.
Anyone who has ever tried to drive a couple of thousand kilometers will say that this is the best way to get to know the people, the terrain and all the best in the region where you are passing. It’s worth stopping at a gas station, next to a store, or just on the side of the road in a city or village, and after 5 minutes people appear around you with questions and ready to help. You just need to be open to the world and ready to tell. The KTM 1190 Adventure R is a big and beautiful motorcycle. And, of course, the public falls in love with him at first sight. You can talk to twenty to thirty people in a day.
While the guys, sitting in the car, are looking for a hotel on their smartphones, the locals are already giving me advice on where to stay for the night: where it’s cheaper, where it has parking, and where it’s nearby. Communicating with people in cities and villages, I already knew what road lay ahead of us, where the police usually hide, and where it’s better not to stop for lunch. And every fifth such person he meets can invite him to his home and feed him dinner.
The first questions are usually simple ones to start a conversation: where are you coming from? what is the price? can I take a photo? But then, when people receive information, a very interesting dialogue almost always begins. So, at one of the gas stations, after talking with me, the guys opened the trunk, and inside neatly lay a motorcycle that they were bringing home from a neighboring country.
In one of the villages I talked to a guy - he spoke Kazakh, I spoke Russian, but we completely understood each other - he told me that there was no gas station in the village, but there was gasoline and it was sold in the house across the road. And you will never know or feel such details and details when driving past in a car with the windows closed and the air conditioner on.
If you are going to become the proud owner of a KTM 1190 Adventure R, then get ready to always be bothered by two questions: where? When? Our expedition was an unforgettable adventure that you want to experience over and over again.
I bought a new Acerbis Active helmet especially for this trip. The price was really attractive
Among the advantages, it is worth noting the excellent visibility and built-in “glasses” from the sun, in addition, the glass does not fog up, which indicates good ventilation of the helmet
You can improve glass blowing by opening this flap on the cheekbone of the helmet
After three hours, only one desire is to quickly remove the sealant. It has a global disadvantage - an uncomfortable place under the ears. Therefore, on the next trip, which will take more than two days, I will take a different helmet
At this point the helmet rubbed my ear until it bled. It also blows under the visor at high speed, and the helmet itself is noisy
By the way, I didn’t have to remove the visor, although many argued that it would cause strong vibrations at speed. The large holes in it contributed positively, and the windshield of the Adventure effectively diverted flows
Cross/enduro motorcycle boots Forma Terrain TX are time-tested shoes that are not afraid of either the evil running boards of the Adventure or flying stones. Cons: They are hot and not very comfortable to walk in. But we didn’t have to walk. I took enduring and cross-country gloves with me as spare ones. As a result, I drove all the way in cross-country shoes - very comfortable. And Adventure has hand protection
I bought a branded jacket and pants - KTM Rally. Thanks to the built-in protection in the jacket, there was no need to wear a “turtle.” Effective ventilation with zippers, the fabric “holds” rain, but only in the first hour, after which it gets wet. But almost always such protection was enough
One of the advantages I would like to note is the bright colors - I can be seen from afar, which is very important on the track. The pants securely cover the boots, and when it rains, water does not flow inside. The only downside is that it is very hot in this “uniform” at bus stops. But usually, if the stop was longer than 15 minutes, I simply took off my jacket
Protection and clothing are an individual matter. What were my choices on this journey?
The set of equipment is quite standard - helmet, boots, knee pads, jacket, pants, gloves, T-shirt and a snood around the neck to prevent the wind. But I took off my knee pads on the third day, since it was very hot and at a speed of 150 km/h, if something happened, they wouldn’t help me much. I also had two backpacks on my back and a tank bag, which by the way is very convenient for such trips.
Specifications
Motorbike
| brand, model | KTM Adventure |
| Version | 1190 R |
| Assembly | Austria |
| Year of issue | 2014 |
| Type | sports tourist |
| Frame | steel tubular |
| Number of seats | 2 |
Engine
| Model | V-Twin |
| Type | petrol V-shaped 4-stroke DOHC |
| Supply system | multipoint fuel injection |
| Cooling system | liquid |
| Number of cylinders/valves | 2/8 |
| Working volume, cm cubic. | 1 195 |
| Maximum power, hp (kW)/rpm | 150(110)/9 500 |
| Maximum torque, Nm/rpm | 125/7 500 |
Transmission
| Drive unit | chain |
| Transmission | manual 6-speed |
Suspension
| Front/travel, mm | inverted fork, 220 |
| Rear/travel, mm | monoshock absorber, 220 |
Brakes
| Front/size, mm | double-disc perforated/320 |
| Rear/size, mm | disk perforated/267 |
Tires
| Front | 90/90 ZR21 |
| Rear | 150/70 ZR18 |
| Discs | spoked |
Dimensions and weight
| Ground clearance, mm | 250 |
| Saddle height, mm | 890 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 1 580 |
| Dry weight, kg | 217 |
