Tag Archives: ktm

Travel test: KTM 1390 Super Adventure S

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I’m not gonna lie: KTM’s biggest adventure bike has always been very welcome here at Team Throttle. We already tested the 1290 Super Adventure S back in 2018 and 2021, and on both occasions it went home with an outstanding review.


Fast-forward to 2026, and KTM has been through some pretty turbulent times. Financial problems at parent company Pierer Mobility led to a change of ownership in 2024, with the Austrian brand now being part of Bajaj. That name may not immediately ring many bells in the West, even though the Indian company is one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers. Besides, Bajaj has held a stake in KTM since 2007, so the change of ownership didn’t exactly come out of the blue.

Exactly what the future holds for KTM remains anyone’s guess, but at some point comments from bossman Rajiv Bajaj suggested that production on European soil could disappear. That plan wouldn’t be entirely surprising: KTM would certainly not be the first European motorcycle brand to move production to the East. However, KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister later told the press such a move to India is out of the question.


Okay, that’s enough economic news for a review. Let’s get to the fun stuff. And there are three flavours to choose from: the R, the S and the S Evo. The R version of the KTM 1390 Super Adventure is the off-road-focused model, featuring 21-inch and 18-inch spoked wheels and WP XPLOR suspension. The S is the road version, with 19-inch and 17-inch cast wheels, less ground clearance and a larger windscreen. The S Evo, meanwhile, adds an automatic gearbox to the S’s mix.

Since I had no off-road plans, I headed out on the S for a week-long trip to Continue reading →

Review: KTM 890 SMT

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SMT. Supermoto Touring. Or in other words: a playful long-distance bike. Sounds good, right? And yet, the KTM 890 SMT is currently the only bike in the SMT segment. Ducati has its Hypermotards, but those only check the “SM” box, no “T” in sight. Whether that means the other brands don’t see value in the category or avoid it for other reasons, I can’t say. But it sure made me curious to find out how KTM defines those three letters.


So here’s the question: should you look at the SMT as a sport-touring machine (like the ones we see plenty of these days, think of the recently tested Suzuki GSX-S1000GX, the Triumph Tiger Sport 800 or the more adventure-styled Ducati Multistrada V4 S)? Or is the SMT simply in a class of its own?

If it’s up to KTM to decide on that matter, it’s definitely the latter. Unlike the trio I just mentioned, KTM’s focus is a lot less on the “T” and much more on the “SM.” The sporty Michelin PowerGP tires and the chopped windscreen make that clear instantly. Add the white beak to the mix and the 890 SMT ends up with a pretty “different” look. It’s a bit of an odd bird. And as we all know, whether you fall for a bike often comes down to looks.


At first glance the 890 SMT might look like an 890 Adventure on street tires, but it’s actually quite different. The SMT rolls on 17-inch wheels, has a shorter suspension travel and swaps Continue reading →

Travel test: KTM 890 Adventure

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Despite a preference for adventure bikes here at the editorial office, we hadn’t yet tested the KTM 890 Adventure. A change was in order, especially now that KTM has given this adventure bike an update for 2023. I took the 890 for a week-long journey to Trentino, specifically to the Dolomites and the region around Lake Garda.


The updates for 2023 may appear subtle at first glance, but they do make the 890 a better motorcycle. The most noticeable change is the new front end: it has been redesigned, including a peculiar hole in the middle of the screen, aimed at reducing turbulence. Thanks to the new side panels, the 890 looks sleeker than its predecessor and also directs the wind away from the rider more effectively. Additionally, the 5″ TFT dashboard stands out: modern graphics replace the previously modest design. Suspension has also been revamped for easier adjustment, and the redesigned seat offers improved comfort.

For this journey, KTM had equipped the 890 with panniers and the tank bag from the Powerparts catalog. The KTM branded Touratech panniers are incredibly spacious (45 + 31 L), and the top lid opens both forward and backward with the ignition key. The locking mechanism requires some force and practice, but once they are in place, the panniers are securely attached. Despite its 16-liter capacity and tall design, the tank bag never gets in the way, and attaching it with the Quick Lock ring takes just seconds.


My trip began with two days on the highway. With the cruise control on, eating up the miles is a breeze. From southern Germany to northern Italy, I was treated to hours of constant rain and heavy downpours. It wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, but it was perfect for testing the wind protection and comfort.

Highest position

With the seat in the lowest position, I quickly found Continue reading →

Review: KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

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In 2018 I tested the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S and during that test week I developed a profound love for the bike. So much so that the Super Adventure made it to the number 1 on my list of favorite test bikes that year.

That experience made me very curious about the new 1290 Super Adventure S, which got a big make-over for model year 2021. Even though an untrained eye perhaps wouldn’t notice much of that update.

The headlight is probably the biggest eye-catcher. It now contains the sensor for the (standard) adaptive cruisecontrol. Quite easy to spot as well: the new 23-litre tank hangs like two large cheeks along both sides of the also renewed frame. Furthermore, the LC8 V-twin has been thoroughly revised: it weighs 1.6 kg less now, received a Euro5 diploma and spits out 160 hp/138 Nm. The steering head was moved 15 mm rearwards for sharper handling, while the swingarm was extended by 15 mm for more stability and grip. And there’s more, but we’ll discuss that later.

When I hop on the bike, I immediately notice that the adjustable seat (849 / 869 mm) is lower and narrower at the front than on the previous model. At the same time, Continue reading →

Review: KTM 390 Adventure

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For years, KTM has been building the most offroad-worthy bikes. They make use of the knowledge they’ve gained in the rally world to build a production bike with – just like any brand nowadays – the pieces they have in stock.

This way they’ve constructed a full 1290 line-up: from The Beast all the way up to the Super Adventure. The engine of the 790 Duke was the base for one of the most praised adventure bikes of recent years, the KTM 790 Adventure. Recently they repeated the trick with the 890 Duke.

Downsizing is a popular trend in the motorcycling world as well, because not everyone can afford an expensive motorcycle. Especially European constructors want to get a piece of the cake that we know as ‘growth markets’. When you’re present in one of those BRIC-countries, you’ll want to have the bike built over there to reduce costs. So KTM took the engine and the frame of the Duke 390 platform to India where the Bajaj factories gave birth to the KTM 390 Adventure.

For the last test ride of this year, I went out for a ride on this smallest adventurer from Mattighofen. During a staycation I travelled from the Ardennes to the coast, wondering how much of an adventure one could experience on this Indian Austrian. After all it’s “but a four hundred”.

I’m pretty confused when I stand next to it for the first time: is this the 390 or the 790? The 390 isn’t at all as small as I expected. The standard seat height measures 855 mm, half a centimeter higher than the 790 Adventure. The bodywork looks just as Continue reading →

Review: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

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KTM has been producing one of the most radical supernakeds on the market for a couple of years now. The 1290 Super Duke R, nicknamed The Beast, received a complete make-over for 2020. A few years earlier though, someone at KTM must have seen some touring potential in the Super Duke: mount a windscreen, add a larger fuel tank, stick on some panniers and there you have it: the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT was born. At any other manufacturer you would be fired on the spot, but not at KTM. Over there even the touring machines are Ready to Race.

The GT’s 2020 model is still based on the previous generation Super Duke. The engineers merely pinched off some top-end power of the original beastly engine: it still delivers 175 bhp and 141 Newton meters of torque. More than enough to turn the GT into a proper rocket. One that is fit to travel in style. Even though the Kiska design is not everybody’s cup of tea, the GT stands out with its aggressive headlights that are flanked by LED cornering lights and blinkers that are integrated into the fuel tank. The wide shoulders and narrow hips are Continue reading →

Long-distance test: KTM 790 Adventure

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The longest Team Throttle test ever brought me from the Black Forest via the Dolomites to the French Alps. Then I circled the Gorges du Verdon and zigzagged through the Pyrenees. All together I covered 7042 km in 17 riding days.

I rode the most hyped bike of 2019: the KTM 790 Adventure. It turned into a story of love and hate, of rejection and attraction. But also a story of sheer ecstasy and high climaxes. And finally a story of regret. Regret that I had to say goodbye to this polarizing bike.

First impression

It didn’t start well, my relationship with this KTM. I had been eagerly looking forward to meet this new Austrian in person, but during our first rendezvous at the Brussels Motor Show early 2019, I was disappointed: I didn’t find it attractive and the bulging tank looked weird, like man-boobs. Was this the bike that would turn the adventure class upside down?

Luggage

My purpose during the trip was to camp as often as possible and cook myself on a regular basis. So I needed to take quite a bit of luggage.

KTM had equipped the 790 with plastic panniers. They look quite slick and are easy to install on the nicely integrated pannier racks. Unfortunately they open from the side and have a weirdly shaped interior, making it difficult to use their full capacity (35 liters on the left and 27 liters on the right).

Aluminum cases that open from the top may need a separate rack, but they’re much more convenient to use and you can tie stuff to the rack too. If you tie things to the passenger grips of the 790, it better be your lucky day. They’re open on one side, so a stretcher or strap slips off easily. Apart from that, they’re well designed and made of a pleasant non-slip material. Perfect for your duo or to maneuver the bike.

After some puzzling, three roll bags with camping material ended up on top of the passenger seat and the panniers were filled with lighter things.

Second impression

I got my second impression of the 790 Adventure during 400 kilometers of highway that marked the start of my trip. Together with Jean I rode from Luxembourg to the Black Forest in Germany. Biker buddy Tony joined us there for four riding days.

That stretch of highway didn’t make my second impression Continue reading →