The next chapter...KTM Super Adventure S

TNWalker said:

FWIW I'll offer my insights on the 890.
...and am satisfied (for now).

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Your thoughts have always meant a lot to me over all these years. Much appreciated.

Glad to hear you recognize it a big improvement over the 790. I spent some time on a 790 once and was underwhelmed.

I find the 1290 still has some level of artificial wheelie control even with TCS off. I can overwhelm it enough to entertain myself, but I swear it's there. Fortunately I have no requirements for high lofted, long lasting wheelies on giant heavy bikes. Just brief and relatively shallow are fine with me.

DM is never an obstacle to getting a bike. She always been one to push me to do it.

As far as being satisfied...for now, I understand you completely. Your next bike is never your last bike, it's your next bike. They all come and go eventually. Although it still seems a nearly impossible thought of my 1290 going. My God, that's an awesome bike.

Dirt_Dad said:

Question for Donk..

First, here is what generated the question..

Coffee talk this morning with DM
DM: blah blah 690 blah why am I blah
DD: blah 690 knobbies blah
DM: you should go to Larry's and buy a bike
DD: you are pure evil

Text with Larry (GM at KTM dealership)
DD: Morning buddy, do you have any dirt versions of the 890 in stock?
Larry: You mean the 890R? I sold my last 2 on Saturday. Don't have any '23s in yet.
DD: Thanks, you just saved me from an impulse buy.

So Donk, how's the power on the 890R. Will it wheelie at will with just a flick of the wrist in the first 3 gears?

I love my 690 in the dirt, but it gets pretty tedious on the pavement getting to those distant dirt areas. The 690 has a lot of dirt capability that, in my mid-50s, I'm just not interested in utilizing. I don't mind scraficing some dirt capability I'm not using and replacing it with added road comfort which I would use.

I'm not a rock crawler, it's just not what I enjoy. I'd much rather be doing 45 to 55MPH on some rolling dirt trails with lots of power sliding and wheelies at every hump.

So Donk...is the 890R a good fit for me?

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For starters I have the 890 Adventure not the R. The R has a much better suspension although I have no complaints about the suspension on the base bike. Other than that the bikes are the same. I also have the Rally mode installed which may or may not unlock some power but does give you the ability tp dial your TC as you ride. With the TC set down from stock settings I can break the rear loose at will. As far as wheelies go I don't do them on purpose. Old drag race habit, they're slow. Bike has plenty of power and goes great. You really need to sit on the bike and see if it puts a smile on your face. You won't be disappointed with the power. There are some European videos floating around of an 890 outrunning a 1290 for the first half of a drag race. Having owned both at the same time I would say it's definitely possible and probable.

Thanks, and hope you enjoyed your 5 day ride.

Your statement about power is very important. You actually know what I've got, so to say I won't be disappointed is a nice confirmation of what the 890 can do.

I believe the R reduces the overlap with the SAS. Obviously there is some, but as a 690 replacement the R is most appealing to me.

I've already ask Larry if KTM has given him a delivery date for my 890 R. Not yet.

I do realize this will be the death of my conventional riding skills. The 690 has no rider aids and keeps me honest. Having all my bikes with speed shifting, slipper clutch, and everything else means I'll have no hope of remembering the skill necessary for riding old fashioned motorcycles (S10).

One difference is the 890 is great 4000-6000rpm same as the 1290, but once you get over 6000rpm the 890 feels like pure sport bike. Fun factor is higher on the 890.

That's a very tall order to be more fun than the 1290. I'm willing to give it a shot.

My 690 temporarily died just .3 miles from a KTM dealership in PA this morning. The thought definitely flashed through my head if that dealership had the 890R in stock I'd trade them the 690 on the spot and ride the new one home.

Dirt_Dad said:

That's a very tall order to be more fun than the 1290. I'm willing to give it a shot.

My 690 temporarily died just .3 miles from a KTM dealership in PA this morning. The thought definitely flashed through my head if that dealership had the 890R in stock I'd trade them the 690 on the spot and ride the new one home.

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Closed on Sunday?

And Monday. As I was running through scenarios in my head I thought I might have to get a hotel and stay until they opened.

Dirt_Dad said:

And Monday. As I was running through scenarios in my head I thought I might have to get a hotel and stay until they opened.

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Yes…I was also reviewing possible scenarios…in my head

Today was a gorgeous fall day in Pennsylvania. It was the perfect place to push the bike over the 25K mile mark.

It's all been said before. Nothing new. Still the most entertaining bike I've ever owned. I still feel amazingly rewarded every time I twist the throttle and push the RPMs into the fun zone. OMG, is it really doing this?...yes, yes it is.

25K miles and 26+ months of ownership and the excitement is still off the charts.

I decided to cut a few clips from the video shot during the ride yesterday. Really spectacular colors. All scenes are from the Pennsylvania section of the Romney Camp N Ride - Route sheet for "Breezewood." One of my all time favorite local rides, and perfect for celebrating the bike passing through 25K miles.

Turn your settings up to 4K:

Beautiful scenery. Leaves are really changing up there. They are begining to pop around here too though it's been really dry latlely. Almost 3k miles on my 1290 now and going to spring for the heated grips to be installed tomorrow. Really enjoy riding this bike.


Steve

During the cooler weather I set the heated grips as one of my two shortcuts. Nicely integrated on this bike.

Dirt_Dad said:

I decided to cut a few clips from the video shot during the ride yesterday. Really spectacular colors. All scenes are from the Pennsylvania section of the Romney Camp N Ride - Route sheet for "Breezewood." One of my all time favorite local rides, and perfect for celebrating the bike passing through 25K miles.

Turn your settings up to 4K:

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Finally somebody who doesn't put music over their video so you can hear the bike !

fac191 said:

Finally somebody who doesn't put music over their video so you can hear the bike !

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Music is often the only available sound. Most camera microphones produce only wind noise.

This GoPro 10 was located in front of the hand guard and it still did an excellent job of capturing usable bike sounds.

Dirt_Dad said:

This is going back a bit, but my current TrailSmart has only 4,300 miles and is dead now. Just made me think back to this post by Madhatter. I've learned some things about rear tires and this bike. The history:

OEM Scorpion: 5,791 - learning the bike, general riding. Rear was not totally dead, but replaced as a set.
TrailSmart(#1): 2,999 - replaced prematurely in prep for a trip
TrailSmart(#2): 6,782 - 4K miles trip out west to Tenere event last summer, plus general riding. Completely dead (and punctured) when removed.
TrailSmart(#3): 4,300 - dead - almost no off pavement, no power sliding - just the usual heavy right wrist activity this bike inspires.

TrailSmarts are no longer $100 per set, and my initial stock-up supply has been exhausted. I'll be trying a Continental Trail Attack 3 next. If that doesn't work I'll likely go back to the Scorpion.

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Continental Trail Attack 3 (rear): 5,533 mile just starting to touch the wear bar in the center. I see I did get slightly more mileage from the OEM Scorpion but not sure I'll go back. I was still learning the bike back then and I suspect I may be more heavy handed today. I did like this Trail Attack 3 and even at the wear bars it appears to have more tread then most tires at the wear bars. I had hoped the Trail Attack would make it to my 27K mile service, but I don't see it going another 1,500 miles. Just another chance for Larry (GM - KTM dealer) to say, "my god! you are hard on tires." It's not me, it's the bike....really...why are you looking at me like that...it's not me.

I know I should consider getting an Anakee 3 in the back to match the front, but with little more than 2K on the front Anakee 3, I'm suspicious it's going to be hard pressed to make it to 5K miles. I still don't fully understand why front tires go so fast on this bike. I don't feel like I use my brakes any more than I did on the Tenere, I fully endorse spirited engine braking. I try to give the front tire a rest reasonably often. The bike weighs less than a Tenere. Not sure there's a good explanation on why they go so fast.

Dirt_Dad said:

I still don't fully understand why front tires go so fast on this bike. I don't feel like I use my brakes any more than I did on the Tenere, I fully endorse spirited engine braking. I try to give the front tire a rest reasonably often. The bike weighs less than a Tenere. Not sure there's a good explanation on why they go so fast.

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Maybe it's all those wheelies? Ever see what happens to the tires when an aircraft touches down?

Maybe...if they wore out on the center. But mine wear out on the left side. Again, I don't think I turn left more with the SAS than I did with the S10.

I've talked so much about the SAS that I just don't have much new to offer. At this point I'll step aside and let it speak for itself.

There's nothing special about this video other than a SAS rolling on a truly spectacular road on maybe the most beautiful ride day of the year. It's the same thing just going on and on. Probably boring to everyone but me. But for me, it perfectly encapsulates why I love the SAS.

If you join us at the Romney Camp N Ride next year I'll tell you how to get to this particular road.

Dirt_Dad said:

Todavía no entiendo completamente por qué los neumáticos delanteros van tan rápido en esta bicicleta. No siento que use mis frenos más de lo que lo hice en el Tenere, apoyo plenamente el frenado del motor. Trato de descansar el neumático delantero con bastante frecuencia. La bicicleta pesa menos que un Tenere. No estoy seguro de que haya una buena explicación de por qué van tan rápido.

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take a look at the vibration of the front fork. If you have somewhere to see the front wheel axle…and compare it to some fixed point on the chassis, you will be able to see if it vibrates. If it vibrates, that is probably the cause of the most wear (compared to the use you gave the S10). On the S10, I see vibes. Another cause of front wheel wear could be the resistance to acceleration of the rear wheel, until they are equal in rotation, the front wheel must want to drag (perhaps hundredths/thousandths)...but enough to cause friction and wear