The next chapter...KTM Super Adventure S

Dirt_Dad

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I started a new chapter yesterday.



Put a little more than 250 miles on it yesterday. One more shorter day of riding today before I'm ready to give initial impressions. Those thoughts are still forming.

A few brief observations. Easy to see how this bike could cause a degradation of riding skills. With a quick shifter, in the first 250 miles, if I wasn't starting or stopping, I doubt I touched the clutch lever more than 10 times. There really isn't any reason to do it other than muscle memory. Quick shifting is faster and smoother than I could ever be. Just hold the throttle open to whatever point and keep shifting. My wife's GS has a quick shifter and we've used it as a novelty. Four or five times in a ride my wife would report over the bluethooth she just shifted without her clutch. I'm mumble something and that would be it. I'm glad I have the 690 Enduro to keep me honest, 'cuz I'm done using a clutch for up and down shifting on this one.

There is an incredibly strong sense of déjà vu with this bike. Back in 2003 I bought an ATV that Kawasaki has been advertising heavily. The ad was a well done TV spot showing this was the fastest ATV out there. When I took it to the track for the first time I had people coming up to me constantly asking if it was really all that fast. That day I had to respond, "I have no idea, I'm just breaking it in." I always follow the required break-in. I know there's lots of opinions about break-in, but I always have and always will do it by the book. So if you ask me if this bike is as fast as claimed...I have no idea. Haven't had it above 6,500 RPM. I feel like I'm short shifting everywhere. Been mostly riding it in the 5500-5900 range, so when I hit the throttle, there's not much room left. After 600 miles I'll finally get to take it up to the full 10500 red line and see what it will do. I'm chomping at the bit to get there.

More when I finish forming my initial impression after today's ride.




Need to rearrange the garage.




JUST KIDDING.... No Romney did not start selling KTMs. I only stopped out to say hello and catch up with the owner and some of his crew.

Purchased the bike at Motomember in Purcellville, VA. The have 4 more of these things at an amazing discounted price of $13,882. Get 'em while they are hot... and trust me, this bike is very hot. Sweated my legs away yesterday as the bike cooked me. Going to need to figure out that one.


Oh by the way... yes, the ATV was that fast. I'm hoping this bike will live up to that former experience.
 

yoyo

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Congratulations on the new bike, a mate has a 1290R and I couldn't believe how light it is compared to the S10, it felt like I was pushing a 600 around.

I'm also with you on the break in, always by the book, I'm convinced a dealer will be able to read the ECU and find out if the bike has been over revved and find an excuse not to honor the warranty!

Stupid question, how much room is under the seat/pillion seat? I'm an advanced tutor and need to hide a PMR radio on the bike somewhere, I've got room on the S10 for the radio and an SR10 Bluetooth adaptor but I know there is no room on a BMW GSA for anything.

Looking forward to your initial thoughts, KTM UK also have really good deals on at the moment.

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

Checkswrecks

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Looks AWESOME Jon!!!

Jealous of everything except the chain. With your experience on the Beemerer, are you going with a Scottoiler or other on this one?
 
B

ballisticexchris

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Right on my man!! So heat management. Airbox, mapping and exhaust.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Stupid question, how much room is under the seat/pillion seat? I'm an advanced tutor and need to hide a PMR radio on the bike somewhere, I've got room on the S10 for the radio and an SR10 Bluetooth adaptor but I know there is no room on a BMW GSA for anything.
Not a lot of space.


Looks AWESOME Jon!!!

Jealous of everything except the chain. With your experience on the Beemerer, are you going with a Scottoiler or other on this one?
Thanks, Bob. You and I need to get together sooner than our normal every 9 months. I think you'll like it. Chain oiler is still an open question. I know for a fact DM wants that Scott off her bike. It will land on either my 690, or this one. Not sure which, but I'm planning to do everything possible to make this chain thing as ignorable as humanly possible, while still doing what is necessary.


Right on my man!! So heat management. Airbox, mapping and exhaust.
Heat was much less of an issue today, so holding off until action needs to be taken.


Almost time to unleash it...

Is 535 miles in 29 hours on a stock KTM seat with only a beaded seat cover and a pair of Moto Skiveez my greatest 2-wheel accomplishment?...maybe.


Thanks for all the kind words guys. This is a huge change for me.



It's been an interesting two days of riding. The transition from being a Tenere rider to a KTM Super Adventure S (SAS) rider is full of attitude adjustments, expectation changes, occasional technology bafflement, highs and lows, and lots of throttle. It is not love at first rev, it's a process. Now that I'm 500 miles into that process I can say this is an incredible bike. The more miles I ride, the harder it gets to turn around and head towards home. I just don't want to let the ride end.



I have not yet been able to unleash it beyond the break-in engine speed of 6,500 RPM. Even with that I have found a wonderfully powerful steed that makes passing on back roads absurdly easy. Like the Tenere, the bike is most enjoyable in Sport mode. Even with 160 HP available at your wrist, the bike is never a problem to control. It only comes on as hard as you chose to push it. I don't find it twitchy, just super responsive. The more you twist, the longer your arms stretch...it's a pleasing response.



The suspension options are plentiful and work well. It's actually amazing to realize the suspension is making changes as you ride. Go into that hard corner with an elevation change with the apex being the lowest point, you expect a good amount of compression in that point. The SAS is making adjustments and that compression is noticeably less at that low spot. The technology crammed into this bike is slightly mind blowing. The speed shifter has completely altered the way I ride. The slipper clutch and electronic assistance on that are like cheating. I saw a professional reviewer say he was displeased with the electronic aids because it will let less experienced riders ride at a much higher level than their skills would allow. I understand what he meant. We all spent years gaining our skills, giving someone a shortcut just feels wrong.

Even with that shortcut, this bike does not feel like the riding on rails experience of the FJR. I suspect it's the 19" front tire that still gives a needy pilot like me the feeling that I'm necessary to achieve a true high level run. One thing I'm happiest about is the ability for the SAS to deliver excitement and adrenaline at much lower speeds than the FJR. In most cases I'm barely riding through the twisties at any more than 10-20% faster than the Tenere. Often it's still at Tenere speeds, but more satisfying due to the lighter weight and more responsive throttle. It's a hoot! Overall the dramatic power boost does not result in stupid fast speeds...except maybe during those passes.



I made the decision to ride this bike strictly as it rolled off the showroom floor. Okay, today I added a beaded seat cover to see if that would help with the heat. I wanted to get a feel for the unaltered bike before I start mucking it up with adding weight here and there. What I found was a terrific riding bike. Even the stock windscreen that I first scorned on my test ride, reduced my bug to the face hits by 90% over my Tenere setup...quite shocking. I made myself truly try the stock bar position to see if I could adjust to it...and I did. Not buying bar risers...another shock for me. After feeling like I was melting from the waste down in the 97 degree high humidity ride yesterday I thought I would have to do something. Today's 87 to 95 degree lower humidity day left me thinking the heat really isn't that bad. Holding off on taking any action there.

This morning I found a mountain top playground with empty parking lot. Time to turn off traction control and see how it wheelies. In 1st it comes up immediately, no hesitation. Went back and forth for 5 or 10 minutes seeing what I could do. Mostly I learned I'm horribly out of practice at riding wheelies. Wasn't pretty. I'm still hoping that after I can unleash the bike from the break-in jail it will give me some nice roll on wheelies at speed. We'll see.

Bottom line, this is fun bike that feels like it will easily be capable of meeting the intended missions I have planned for it.

 

escapefjrtist

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Congrats D_D...sounds like you're getting to know the new scoot well!

For grins I've ridden a friend's 1190R a couple times. I liked it. I don't ride it anymore!!

~G
 

Nikolajsen

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But the front light arrangement is so ugly :eek: ;) (in my opinion :) )
So glad you seems to have chosen correct :cool:
 
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