Table of contents
- Pendulum test of KTM Adventure models Swinging instead of rigid suitcases
- What was the problem?
- How dangerous is commuting?
- What are the causes of commuting??
- Can the owner do something about it?
- Differences between 1190 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure?
- Why did KTM not react at first?
- Why was there a reaction now??
- What has now changed?
- Can this suspension be retrofitted?
- When will the new pannier racks go into series production??
- That is the end of the subject?
- What mistakes did KTM make?
- Data recording
jkuenstle.de
45 pictures
KTM
1/45
January 2013: It is already clear at the presentation – the new KTM is a great success.
markus-jahn.com
2/45
July 2013: The endurance test begins. The Adventure is great to travel with.
3/45
KTM 1190 Adventure.
Froberg
4/45
Cold starts were not part of the main discipline of the KTM 1190 Adventure. In light frost, fleet manager Froberg even had to tap the battery of his private Harley Road King to start the Adventure. After replacing the battery and the temperature sensor, the situation improved.
Bilski
5/45
… The broken motor mount has no load-bearing function. This is not done in the current models …
Froberg
6/45
… Be careful when fitting tires. The rim sealing tape was damaged by tire levers.
7/45
Balance after 50,000 kilometers: wear and tear.
Artist
8/45
Hertler
9/45
Review: The KTM delegation Gorbach, Zaha and Matschl (1st, 2nd and 5th from the left) examine the mechanics of the Adventure.
10/45
KTM 1190 Adventure.
11/45
KTM 1190 Adventure.
Bilski
12/45
Search for traces: Despite clearly recognizable tracks, the crankshaft bearings are still dimensionally accurate after the test distance …
Bilski
13/45
… The condition of the rest of the bearings is very good, as is the entire mechanics of the engine.
Bilski
14/45
Bilski
15/45
Endurance test final balance of the KTM 1190 Adventure.
Artist
16/45
June 2014: Storm to the summit. The Austrian wins the MOTORRAD Alpine Masters.
Bilski
17/45
Tip top: KTM transmissions shift effortlessly and precisely. The 1190 Adventure is no exception. The grinding marks on the shift forks (right) are marginal. The parts can easily
re-installed, as well as the gear wheels and gear shafts. Even harmless material breakouts (pitting) in many endurance test transmissions are prevented by the KTM.
Bilski
18/45
Has it been used? The smooth clutch (with servo function) looks like on the first day. The usual chatter marks after this mileage are only present in the beginning.
Bilski
19/45
Search for clues: There are only minor deposits in the cylinder head and the valves. The bare spot on the left inlet valve is caused by a light reflex in the photograph and cannot be seen in real life.
Bilski
20/45
Exchange deal: Most engine innards show only minor wear, a valve spring falls below the wear limit.
21/45
KTM 1190 Adventure.
Artist
22/45
Whining at a high level? With luggage, the KTM tends to commute from 200 km / h.
Froberg
23/45
Cracked manifold: almost at the same time as the clutch sensor, the manifold of the rear cylinder also gave up its ghost. The part initially attracted attention by slapping in push mode. Since the crack only slowly lengthened during the autumn trip in 2013, the repair could be done in the home workshop instead of in Italy.
Mayer
24/45
Defective clutch sensor: After the KTM 1190 Adventure could no longer be started with the gear engaged and the clutch pulled on the autumn trip in 2013, it didn’t even need a workshop to look for errors. The malade clutch sensor in the hand lever was diagnosed by the software and shown on the display. However, the defect was still repaired by humans.
mps photo studio
25/45
Heat protection film: While there were no complaints from the MOTORRAD test crew, the waste heat from the engine obviously heated up too much for some adventure owners. All machines – including the long-term test KTM – were protected against the hot air dryer generated by the V2 with a heat protection film stuck to the bottom of the bench seat.
Monnich
26/45
Steering damper screw: Recalls such as a vent hole in the tank that had not been drilled through or a possibly loose steering damper screw accompanied the KTM 1190 Adventure for the first few weeks after delivery. The endurance test machine remained undisturbed by anything. The screw was still fixed with locking agent.
Jahn
27/45
Avant-garde. One of the first bikes with “cornering ABS”: the endurance test adventure.
wagner
28/45
Sensitive: The Adventure requires meticulously adjusted steering head bearings.
Humke
29/45
Contrast program: whether for a cozy break by the river …
Artist
30/45
… or as a bellwether on the alpine tour – universal genius travel enduro. Also the KTM.
Mayer
31/45
Heroes of the street: the KTM in front of the cycling monument of the Ghisallo Pass on Lake Como.
mps photo studio
32/45
Akrapovic: The retrofit dampers from the Slovenian high-end manufacturer Akrapovic are only available through the KTM dealer network. Traditionally, the system with its titanium cover, heat shield and end cap made of carbon is convincing thanks to its excellent workmanship and very good fit. But also at a high price. Reference: www.ktm.com
Weight: minus 35%; Performance: plus 0.7%; Price: 909 euros; Sound: bassy.
mps photo studio
33/45
BOS Desert Fox: The Dutch Bos Desert Fox stands out with an excellent finish. The stainless steel silencer was easy to install. Compared to the standard pot, the Bos saves exactly two kilograms in weight. The sound was a bit more aggressive compared to the original exhaust, but not louder. Manufacturer: www.bosauspuff.de
Weight: minus 31%; Performance: plus 0.7%; Price: 799 euros; Sound: aggressive
mps photo studio
34/45
Remus HexaCone: At just three kilograms, the Remus titanium damper undercuts the weight of the 6.5
The original part weighs more than half a kilo. Despite the smaller dimensions, the Austrian exhaust generates a sonorous sound. The side heat protection and the end piece made of carbon round off the good impression. Reference: www.kohl.de
Weight: minus 54%; Performance: plus 1.3%; Price: 809 euros; Sound: sonorous
mps photo studio
35/45
KTM heated grips: The heated grips from the KTM Powerparts range are very easy to dose with a total of three levels. Also excellent: In contrast to some other providers, the only slightly thicker ones wear
Hardly any original parts, but retain the sporty feel of the KTM 1190 Adventure. Since the operation is controlled centrally via the menu, the heated grips must be installed and activated by the dealer. Manufacturer: www.ktm.com; Price: 201 euros.
mps photo studio
36/45
Givi Tanklock XS 308: Tank bags that are attached to the tank filler neck with a quick release are becoming more and more fashionable. For good reason. There is no need for fiddly belts and the surface of the tank is protected. The 20 liter XS 308 from Givi is sensibly divided and can be removed in seconds for refueling. A rain cover is included with the practical bag. Price: 129 euros (bag), 12 euros (fastening ring on the tank).
wagner
37/45
Defective horn cable: Admittedly, the broken horn cable caused little excitement.
Hertler
38/45
Replacing the side stand: the contact area was too small, the kinematics when folding in was somewhat unfavorable – and on top of that, the springs broke on some copies.
Hertler
39/45
KTM tackled the problems with the side stand with a recall campaign. The stands that had already been changed on the 2014 model were retrofitted to the 2013 bikes free of charge.
mps photo studio
40/45
High windshield KTM: The 60 millimeter higher retrofit shield from KTM offers better wind protection than the relatively low standard windshield. The turbulence behind the quickly assembled higher part also remains moderate. However: The sporty look of the KTM 1190 Adventure suffers a little from the towering front shield. Price: 121 euros.
mps photo studio
41/45
X-Creen Touring attachment from MRA: The X-Creen offers very good, individually adjustable wind protection. At least in principle. At high speeds, however, the attachment bends the KTM disc due to the long lever arm. If you don’t want to drill into the pane, you can also use clips (20 euros) to fix the X-Creen without leaving any residue. Price: 90 euros.
mps photo studio
42/45
KTM Ergo bench: In order to keep the seat height low, the upholstery of the series bench is relatively thin. The Ergo bench turned out to be considerably fluffier than the standard part. The thicker and tighter upholstery increases the seat height by one centimeter, but offers more seating comfort. For pleasure bikers: the seats are heated. Price: 242 euros (driver / pillion passenger).
mps photo studio
43/45
Touratech bench: A hot tip is the Touratech comfort bench. The seating area initially surprises with firm upholstery, but obviously distributes the pressure of the body weight optimally. Even after hours in the saddle, the driver and passenger still feel wonderfully comfortable. Price: 329 euros (driver), 299 euros (pillion passenger).
mps photo studio
44/45
Wings Seat Cooler: While KTM protects the rider with an aluminum mat (see “Defects in the test”) against waste heat from the engine, the Wings air scoops dissipate the heat to the rear. In addition, the parts made in Slovenia close the visual gap between the tank and the rear fairing. Manufacturer: www.wings.si; Price: 198 euros.
mps photo studio
45/45
Accessories put to the test: Touratech cases.
motorcycles
Pendulum test of KTM Adventure models
Pendulum test of KTM Adventure models
Swinging instead of rigid suitcases
KTM has now responded to criticism of the high-speed stability of the Adventure models. Swinging instead of rigidly suspended cases should bring more calm to the chassis.
Gert Thole
02/18/2016
On the strictly shielded test site of Idiada near Barcelona – there is a strict photo ban there, by the way – KTM offered selected journalists from Germany the opportunity to explore the subject of commuting under laboratory conditions on an eight-kilometer oval. The models KTM 1190 Adventure were available, KTM 1190 Adventure R and KTM 1290 Super Adventure, each with or without a case including the new suspension. Here are the most important questions and answers.
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What was the problem?
The KTM models 1190 Adventure and KTM 1290 Super Adventure, especially when loaded with luggage, tend to commute, which, depending on the condition of the tires and the machine, can start at speeds of 160 km / h when loaded. Even without luggage, this oscillation occurs on some machines from around 200 km / h. On the KTM 1190 Adventure R with a 21-inch front wheel, the tendency to swing is generally more pronounced and also latent on its own.
How dangerous is commuting?
KTM
Straight ahead with luggage: No problem with the new body carriers, which have a rubber mount at the front and a transverse guide at the rear.
In extreme cases, there is a risk of falling. There was already an accident on the autobahn near Kassel with a fully packed one KTM 1190 Adventure R. As a rule, the machine does not rock suddenly, but comes into the oscillation range with increasing amplitude. However, unfavorable factors such as truck drag vortices can also lead to sudden unrest.
What are the causes of commuting??
It is a complex interplay of various components in which the rigidity and mass distribution of the chassis and components, the aerodynamics and, above all, the tires play a role.
Can the owner do something about it?
The owner cannot eliminate the real causes, but the phenomena can be alleviated. It is important that the tires are in good condition. Initially, only the standard Conti RoadAttack 2 tires were available. MOTORRAD recently tried Dunlop Roadsmart, which brought significant improvements in straight-line stability, but disadvantages in steering behavior when cornering. Also important are steering head and swing arm bearings that are set free of play, as well as concentricity and balancing of the spoke wheels.
Differences between 1190 Adventure and 1290 Super Adventure?
In principle, there are no differences between the KTM 1190 Adventure and KTM 1290 Super Adventure, as the basis, i.e. the chassis and suspension elements, are basically the same. According to MOTORRAD experience, the newer 1290s even tend to be a little more vulnerable, here the higher performance, the greater weight and the different aerodynamics play a role.
Why did KTM not react at first?
In the course of 2014, after repeated criticism in tests and at the Alpen-Masters, MOTORRAD contacted the German importer and the factory in Austria. Finally a meeting on the A 81 was arranged. The points of criticism were confirmed. The KTM representatives were of the opinion, however, that these are not safety-related weaknesses in the chassis. Especially since KTM recommends a maximum speed of 150 km / h with suitcases.
Why was there a reaction now??
The decisive factor was increasingly critical reports in the specialist press, but above all the accident that brought KTM to a tight spot.
What has now changed?
KTM
Suitcase and motorcycle remain unchanged, so the racks are easy to retrofit.
Initially, nothing at all about the vehicle. KTM has already issued a checklist to all dealers, which should be worked through in the event of problems with customer machines. However, the way the suitcases are attached will be changed in the future. The holders are no longer rigid, but are suspended in rubber at the front and slidable at the back. Both cases are connected with a rod, so they can swing a little. Triumph has been using a similar solution for many years.
Can this suspension be retrofitted?
The good news: Yes, all 1190 and 1290 models can be converted with reasonable effort, as no changes have been made to the suitcases or the vehicle – apart from two trim parts with a recess for the connecting lever. The price for a conversion kit has not yet been calculated. MOTORRAD estimates it at around 200 euros. A free upgrade is not yet planned.
When will the new pannier racks go into series production??
KTM
Suitcase and motorcycle remain unchanged, so the racks are easy to retrofit.
Unfortunately only from model year 2017, i.e. at the end of this year. The 2016 models with the previous rigid pannier racks have already been produced. The conversion kit will be available earlier, namely from KTM dealers from May.
That is the end of the subject?
In fact, dangerous commuting with the articulated suitcases is practically no longer an issue, even if they are each loaded with ten kilograms, as in the test. At least that is true as long as unfavorable factors do not come into play. A slight, uncritical pendulum tendency at top speed remains. Whether you have to speed down the motorway at 240 km / h when fully loaded is another question. However, the KTM recommendation of 150 km / h with suitcases remains for all adventure variants.
What mistakes did KTM make?
From the point of view of the MOTORRAD testers, the problem has certainly been ignored for too long. So it was too late to intervene in the KTM 1290 Super Adventure. In addition, it was awkward to deal with criticism from the specialist press. And the question arises as to why this was not noticed in the test phase or whether such a security-relevant topic had the necessary importance in the development.
Data recording
Pendulum diagrams of the KTM 1190 Adventure without and with rigidly and flexibly suspended suitcases.
All test machines were equipped with data loggers, which used the standard Bosch gyro sensors and recorded yaw vibrations around the vertical axis.
At top speed (around 250 km / h), a KTM 1190 Adventure without luggage shows slight vibrations in the range of three Hertz (red line), which the driver only feels minimally. This is the natural frequency that every motorcycle has in principle, but which is often not noticeable at all. With rigidly mounted suitcases and ten kilograms of content each, the vibrations of the 1190 Adventure increase sharply from around 200 km / h. The driver therefore turns back the throttle (green line), the speed (blue line) no longer increases. However, the vibrations remain in the critical range, and if they are not dampened, they do not subside by themselves. The situation looks much better with suitcases hung up flexibly. Even at top speed, the KTM 1190 Adventure runs fairly stable in a straight line.
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