KTM 1190 Adventure R 2014
 

lm thinking of trading in my 2013 800 gs for a KTM 1190 Adventure R 2014 wondering if l should wait for the 2015 model to come out l have heard of some electronics upgrades, anyone heard anything about the next model.

Hi Philip,

Welcome to the HUBB,

some gossip as to what KTM might do:

2015 ktm 1280 or 1390 ? - ADVrider

but its all speculation and no one has any hard facts until the 2015's come out this Summer, will they bring out a new competitor in the 800 class? Id like to see one for sure.

I took an 1190 Adventure out for a road demo ride last weekend, it was a good bike for sure, gearbox felt notchy though - not as slick as a Tiger 800XC, but the hydraulic clutch was light and smooth. The gear shifter was set too low for me, so this didn't help either. Power wise I wouldn't need anything more ( unless on a race track) and it handled beautifully on asphalt, it felt fine height wise with my 32in inseam and at low speed manoeuvring it carried its weight well. I sat on the 1190 R and could barely get my pointed toes down on each side though. Its a shame that KTM make what is now the 990 replacement with a 21 in front wheel so tall.

If you are serious about buying an 1190 R, then definitely wait a month or 2 for the new 2015's, even if there are no major changes, generally there will be a few software tweaks and minor details changed that you probably wont be able to see.

KTM offered me a spin on the 1190. I took it back and said no thanks will keep my 990 Dakar, which is the special edition R version.

The new 1190 is actually lower than the old 990. It has better brakes and better road manners and feels closer to a BMW 1200 than to the 990. I would trade my 1200 for it, but not my 990.

I wont do it for a while basically because of all the bugs in the 1190. Every new model has bugs. These are generally sorted in the first few years. Let someone else suffer the bugs. I will wait at least another year or 2.

Some how the 1190 doesn't have that traditional KTM look feel or sound. It just didn't grab me like a 990 does. The 800 GS I never liked. Front end too soft, wind blast, those fluid reservoirs looking like they are stuck on etc. And not much cheaper than a 990. For sure I would prefer an 1190. Different upgrade than from a 990.

But if I were you I would wait a year.