19” front wheel and a 170/60 rear tyre, got to be crap handling according to ...... well just about everyone who rubbished the Multistrada Andy
Judging by the high speed weave that many 1290 owners have reported maybe some of us have a point .... Thankfully I've never had a problem with high speed stability on any of my 3 Multi's .. luggage or no luggage.
My 2013 multi had an unresolved weave at speed. Not sorted by suspension set up or various tyres over a 15k ownership. It happened with or without luggage/passenger and even drew comment on a track day.. The GS does weave as well, but not till over 120mph with panniers fitted. As tested somewhere in Germany. Despite the 19” front on the GS, the thing does actually handle rather well and is extremely stable even when riding it hard. Got to wonder though how much better it could be with dedicated 17” wheels and standardish size tyres. If what people mean by high speed stability though, is clearing triple figures and expecting the same as sports bike it is a big ask with big fairings, wide handlebars and the rider perched on top like a sail. Just watch the jump in sales figures and enquiries for the multi if they bring a 17” wheel version out. Remember that KTM has the 1290 GT too. Ducati have a glaring gap to fill.
It is spectacularly unattractive ain’t it? Mutley’s got better looking with age & upgrades but this is a whole new level of ugly!
J Biker - if only the 1290GT wasn't so grotesquely ugly ! Interesting that you had a weave on your '13 bike, I'm obviously not trying hard enough ! A sit-up bike with wide bars and a 'beak' is always going to have a limitation at high'ish speeds but the KTM's have had a rep for instability at since the 1190 days. https://advrider.com/f/threads/1190-1290-adv-high-speed-weaving.1120803/ I've had a go on all the 1190/1290 Adv's and my favourite was the R with a 21" front wheel so I'd better fetch my coat
Despite “wanting” a 17” wheel, I must admit it takes some doing to make the (current) tyres unstick on the GS. It is not like it was a few years back fortunately.
£5k cheaper than a similar spec mutley is a huge difference. I wonder if it will be as thirsty as the V4. I actually prefer the looks of the KTM to the duke, at least it looks like a KTM and doesn’t look Japanese, it may not be pretty but at least it knows it’s identity. And it’s a V twin. I test rode a superduke gt but didn’t find the comfort levels to be anywhere near my current mutley, the super adventure might though.
Interesting....MCN's take: https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2021-ktm-1290-super-adventure/
Two points. Firstly I test rode a MTS950 and despite the comments regarding wheel sizes, I found it to handle easier than my MTS1200, the road holding and feedback was excellent on a mixture of wet and dry roads, in fact it was bloody brilliant in the wet. I would be more than happy with any bike that handled as well. Second. A few comments here re weaving. In 8 years I have never had this issue with my bike, I ride a lot with/without luggage/pillion at all speeds up to max.
Here you go, https://www.ktm.com/content/dam/web...folder/KTM Folder ADVENTURE Range MY20_EN.pdf. 19”(F)/17”(R) on the S and 21”(F)/18”(R) on the R, no mention of a 17” front wheel option. Andy
