To me, pragmatism is the main driver behind the popular trend towards smaller adventure motorcycles. Compared to large adventure bikes they are cheaper, often more capable, just as versatile, just as fun and easier to ride. Also, they’ re smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient and generally less taxing on a long ride. All good things because most adventure guys have plenty of grey hair and slowly diminishing skills – I know! Potentially, those flashing red and blue lights are less likely to appear in your mirrors too … So, yes, largely they are the sensible choice.
SENSIBLE? But … being sensible is not why we ride motorcycles, and passion often manages to triumph over pragmatism where motorcycles are concerned. So, obviously, I went out and bought a KTM 1290 Super Adventure R. Nothing about my bike of choice is particularly sensible. It’ s not small. It’ s not very fuel efficient. It probably has too much power most of the time. it’ s not that cheap. And it’ s not for the faint-hearted on many levels, but … bloody hell it is bloody awesome! The 1290 R is a bike that truly rams
home the excitement of why many of us ride – that blend of speed and risk and joy of mind that comes with the adrenaline of big power and big acceleration- the essence of the freedom that is motorcycling. It is a fabulous thing on the 1290R- hard out shifting through the gears up a gravel road knowing somewhere, a greenie is reaching peak offence overload and crying into a pink soy latte. The amount of rubber dissolving,
56 KIWI RIDER