Late last year after a motorcycle tour to Vietnam I decided to take get into more adventure style motorbike riding. For some years I had a road bike and a dirt bike and with work and other commitments didn’t really get the time to ride either as much as I would have liked. I decided that I would look for a bike that would would allow me to do both and without compromise. After doing much research on the internet and riding several bikes I settled on the 2014 KTM Adventure 1190 EDS. All I can say is what a bike, no wonder it has been described as the best all around motorcycle in the world.

This video gives you some idea of the technology that the bike has.

On road the bike is amazing and to give you an idea of the performance the bike does 0 – 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds andthe quarter mile in 10.6 seconds. This video will give you some idea of the performance on road.

I was somewhat sceptical of the off road abilities and have only done some fire trails at this stage and even on the Trail Attack II tyres which are more road orientated the bike handled above my expectations. To give you an idea of the off-road capabilities while this is the R version it gives you some idea. I will be fitting Continental TKC 70 tyres shortly.

Taking Delivery

KTM were running a special when I purchased the bike and I received a touring screen, heated grips, touring panniers and crash bars at no extra cost.

Before the bike even left the dealer it had its first modification in the form of a Uni-Filter Performance filter kit to give me the necessary protection in the dirt.

The build begins…..

Protection

R&G Racing Bar End Sliders for the road

R&G Racing Fork Protectors

R&G Racing Frame Plugs – I still need to put the cover on

Touratech Brake Fluid Reservoir cover

Stoneguard Paint Protection

Radiator Guard by Rad Guard

B&B Off Road Bash Plate – painted black

Navigation

Quick-Lock GPS Mount by SW-Motech

Waterproof and shockproof iPhone 6 case by SW-Motech

Strike Genius BT GPS with Hema Maps

R&G Racing Easy Grip Tank Traction Pads

Barkbusters VPS Handguards

AGV AX8 Dual Evo Helmet

Performance

Wings Short Titanium Exhaust with carbon fiber heat shield – in addition to adding a great note one of the main reasons for the exhaust was a 4 kg weight saving.

Comfort

Wings Carbon Fiber heat shields – one of the know issues with the KTM Adventure 1190 is the heat that flows up onto your legs and these were the fix.

Off Road 

Touratech Mudguard riser raises the height of the front guard for better clearance in mud.

Side Stand Base by SW-Motech

Continental TKC 70 Tyres

Touring

SMH-10R Low Profile Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset & Intercom

KTM Tinted Tall Screen

Rear Rack from SW-Motech

Rotopax Fuel and Water Cells