RUST magazine: RUST#42
IT'S A WHOPPER! 174 pages, so take your time. ON TEST: KTM 790 Adventure R, Triumph Scrambler 1200XE, Fantic Caballero Scrambler 500, Yamaha WR450F plus long term reports on Suzuki V-Strom 650XT, Honda CRF250RX, Husqvarna FE350 and KTM 1290 Adventure R. TRAVEL: California Cruising on Triumph and Indian, across the Americas with PanAmScram. REGULARS: Chris Evans, Craig Keyworth, fitness, products, and much much more!
IT'S A WHOPPER! 174 pages, so take your time. ON TEST: KTM 790 Adventure R, Triumph Scrambler 1200XE, Fantic Caballero Scrambler 500, Yamaha WR450F plus long term reports on Suzuki V-Strom 650XT, Honda CRF250RX, Husqvarna FE350 and KTM 1290 Adventure R. TRAVEL: California Cruising on Triumph and Indian, across the Americas with PanAmScram. REGULARS: Chris Evans, Craig Keyworth, fitness, products, and much much more!
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LONG TERMER<br />
w<br />
I’m way too simple, binary, for<br />
this, so I’ve elected to stop thinking<br />
and just ride. In fact I’ve already put<br />
over 1200 miles on it, chasing out to<br />
Wales and back (twice), all on road.<br />
It’s a consummate mile muncher,<br />
or shrinker – you arrive everywhere<br />
earlier than you anticipate. It’ll<br />
cruise at any speed between zero<br />
and a zillion and even in top gear<br />
going say 90mph you crack that<br />
throttle and it goes hyperspace. On<br />
the road it doesn’t need gears, just<br />
the one – sixth – is enough. And<br />
despite making speedy transits it<br />
seems to be quite frugal, the onboard<br />
computer says it’s turning around<br />
56mpg. Fuel range says 250 miles<br />
after a fill up, but I’m stopping at<br />
around the 200-mile mark mostly<br />
and putting in around 17-18 litres<br />
into that 23-litre tank, which is about<br />
50mpg so the computer’s probably<br />
about right on all counts.<br />
Comfort is good. The footrests<br />
initially feel high (especially after<br />
the V-Strom XT with its lowered<br />
pegs), but the riding position is long<br />
distance comfortable. KTM suggest<br />
the seat has 3D foam padding which<br />
sounds pretty high-tech but I’ve<br />
found I’ve increased the comfort<br />
even more by throwing a dead sheep<br />
over it (okay, just the skin). Vibrations<br />
are minimal, and certainly don’t<br />
interfere with comfort. Handling<br />
is pretty damn good, too, and I’m<br />
surprised just how much confidence<br />
I’m finding in it despite its height<br />
and the skinny 21”/18” wheel<br />
combination, even on wet roads.<br />
I’ve ridden a 1290 Super Adventure<br />
R off-road before and been<br />
impressed just how good and<br />
manageable it is, those wheel sizes<br />
help I’m sure, while the off-road<br />
rider mode tames the 160 gee gees.<br />
But we’ll be fitting at least some<br />
50/50 adventure tyres, if not more<br />
aggressive ones, before we take this<br />
one off road.<br />
But where we’ll take this bike, fettlewise,<br />
I’m not sure. KTM help/don’t<br />
help by having the most expansive<br />
catalogue of aftermarket parts you<br />
could wish for and we could go<br />
anywhere between hard-core racer<br />
and comfy two-up tourer with this<br />
bike. For now, it’s just so immense<br />
I’m still trying to get my head around<br />
it all. An embarrassment of riches, no<br />
question!<br />
136<br />
www.rustsports.com
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