Before you buy a KTM Super Adventure S - 7 reasons to reconsider 

If you are buying a bike to ride around in a city, a 1290 SAS is not the bike for you. Knocking it because it is not the best for city riding is kind of a waste of everyone's time. How well it filters to the front at a stop is just not an important criterion for a bike like this. Or wouldn't be for most long-distance adventure riders. On a related note, the turn signal cancel switch is annoying, but is it REALLY a reason to not buy the bike?? Maybe if you were out riding it like it's meant to be ridden - i.e. traveling, and not just squirting around in the city - the turn signal cancellation would be much less of an issue to you. Also, you did not mention, but I believe the SAS (and SAR) has automatic turn signal cancellation after a short period of time and distance? Maybe not so useful when you're just signaling as you ride around in the city, but on rides out of the city, even if the button didn't cancel the signal, won't the Automatic Turn Indicator Reset (or whatever they call it) turn the signal off soon enough that safety from other cars is truly a non-issue? Also, is it really true that pressing and holding it for a second is still not reliable for turning it off? Or is it possible that the times you said it still didn't work were actually just occasions of you not holding it long enough? In the video where you were demonstrating the issue, it was quite clear that you were purposely stabbing the button to make it as quick and short a press as you possibly could. (I have not ridden a late model SA, so I have no firsthand experience with this issue) Did it (or the SAR) ever leave you dead on the side of the road? Have a problem that would have left you on the side of the road if you had not dealt with it immediately? It doesn't seem so. Knocking it for reliability seems suspect. The only true reliability issue that I know of with any of the 1290 Super Adventures has been that fuel pumps tend to get clogged or burn out (from extended running while clogged) and the bike loses power or dies. But, that doesn't usually happen until 20,000 miles or later - and is easily avoided in a few different ways including simple maintenance/cleaning of the fuel pump filter and strainer. So, I still wouldn't call it "unreliable" because of something that only happens if you don't maintain it properly. Stock seats suck. The stock seat on my R1200GS was the worst one I ever had. I could ride further on my GSX-R1000 stock seat than that stock BMW seat. The aggravating thing about the KTM seat is that their KTM PowerParts seat is actually all-day comfortable. Why they don't just put that seat on as standard is a really irritating mystery. Regardless, I have upgraded the stock seat on every bike I've owned in the last 25+ years. I would not shy away from buying a bike because the stock seat sucks. Shaft vs chain is an issue where there are pros and cons to both. Suggesting that there is no advantage to chain drive is a truly ignorant position to take. If I'm taking off on a 10,000 mile journey, I would personally much rather do it with a new set of chain and sprockets. Especially if that is as compared to a shaft drive setup that has 40 or 50K miles on it (even if it's freshly serviced). For the more-typical long weekend (or even weeklong) trips, I would not take up any of MY luggage space with a can of chain lube, but you do you. And especially not if I had something like a ScottOiler on the bike. Saying that a chain will definitely break and, "if you're lucky", you might never have any issue at all with a shaft just sounds like a Shaft Bigot trying to scare people into their way of thinking. In 40 years and hundreds of thousands of miles of riding, I have never had a chain break. I have most definitely replaced them periodically, as part of normal maintenance (usually after somewhere around 20K miles). I have also performed normal maintenance on shaft drives, as well. Neither one is maintenance free. Either one *could* fail at any time, but neither one normally fails at all when normal maintenance is performed. However, only one of them is relatively quick, cheap, and easy to deal with if it does fail unexpectedly.

I have a 2018 1290SA that has been faultless over 26,000 miles. KTM changed the fork rake angle in, I think, 2020 to make the bike turn in more willingly. My bike is very stable at low speeds. I have not ridden a later model but the bike is tall and reasonably heavy, so it may be that KTM went a bit too far. If you want a thumping V twin with loads of power there isn’t much to dislike in the 1290SA but there are some gripes. The seat is too hard (fixed with an AirHawk), the mirrors are quite vibey so I fitted bar-end mirrors which work very well and engaging first from neutral is an alarming clunk but fuel economy is great, the engine is bulletproof and KTM service has been efficient and reasonably priced. If I had any advice it would be don’t bolt on too many extras. Adding weight with top boxes and tank bags does affect handling. I’d recommend panniers to keep luggage weight closer to the ground. Oh, and fit a Scottoiler as doing so extends chain life on a bike with this amount of power. I changed my chain at 20,000 miles as it was just beginning to stretch.

I seem to be riding a different bike! 🤷🏼‍♂️

Shaft drive adds 100lb of unwanted weight - no thanks. I think KTM rushes new models into production before ironing out the glitches: better to buy a bike near the end of production than a new model. My 2020 1290 SAS has been trouble free.

I've had 22 motorcycles. I've never seen a chain failure.

My 2023 1290 SAS has been flawless for almost a year now. I had one issue with a warning saying the front brake switch had an issue….but it went away and never came back. I had the dealer check it and everything was good. I did have the suspension tweaked to my weight and I also have put different tires on it. Other than oil changes, it’s awesome. I’d recommend this bike to anyone wanting a very sporty street adventure touring bike.

Every manufacturer has an ergonomics engineering team that probably has the ultimate seat hidden in a locked storage with an armed guard...but how would they make money from selling upgraded seats?

I'm just coming up to 14000 miles (22.5K km) and 18 months on my 2021 SAS and to be quite honest I haven't had a single problem with it, I haven't even struggled with the indicator. Maybe I'm just lucky but I can tell you one thing for sure...I'm very happy :-) I've never ridden with the stock seat so can't comment on how bad/good it is, single unit PP seat does the job for me.

The frequency of quality and reliability issues of KTM motorcycles routinely uncovered by moto-journalists such as yourself would suggest a defect rate of least 50% which is totally inexcusable and would definitely keep me away. While no product is perfect there are times when bad engineering and lack of discipline in a company becomes evident. The turn signal switch debacle is a clear example of that. What KTM did was replace a switch with mechanical toggle in favor of two pole momentary switch. So left or right momentary actuation input to their ECU enables left or right turn signal. Then when you push on center both poles are in contact to cancel signal but to minimize the risk of cancelling a turn signal during usage due to poor tactile design of the switch KTM added longer time constant for both switch poles to effectively cancel signal. The only reason to do such a thing had to be cost savings in the switch or if they intended to implement auto-cancelling feature in software using IMU at a later date and charge more. Otherwise,self canceling feature requires much more expensive toggle switch that must be electromechanically unlocked. This switch as you pointed out is a critical safety feature that could get you injured or killed. A proper DFMEA with proto testing should've never let such a compromise ever make it to market. KTM strives for strong innovation but yikes there is obvious lack of discipline when it comes to ensuring safety when introducing new tech.

Sounds very much like the steering head bearings are too tight. Never experienced any low speed stability issues on mine.

Just hit 25k miles with zero issues on my 2018 SAS. original chain and sprockets. No issues. Swapping it for a new 2024 SAR this week. Pretty excited.

A shaft drive will add weight, plus you lose a bit more power at the rear wheel.

I bought one last year, partly based on what you and other youtubers were saying, and I couldn't agree more with your comments about the fun factor. The thing about any product you buy is that a percentage of them will have problems and niggles, as told by people in the comments, and you weigh the cost/benefits accordingly. I love my 1290 knowing that the potential for disaster could be lurking around the corner. I also note that in the forums for all those other brands, that they have some potential problems as well. So, you pays your money and takes your choice. 🖖

Got rid of my 1290 SAS last November. Too many problems.

The indicator switch got fixed on the 2023 model The stock seat is irrelevant as anyone intent on keeping the bike for a long time will get the heated ergo seat which is much better The point about drive shafts is not worth making as it would not be a "surprise" to anyone buying one plus i have had friends with shaft druve failures, or this one guy who changed the engine twice on his 1250 GSA

Hey man let me tell you something that probably you will ignore but it hits the point. I am not telling you what to do, but all the time you talk, talk, talk and continue talking and bla bla bla. Just buy a fu...ing bike bro and show to us. Its getting boring to speak all the time and not to act. I have changed 5 bikes since i started watching you, the last 2 years and you just keep talking dude. Life is short. Pay, make mistakes and keep going.

Unreliable. Dramatic depreciation if traded in. No extended warranty is available by KTM in the UK. KTM warranty sucks. I remember in 2010 when there was an issue with the clock instrument on the 690’s KTM replaced it with a used one, although the bike was brand new then.

The 21" front wheels make the steering feel lighter which gives it an advantage in city riding. It makes it feel lighter and nimbler at low speeds.

Just bought a KTM 24k kms and original chain still usable. No auto lubrication.

I rented S for a weekend one year ago. I didn't like it at touring speeds. Way too much vibrations plus wobble at 160-180+. Wobble was very bad, maybe tires, maybe handguards, I don't know. It really disqualified this bike for me, sadly (because I love its dash, electronics, acc and overall looks).

Anyone have any issues with the front sprocket on their SAS?, mine started backing out and rubbing against the gaurd at only 600 miles

I enjoyed this video very much, thank you. I would love to buy an S or an R, but the KTM warranty terms at least here in Australia are telling. KTM offers a two year warranty for the S variant and only one year for the R. That says to me that KTM is not prepared to properly back its product. Compare that to three years for the Tiger 1200 and five years for the 1250GSA/1300GS.

The KTM should be a drive shaft not a chain. Oh come on this is a BMW guy all the way. Hey these chain driven machines have taken KTM to 17 straight Dakar wins my friend. I have the bike I never have any trouble with my indicators? If you don't like the seat there's 11 different other models you can choose from. Problem solved.

For how powerful and torquey the 1290 engine is, it is surprisingly easy to stall. Comparing to V-Strom 1000, it needs more throttle at very low revs. Important to keep in mind if you want to ride in "civilised" manner. 😁 Other than that, it is pure engineering marvel.

Where can I get that smoked headlight protector?! I never saw that one before. Vito, i have a SAR and I installed rear progressive spring and lowered the front forks for 1/2 inch as Im 5’9” and OMG , the bike that was already good transformed into a monster on the road as well. I had a 2021 BMW GSA that I sold for the KtM and I dont miss a single bit.

I have the S model. After installing the crash bars, as you said, urban maneuvers became little more difficult. İt was much more agile in the city before. However, it is still very nimble in city, not so problem for me.

I checked the 2023 model in the shop recently. The indicator switch is much improved. The high beam switch looks the same, but it I think it requires a little more force. I am considering a replacement of the switch block.

Good Video. I bet it was a lot of work to do it. The editing is 👍🏼

Ktm 1290 is already an old bike design and old engine, 890 engine is much better

I thought about buying a bike with shaft drive but decided the benefits for my riding style do not justify the compromises. BMW boxer engine is better suited to shaft drive because crankshaft axis of rotation is parallel to main axis of motorcycle. Thus, on v-twin requires additional 90 degree bevel gear plus added packaging complexity that reduces driveline efficiency and adds weight. Surely, Triumph overcame this but the added weight, cost, and reduced performance are compromises one must accept. From a performance standpoint it is much more than driveline efficiency loss due to right angle gearing. There is significantly increased rotating mass of shaft drive that robs torque during acceleration. Added torque is required to spin up that extra rotational mass at the same time will also affect braking performance. Thus, that highly responsive KTM feel will be lost in the exchange. There is no free lunch here. I use dry type chain lube every 150-200 miles and replace countershaft sprocket every 15K miles and have never had notable wear in chain requiring adjustment over 25K miles which is longest I have kept any bike. The main purpose for chain lube is between rollers and sprockets but also to capture fine debris and remove it from the roller seals so that they do not become compromised. The dry lube is better than oil because once it conglomerates with the dirt and is flung off. Yes it is a modest pain to clean but no where near an oiler. I use some brake cleaner and soft cloth and maybe takes me extra 10 minutes before each ride because i am picky about how my bike looks. I consider it extra pre-ride safety check and once it is habitual is really no big deal.

thanks for your great reviews, i own a 2023 1290SAS and don’t recognize any of the problems, no speed wobbles, indicator switch works fine and i love the standard seat. I traded my kawasaki versys 1000 for the KTM and for me the seat is more comfortable and i can cruise for hours without any problems. some things are very personal ofcourse but i think that should be part of the information you spread. cheers from Sweden

I just bought super adventure 1290 s 2023 and many opinions about reability what your opinion about it is reliable or not

now they are making a 1390 adventure but I guarantee it will still wobble. they will spend endless hours/money designing new engine and completely disregard vast number of riders saying there is a wobble/stability issue. they will keep losing guys who turn to other adv bikes out of frustration.

Great reviews but Tell me about reability of ktm sas electronics some wobble issues on high speed what is your opinion about that

My ex 1290 SAS 2022 had a red light at 1.500 km and just had to be reset and also the Akrapovic exhaust had a leak and it looked pretty ugly. I made a complaint at KTM store but at the end of the season they gave me no answer and then the bike was stolen. But yes great bike. Only one negative for this season, next year 2024 new or pretty updated model will come.

🤩🤩🤩

I have funny story here because while watching your video for second time I received an enticing ad targeted at American men. This ad was promoting young, attractive, Slavic women who have traditional family values and apparently prefer stable men over 40. Rather then skipping such ad after 5 seconds I needed to hear the full marketing pitch and by the time it was over I had forgotten what video I was watching in the first place.😂😂 Then I got to thinking that such an ad for Slavic women is perfect analogy for the allure of KTM. They are beautiful, sometimes spicy, can provide many hours of enjoyment, and trustworthy. Well two out of four isn't too bad except the unpredictability of the last two quickly empty your wallet and possibly your soul. 🤣🤣

Heated seat on SA is like wearing heated thermal underwear at +40° C

You managed to prevent me from considering buying 3 bikes (Suzuki Vstrom1050, Moto Guzzi v85 tt and this one) because of low speed stability issue in all of them! Let me know which bikes behaves the best in low speed...

KTM fanboys got you on their target list now lol

Hi V-Told, Do you know that BMW on the S1000 RR or the XR with the pack M the chain is made from a different craftsman principle where the BMW M Endurance Chain is still an X-ring chain. But the rollers and bushings are coated in a diamond-like carbon substance that’s highly wear-resistant, very low friction, and that you very rarely need to clean and lube? And more, you can lube it solely on your annual Service to the bike? That’s right! That’s how BMW Motorrad is leading and evolving the industry, with premium specs like this. And if you don’t want a chain drive, you just pick a model from BMW, there are plenty with excellent drive shafts. I went a life of more than 30 years experiencing all kind of motorcycle brands, but now…I’m really sold. And I never believed on nothing to be a fan of anything. But here I am, we really can’t say “never” because life is strange like that, and can turn your entire world up side down! Cheers !✌️✌️

Front wheel wobble at 60-70 km/h is disaster! KTM refuse my warranty claim. They suggest... always keep two hands on the bars 😂 Ridiculous! Brand new bike with bug! But... yes, I love it anyway!

Mitas tires are problem

Jak pięknie wygląda nasz Wrocław 😜

With a shaft this bike will turn into a dog, that might be a little peppier than the s10, but definitely not so much than the workmanlike GS

She is very sensitive to tires. The Mitas are rubbish. Too stiff with insufficient damping, weird delayed cornering, and front wobble at a specific speed. After changing to Conti Trail Attack 3 all of that was fixed. However, 3500km later, with some wear on the rear tire, the stability going straight has started to suffer. The rear has become nervous. Strangely enought it gets better with the topcase mounted 🤔I experimented with preload and tire pressure to no avail. It is caused by wind turbulences pulling at my upper body. When I hold the bar really loosely, it is ok-ish. The front fork could be more sensitive. It feels stiff even in the softest setting. The rear suspension has not been tuned for riders with 100kg in full armor. The rebound is a bit too soft in street mode. The indicator switch likes to be hit hard from the top. The sloppier the better, don't even try to be precise, just slam the whole thumb on it. I have made peace with it. I am disappointed with the heated PP seat at standard height. It's even less comfortable than the stock seat. The heated high PP seat is comfy, but it's not quite right for me ergonomically. During 7500km, I had only one electronics glitch where the active suspension refused to work after cold start. And two lost screws on the front fender. That's it. The bearing of the steering head was a little loose and had to be tightened.

My 2021 SAS has been flawless in the last 14000km. Like this bike a lot. Think of switching to SAR. Maybe 24 Model will get ACC which is great on long Autobahn rides.

Freaking KTM. I want to like their bikes... I really do, but their build quality is straight GARBAGE! Oh, and I am not only speaking from reading the experiences of others, but also my own personal experiences with my (happily gone!) 1190 ADV-R.