Steve and his KTM 1190 Adventure at Sizewell Cafe

As the saying goes “Time & Tide Wait for No Man”, I was finding it increasingly difficult to justify having three bikes in the garage, each one costing more in the basics of road tax & insurance compared to my four wheeled mode of transport, add to this fact that age is also becoming a factor!, in the latter part of 2012 I decided to consolidate all six wheels into just two. This decision opened up a can of worms, and raised the question of what to get……

Whilst pondering this conundrum I disposed of my Yamaha XT660X which I had brought new in 2005 when I traded in a rather excellent ZX7R which was fine in the summer but suffered from carb icing in the winter which rendered it unusable for commuting. Don’t get me wrong on the commuting side of things, this is not a big priority but I like to commute on the bike when I fancy it regardless of the weather.

Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure outside Bringsty cafe

With a bit of space in the garage over the winter it was easier to manage the remaining bikes so it crept into early 2013 before the next one went, my CB1300-F3, fantastic bike perfect for two up work, fitted with an autocom system to save the “digs in the ribs” it was an all-round motorcycle, if somewhat heavy to manoeuvre around in tight spaces.

This left me with one machine which was to be my “part exchange”, by this time I had settled on a KTM 1190 Adventure, after many hours on the internet I had made the decision that this bike would do everything that the three I had could do.

So on the 1st June 2013, I took the RC8R up to Redline in Loughborough where I had booked a test ride on the 1190. Richard at the dealership was away on holiday so I was not under the usual “sign here” pressure. I took the 1190 out on the Leicestershire roads, trying all the trick bits & electronics which I had never come across before. After a visit to the pork pie shop in Melton Mowbray I rode back to the dealership convinced this was the machine to get, mainly as I loved the KTM engine which was essentially the same as the RC8R.

KTM 1190 Adventure

A week or so later, Richard returned from his sojourn and a deal was concluded over the telephone so on the 22nd June 2013 I collected the 1190. After booking the first service in I rode it home and set about covering the first 600 miles.

It took me a lot longer than anticipated to get used to this style of motorcycle, but, after some 2000 miles under the belt I like to think that I managed to master the machine.

ACCESSORIES
KTM Sat Nav Holder SW Motech City Quick Lock
KTM Rack & Top Aluminium Box KTM Ergo Seat
KTM Heated Grips KTM Auxiliary Lamp Kit
Scottoiler Camel Toe Side Stand Foot
R&G Radiator Guard R&G Cotton Reels
R&G Radiator Guard R&G Cotton Reels
R&G Mirror Extenders Bags Connection Dakar Panniers

KTM 1190 Adventure
Side Stand on the KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
Camel Toe Side Stand Foot on Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM Auxiliary Lamp Kit on Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM Auxiliary Lamp Kit on Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure in Barmouth
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure in Barmouth
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure outside Bringsty cafe
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure and Bonzo's Honda Blackbird
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Jo's Cafe
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Skins Cafe in Brackley
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Santa Pod
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Santa Pod
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Santa Pod
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Moon and Sixpence pub
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Three Horseshoes pub
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Bollitree Castle
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Bollitree Castle
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Shobdon Cafe
KTM 1190 Adventure in Sheringham
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum
KTM 1190 Adventure outside RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Stanton Windmill
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Stanton Windmill
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Missing Sock pub
KTM 1190 Adventure in Sheringham
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Royal Armouries Museum
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Royal Armouries Museum
KTM 1190 Adventure near Swarkestone Causeway
KTM 1190 Adventure near Belvoir Castle
KTM 1190 Adventure at Dunstable Downs
KTM 1190 Adventure at Bridego Bridge, location of the 1963 Great Train Robbery.
KTM 1190 Adventure at Bridego Bridge, location of the 1963 Great Train Robbery.
KTM 1190 Adventure outside Bletchley Park
KTM 1190 Adventure near Bancroft Cows
KTM 1190 Adventure outside the Crooked Billet Pub
KTM 1190 Adventure in Bourton-on-the-Water
KTM 1190 Adventure at Jo's Cafe
KTM 1190 Adventure at the Hogs Head Pub
KTM 1190 Adventure at the Blaenavon Ironworks
KTM 1190 Adventure at Castle Coch
KTM 1190 Adventure at the Winding House Museum
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Lacock Abbey
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Lacock Abbey
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Salisbury Cathedral
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Calshot Castle
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Batemans Brewery
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure in Skegness
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Jolly Fisherman Statue in Skegness
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Jolly Fisherman Statue at the Gayton Engine Pumping Station
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Hawaiian Eye Cafe in Cleethorpes
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Hawaiian Eye Cafe at Thornton Abbey and Gatehouse
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the USAF Memorial at RAF Goxhill
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Spurn Lightship in Kingston upon Hull
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Mount Pleasant Windmill near Kirton in Lindsey
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Leighton Hall Gateway
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at The Crooked House Pub
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
KTM 1190 Adventure
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at The Long Itch Diner
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the Broadway Tower
Bags Connection Dakar Panniers on Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
Bags Connection Dakar Panniers on Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Kimbolton School
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Kimbolton High Street
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at the All Seasons Cafe
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Eva's Cafe
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Aubourn Hall
Steve's KTM 1190 Adventure at Caenby Corner Cafe
Steve and his KTM 1190 Adventure at Sizewell Cafe
RSPB HQ
Comfort Cafe, Little Abbingdon
Dom's Bike Stop
Queenswood Cafe
Warwick Castle
Tutbury Castle
Clun Castle
Skenfrith Castle
Colchester Castle
Shobdon Airfield
RedLine Motorcycles
RedLine Motorcycles
Reg's Cafe
Reg's Cafe
Early Start
Belvoir Castle
Start
Langrick Station Cafe
Travelodge
Travelodge
Iceni Rally Finish HQ
Rougham Control Tower
Categories: Bikes