1090 / 1190 - Talk me out of it, or not :)

Hey All,

I had plenty of KTM dirt & dual sport models all under 510cc.
I had a 2015 Super Tenere ES, nice ride, but lacked the type of excitement I need.
Somehow I end up with a Ninja 1000 & a 300xcw, but I still feel the need for 2 up touring and fire road exploration. Recently test road a Tenere 700, not for me. Nice enough motor and I get the appeal, but felt sloppy and will take too much $$ in upgrades to make it right for me. 790's seem to have teething issues & 890 is pricey (r) and both may need to be run in the high RPM, not really a wring it all the time rider, but I do enjoy the occasional grip it and rip it.

So, I'm back to looking at KTM ADV's. I wanted the 1290S for the longest time, but they seem to have some tech issues. The 1090 / 1190 looks to be in line with my wallet and needs.

我读到的东西是一个骗局=热量,头重脚轻,vibrations.
Please enlighten me on what it is really like to own one of these models and if there is the best year. I will hunt down a rental or 2 for some seat time asap.

Thanks!

I have a 2018 1090R
The heat has never really bothered me or I haven't noticed it being any worse that one of my Aprilia V-Twins. I always ride full AGATT so maybe that is why?
If you are moving more than 2mph the top heavy completely goes away and it handles like a 500. Like any big bike if you are straddling it and for some reason you start to tip it over its hard to stop but it truly feels like a dirt bike when you are moving.
I have done long highway stints and vibration isn't something I ever really noticed.
A guy I ride with all the time has a 790 and it has been trouble free. We don't baby the bikes at all and he hasn't had any issues. I wouldn't count the 790 out unless you are going to ride two up. Then you need the 1090/1190

你有多高,有多强/身体健康吗re you? Do you have a good basis riding off-road or do you plan on taking it somewhat easy to gather confidence and experience before you tackle some technical stuff? Speaking from experience if you're not in good physical shape it's tough to stand it back up if you're by yourself or it lands in an awkward spot like say half way up a muddy hill.

I have a 2018 1090 and I never had vibrations bother me and I rode it from central OH all the way to NE Tennessee and back again. The only thing I wanted on that ride that I didn't have was cruise control. Also, I agree with BTB it rides like a dirt bike if you get it moving and can keep it moving.

Like BTB said, I never had the heat bother me but I am ATGATT as well. If it's 85 degrees (30 C) with 85% humidity you're going to sweat your ass off on anything if you're not moving and getting some air flow.

The only tech issues I've seen on the 1290 is key not in range which is a simple fix. If you like the S model 1290, that's the one to get. I have a 2018 1290R and love it.

Whats the simple fix for getting the "key not in range"?

Put the fob on the target in the fairing.

Mine starts fine. I keep it in the cell phone holder. But as I'm riding I get the key not in range thing .At least once a ride.

2018 1090r here. Love it. Just got back from hitting powerlines, woods trails, hill climbs, and then swamps. Was told by the 4x4 atvers that we should turn back. And made a few jaws drop at the hill climbs. Then went 75 mph back around the beltway to get home. You just have to ride it like it like it didn’t cost over 10,000$ and you will get the swing of things. Yea I would like to have something smaller and lighter off road but then I wouldn’t want to ride it pegged out on the highway to get there either. I think the 1090 is the perfect adv bike , if your at least 6’.

I agree with what the fellas are saying here. I have a 2017 1090R and threw on some MotoZ Tractionator Rallz, dropped 2 teeth up front and added 3 to the rear and ditched the touring back racks, etc. I put on a front fender kit and a headlight cover as well as a Wings pipe and a couple of Rotty dongles. I'm 6'1 and 220lbs (longtime gym owner/personal trainer) so I use my physical strength when needed, but this bike responds equally to finesse as it does to meatheaded riding. I treat it like a dirt bike and have a blast on it. I can do more on my 450 EXC RFS (2007) due to it being literally half the weight, but honestly, if you're a pretty good rider, you'll enjoy the hell out of this bike. A beginner on a single track that's even slightly technical may have a rough time, especially because of the weight and their likely inability to keep momentum, but as I said, if you can ride, this is a GREAT bike!

serious gearing...

+1 here. Except I'm an inch shorter and probably fatter at 230 on a 1190r. +2 for the rear sprocket. I'll say if you treat an 1190r like a dirt bike with the stock suspenders you'll bottom out the front - cured with a set of springs. The faster I ride it the better it works!

我有一个1090 / 1190/1290 - 1090 & 1190at same time then 1190 & 1290 at same time.

The 1190 / 1290 have great engines and lovelly finish, the 1090 has mid-range flat spot and cheap looking paintwork.

The 1290 vibes less and runs cooler than the 1190.

1190 and 1290 are both top bikes.

1090 is great for the money, I had S models so cannot help with offroad, but for 2-up the extra mid range of 1190 / 1290 would be a big bonus.

Last year I bought a 2016 KTM 1190s and added it to my 2012 Ninja 1000 ... after a couple rides back to back on a Saturday guess which one went bye byeonly thing I miss is the sweet sweet sound of the Akrapovic header I had



As far as the heat I just deal with it. Its really only a problem when commuting in the summer on super hot days. I have all of the factory heat shrouding but it doesn't seem to help. I recently installed some wider KTM foot pegs to help off road and allow me to get a gap in-between the motor and the inside of my leg. Truthfully I think the Ninja 1000 was far worse for vibrations. I had a 2010 Z1000 for 4 years and the Ninja 1000 for 2 years and both would make my hands go numb at certain RPM while cruising, so much so that I regeared the Ninja to help with that. Lastly as far as the top heavy goes the 1190 is surprisingly agile offroad. Now it is no XC-W 200 as was my last dirt bike but it is the most fun I have had on two wheels on and off the pavement.



It also does two up much better than the Ninja as the rear seat on the KTM is near the size of the front seat on the Ninja

Thanks all for the replies and insider info!
My fitness level can vary month to month, but for the most part, I'm an active Road/MTB rider & of course the occasional 300xcw 2stroke ride for when I really need to squeal like a pig.
1090/1190 make financial sense currently, but 2021 1290 r & s are really appealing. Of course, I've owned enough KTM's to know the golden rule about 1st-year bike changes, but dammm they look so good.
There seem to be ways for me to rent 1090/1190/1290 so that will be the first step, but please keep the feedback coming, it's all good stuff.

@Riding4fun
I wrote off a 2017 AT, replaced with a leftover 2019. I'm 5'9", 165lb in BD suit.
It's not heavy, not overly tall. I too had a chance to buy a new T7 for $1500 less..made no sense. I got burned on the AT and tossing money at it. Not again with the T7.
I have 5500km in half a season, and love the bike. I'll do quad trails on it, no need to do single track as I have a bike for that, and I'm not insane.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/97730749@N03/00zS8d

The good/bad here after six months.
It's been very good.https://thetenerist.wordpress.com/category/ktm-1090/

Thanks, Greg!

We love our 2018 1090 it has about 30,000 miles on it now and it has been on the MABDR 2 up camping a couple times. PA to Maine 2300 miles round trip and many weekend camping and back road exploring trips. I'm 5.10 and it is a little tall but every bike I ever had has been a little tall. For me it is the perfect power to weigh ratio and I never had a problem with vibration.

np. You're of the same mind set on the T7 that I was. It cost less initially, then a lot more.
T7 will feel the weight on the highway loaded up. I did own an FZ07 for a bit but mainly used around town, as it was not a joy out on the open road.
1090 has more power than I know what to do with.

Another thing I noticed on the T7 demo ride was that the whole bike just felt sloppy. It had 900 miles on the ODO, but sure felt like 20K and ridden hard.
Granted it was a Demo Fleet bike.
I have not had a chance to read through -https://thetenerist.wordpress.com/category/ktm-1090/, but from a lite skim, I'm not seeing any real Con's.

i have a 2015 1190r (pictured). Never really noticed any vibration.
A very fast bike, and can get hot. I'm 95% ATGATT so not too bad. I worry mostly about losing my license. A little over 9000 miles. Now i'm gonna sell, but mostly because i keep getting older, and don't know how to act.