An observation from a new 1190 owner. I had lenghty test rides at least twice on each of the following. The BMW S1000XR which is this years hot seller in the adventure sports market. BMW R1200GS. The Ducati Multistrada and the 1190 Adventure. I've previously owned a 950 Adventure and a first model Multistrada and did about 20,000 miles on each of them.
I was after a good road bike coming most recently from a 990 SMT and not really bothered about off roading as I'm lucky enough to have a 690 for that.
The 1200GS..........DULL, nearly fell asleep and couldn't wait to return it to the dealer so only ride it once. Expensive alternative to sleeping pills.
S1000XR ballistically mentally quick for a sit up bike. Proper crackers and made me laugh a lot, BUT I don't line in line 4's having owned V twins since the late 90's and the riding position was a bit cramped for me with long legs. Despite every electronic aid known to man I still wouldn't be surprised if these things get crashed a lot as they accelerate like stink and once going take a bit of stopping and therefore will catch some people out. Close contender
The Multistrada, well gotta admit I love Ducati's had 6 of them and covered a combined 90,000 miles on them so I wanted to like this bike. The engine is definitely better at low revs than the early 1200 Multi but again the seat has been lowered to fit short arse garden gnomes. It now feels like having a crap on a camping type porta loo. Plus the handle bars are so wide I felt I was doing breast stroke pratice. The styling isn't as good as the early model and I don't like the red frame.
The 1190. OK I'm preaching to the converted here. Yes I've read some of the whinges on the internet about nuclear seats, crap starter motors on earlier models, air filter seal prone to letting dust in when off road. However look at forums for GS's, Multistrada's etc and there are various tales of unbridled love and hate for the bikes and their inherant problems. I read BigKuri's very informative story of his 1190R, ADVrider, was worried about the 19 inch front wheel, skinny back tyre etc for a road bike in comparison to the competion; then rode the 1190.
I rode it first on a lovely sunny day, then again in the rain and the howling wind. The bike was so much fun to ride even in the atrocious weather and very confidence inspiring. I was suprised as at first I thought it would be the outsider in the running (apart from the GS of course).
The bike fits me like a glove as if KTM had been given a design brief to produce a bike for ageing holigan who wants to behave badly in comfort. It's an absolute gas to ride, lovely engine with fuelling that puts the Ducati to shame, err and early FI KTM's for that matter. The handling is really sweet and even though I eyed the Conti Trail Attacks up with the suspicion rerserved for the missus every 28 days. Continental may have found a cure for PMT.
The engine, well no where close to the lunacy of the S1000XR in it's dynamic mode and is probably even a whisker behind the Multistrada is still an absolute peach with power form nought to naughty. I must put it on the same dyno I tested my early Multistrada on just to satisfy my curiosity.
However the bike feels more than the sum of it's parts and really gels for me. It doesn't feel like an overgrown elephant in high heels, it feels more like an SMT that ate a few too many pies.
If all of the bikes had cost the same I'd have bought the KTM but as it was it was considerably cheaper than the BMW which is this seasons must have toy or the revamped Ducati. As it is the best bike was also the cheapest so what a result. It really is a cracking bike to ride and puts a big smile on my face so please Mr Winter fuck off on holiday for a while and don't hurry back.