KTM 1190 RC8 R reviews

Big plus for the bike when riding on the interstates or in City traffic the bike sits at eye level with SUV drivers. You are very visible to traffic and when traveling 70 on the interstate the aerodynamics with the tank low and blocking the wind from your legs plus the front wind shield and your in your own little tunnel...very cool design. Once you dump the travel gear and set the big in offroad mode the bike is a beast. We rode single track in Nevada and Colorado and the bike with the front travel eats up ditches and ruts. Great bike and time for me to start looking for a 250. ;-) Show less

This is by far the best bike in terms of corner handling. You can ease into corners at any speed and feel comfortable with the brembo brakes. The torque is top notch as well as the top speed. This has been my favorite motorcycle I’ve ever owned. Show less

This bike here is ready for cross country. If you want to hear about pros and cons you won’t hear nothing about cons strictly pros. This bike is amazing. Very comfortable a lot of power low mileage that also includes three different range modes. This bike is a must see in person Because it is an absolute excellent condition all preventative maintenance has been accomplished on this bike ready for a long travel. Show less

Pros, performance, power and adjustabliity to the riding terrain. Ability to adjust the power and suspension easilly. Cons, like most the seat is not comfy for long blacktop rides. Buffering from wind screen is not desirable when doing hwy. I would say this bike as has been talked about being 75% off and 25% on. So it is nice to ride it to get off road. Show less

This bike is a blast to ride. The engine is nothing but amazing. Also the dynamic electronic suspension makes this bike handle almost like a sport bike. The comfort could be improved. Maybe with the original saddle is a little more comfortable but I have the one piece saddle that makes it easier to ride off road. Still the heated seats and grips are welcome features on the nippy early morning rides. In any case this is a superb bike that is comfortable on dirt trails as well as on tarmac highways. Have I mentioned that the engine and power are absolutely spectacular? The sophistication and electronics of this bike are second to none: - ABS linked to the leaning angle, - Cornering lights that increase the angle synchronized to the leaning - 4 riding modes: Sport, Street, Rain and Off road. - 4 suspension dampening modes: Sport, Street, Comfort and Off road Have I mentioned that the engine will blow you away? Show less

Bait and switch dealer. Motorcycle for sale on Internet. Motorcycles in the store. Tried to purchase. Was to title and pay taxes out of state( Montana) But somehow price kept being $2000 more than sale price. Met someone else that had a similar experience with them. Love the bike but not the dealer. Only gave stars because it won't let me post without them. RJL Show less

Great bike. Does it all and does it better than most. It’s my primary vehicle to go to work, get groceries, go to the hardware store, you name it. It’s my weekend canyon rider and Jeep for when I want to get lost and die of exposure. Show less

I love this motorcycle. I've been riding for over 50 years and had about a dozen bikes, mostly smaller dual sports. I'm retired and don't commute, or ride to get from A to B. I ride for fun, for the thrill of coming out of a corner on a lightly traveled country road at 30 and accelerating to 90 in about 4 seconds and a couple hundred yards. It has (almost) sport bike power and handling, but an upright, comfortable seating position. KTM claims 148 HP; the Cycle World Road Test Dyno showed 129; they reported a 10.68 quarter at 129. I don't care to go anywhere near that fast, but they showed 0-30 in 1.2; 0-60 in 3.2, and; 0-90 in 5.0. That's the range in which I use and appreciate the motor. It's also relatively light for a big bike - about 500 pounds with a full tank - although I've added an OEM skid plate and crash bars, and have OEM panniers which I don't use unless on a long trip. KTM marketed the 1190 Adventure (they now have a 1090 & a 1290) as a dual sport. I'll go down a dirt/gravel road, but even if I had the 'R' model, which has stiffer suspension, dual purpose tires, and a few other offroad features, wouldn't take 500 pounds very far from pavement. What don't I like? The headlight was anemic. I replaced it with a much brighter LED, and added auxiliary lights. The stock seat rendered it almost unridable for any distance; thus an aftermarket solo seat was required. Reliability? There's often something minor that's not quite right. For example, the ambient temperature indicator currently isn't working on my bike. 2014 was the first year for the bike and I think KTM went overboard with "state-of-the-art" electronics, ride modes, combinations of ABS, traction control, etc., without fully debugging everything. We KTM owners will gripe about these little things and inevitably our friends, or forum participants, ask, "well why don't you get a Japanese bike?" The answers vary, but all, in one way or another boil down to: "Are you crazy? And not ride a KTM?!?! Cause when this bike is right, and that's most of the time, it's the most delightful, exciting, fun, euphorogasm machine I've ever ridden, let alone owned. (And I just made the last payment.) Show less

After a year on this bike, I have to admit I'm still pretty impressed. I've owned 3 Kawasaki KLR 650's in the past but this is nothing like them. KTM's quality control, attention to detail and use of high end components really pays off. Especially in the weight savings, suspension and handling departments. If you want a budget adventure bike, the KLR is a great choice. But if you want a truly capable go-anywhere, light weight, fun to ride adventure bike, the 690 Enduro R is your bike. The bike is tall, so climbing on and off can be a chore. The fully adjustable suspension is a DREAM, especially off road. It soaks up ruts and bumps on really bad dirt roads with aplomb. It's extremely comfortable. Deep Sand? No problem! Just put your weight back and let her rip. The light weight and great suspension really shine here. My only complaint about the bike is the stock gas filler neck. It sucks. I replaced it with a machine from billet high end piece. Show less

This is one heck of a great motorcycle in almost every way, but for me there is one negative: seat height. I'm just shy of 6 feet, 32" inseam and must be on tippy-toes to have both feet on the ground when stopped. I appreciate lengthy shock travel and high ground clearance, the bike is perfect when moving, but I find stop-and-go wearisome. And while the bike is not really heavy, it does have a high center of gravity. I think I've explored every alternative; KTM will not offer any suggestions, apparently and probably with their own good reasons for not modifying the well engineered factory specs. One aftermarket seat is 3/4" lower, can't find any suspension alternatives. I've been told the 1290 model 17" rear and 19" front spoked wheels, brakes etc. are interchangeable, but that yields only about an inch, would definitely affect the speedometer and odometer and probably affect the ABS system as well. So what is the solution? The only other one that comes to mind is platform shoes. Show less