Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Comparison: KTM 1090 Adventure R / 1290 Super Adventure S

I’ve ridden adventure bikes around the world for the better part of two decades, and it never gets old. As technology changes, the more I ride the more it seems there is to learn.

What better way to check out a couple KTM spaceships than to ride with current Pike's Peak world record holder Chris Fillmore of KTM Racing. Stay tuned for upcoming story in RoadRunner magazine.

KTM 1090 - 1290 V3H from Jon Beck on Vimeo.




Chris Fillmore aboard the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S:



Fillmore taking the road less traveled, and then riding further off the beaten path on the KTM 1090 Adventure R:


Actor Justin Chatwin aboard the 1290 S:


I spent a lot of time testing out the 1090 R:












2018 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports review on DirtBikeTest.com

In 2016 Honda took the bold step of introducing an automatic transmission into the available options of its classic Africa Twin. For 2018, the updated CRF1000L2 Africa Twin Adventure Sports improves on the machine with both new and updated features.

I flew to the historic town of Prescott, Arizona, to climb aboard the latest version of a historic motorcycle platform and paddle-shift my way back to California, and into the future...



2.5 minute first impression from Arizona:

DBT: Honda Africa Twin - Initial Impression from Jon Beck on Vimeo.

~1 minute highlights of trail testing with Jimmy Lewis:

DBT upcoming test: Honda Africa Twin from Jon Beck on Vimeo.

Full bike review in studio:


The Bridgestone Battlax tires were not ideal for testing offroad, but got the job done. Between excellent riding conditions in Arizona, and a long ride back to California, this press launch provided a thorough impression of Honda's latest offering to the adventure touring community.






I later rode the same Africa Twin Adventure Sports from the Prescott product launch through Colorado and Wyoming on a camping/scouting mission for an upcoming film. It showed up in the opening spread of a tire test feature:



Actor Gilles Marini also took the same bike out for some test rides: