All the while thoroughly enjoying my current ride, a '12 14R, I've been eyeballing new flame.

I took a step towards the Land of Austria today by placing a deposit for a '15 KTM 1290 Super Adventure.

Hopefully to take delivery in June.

* Last updated by: mebgardner on 4/23/2015 @ 4:16 PM *

Woe, sweet!

I may be going to Australia end of June, if I can organized it by then. I would offer to bring it back for you, but hopefully you'll already have it by then!

I myself have got my eye on another bike ... a Beemer S1000R nekked. Saw one at the Orlando bike convention last year and it kept drawing my eye. Never thought I'd want one, though, then stumbled across it again online ... then watched some videos of them ... then ... well ... dammat, why am I thinking about this bike??!

It may not be to late for you if you start therapy...... Immediately!!!!
They should be able to provide medication to get you over this difficult time...

"All the while thoroughly enjoying my current ride, a '12 14R, I've been eyeballing new flame.
I took a step towards the Land of Austria today by placing a deposit for a '15 KTM 1290 Super Adventure."

Will you be keeping the 14?

Here's the thing about keeping the 14R.

Entering the garage, for me, there's choices. I can choose the 14R, or choose something else.

Now, the 14R almost always wins, its really a "no-brainer" choice.

But, if I add a 1290 SA in the mix? Well, thats a much tougher choice...

There's also the amount of room issue, not only in the garage, but in the heart. Very similar to the choices of a man lucky in love with women. Sooner or later, a downselect must be made to avoid pain (physical violence as well as personal misery).

Too many loves, not enough room, you know?

So, I will have to choose...

One really important thing, to me, is how effortless the 14R has been to own. This cycle has been trouble free, bullit-proof as long as I held up my end (and I have). I really really like that aspect of this cycle.

So, I now go on a week long mission to determine what the ownership experience has been for the 1290 Super Duke R, and 1290 Super Adventure owners. Then, I'll decide if I want that (similar) experience. Maybe / Maybe Not...

Another tangible ownership aspect of the 14R, for me, is the support group. This group.

You guys have been priceless, beautiful, in assisting me enjoying the ownership of this 14R cycle. You really make a difference to me, I mean it. Not all, of course, but you know who you are.

This may be something not available with the 1290 SA, or it may be different enough (cold enough, poor enough, different...) to keep me away. It does make a difference, to me. You guys make a difference, to me.

You're all right, Meb.

I've got my eye on the Supper-Duke (lol) too.

Congrats Meb, thats one Adventure bike that is going to rip.

* Last updated by: zx14rider345 on 4/24/2015 @ 4:14 PM *

"I've got my eye on the Supper-Duke (lol) too"

Was looking at that yesterday, Awesome bike also !!!

Ahhh Shit. Now the best looking bloke will be the best looking cat on the ktm. Good on yah man. As long as your happy!!!!

For you Meb, looks like a Blast !!!

* Last updated by: carabuser on 4/26/2015 @ 9:23 AM *

Wolf, gotta admit that every time I see Meb's smooth avatar, I can't help thinking what a natural he would have been in 70's porn flicks.
Meb, any history or foray into this area???

* Last updated by: yannih on 4/25/2015 @ 5:43 PM *

Haha, you guys are awesome, but I'm not "rising" to that bait! Hahahaha...

Damn, Carabuser, that's an Epic ride on an 1190.

That guy is *fearless*, on that huge heavy machine, doing "loose" (ie: not "tight") singletrack.

He has a couple advantage, at least a couple: Its Not His Bike. He Rides Every Day. Ok, he gets laid alot...

He must, to release the back pressure on his Huge Cojones!

Every time I try that shit? <sigh>, "Here I sit, brokenhearted, tried to sh*it, and only... got broke again".

5 weeks to go before rehab starts. I guess I shoulda gone bigger, wound up goin' home, in a brace.

My wife would *kill* me do doing that stuff with a new arm, on a new $22K+ cycle. Kill Me... I'd prolly deserve it, too :)

"but I'm not "rising" to that bait!"

I'll take that as a yes...

Yeah that vid is fantastic! PLUS ... I just visited New Zealand's South Island last November! I forwarded the vid to our NZ friends to see if they recognize any of the areas (I didn't).

Thanks!

Good on Ya Meb!Looks like a killer bike....sheesh...that guy's one helluva rider...totally enjoyed that!

Yeah, I'm retiring to Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand at the end of the year.
I'll check it out...

Yeah, I'm retiring to Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand at the end of the year.

Our friends live in little ol' Oxford, about 45 NW of Christchurch. Pretty small world we live in these days.

Still takes friggin' 26 hours to fly there, though!

One more video for the orange, 1290 Super Duke R

Click Here for Video !!!!

carabuser's vid embedded:

Thanks extrapolator ! forgot to embed !! heres the first video again :

KTM's are incredible but be prepared for some headaches. They are not appliances like Japanese bikes.

Yeah, my research so far validates this view. They're not easy to own.

This idea is giving me pause, too. I *like* riding, more than wrenching :)

That, and frankly, the price. That 1290 SA cycle takes my breath away when I consider how much it will cost to buy, farkle, and own.

OTOH, I have a thrilling 14R in the garage now, what gives me no headache at all.

See where I'm going with this?

I had an SMT that I still can't get out of my head. What a thrill that motor was and the handling was remarkable. It depends on the person. Having a back-up is essential to owning an out-of-this-world euro bike.

The Duke 1290 gets me all squishy. I cry just looking at it.

I think the qualms surrounding the maintenance aspects of high performance Rotax engines is slightly blown out of proportion.

If I can follow the book and wrench a K1600 engine than I can do the same with the 1290.

If you can read and see the abstract in your mind then you're set.