RUST magazine: RUST #44

LONG TERMER
1290 PART THREE
GOES ON
TOUR
LONG TERMER
Words: JB Images: Llewelyn Sullivan-Pavey (action) & JB
It was high time we tested the 1290 Adventure R’s off-road credentials,
although we were fairly certain it would be just fine. So, a long
weekend riding on the trails in the Isle of Man? Yes, it had to be done.
This was meant to be a
dirt test. We’d gone to the
magical Isle of Man to ride
the awesome Adventure
Spec Challenge IoM500. That’s 500km
(over two days) of off-and on-road
adventure riding fun, all part of an
ongoing roadbook rally competition.
Only here I was on the famous TT
course barreling down to the bottom
of Barregarrow Hill at a modestly quick
85mph looking at the blind left kink at
the bottom and wondering whether I
should, perhaps, roll off the throttle.
That’s one of those risk-reward
scenarios. Of course I took the risk,
and the 1290 thundered through the
dip as it banked left, dutifully keeping
to the left side of the road so that we
flew off toward 13th milestone in a
heightened state of happiness. Now
that’s not a patch on the 140-150mph
that the TT racers have on when they
sweep through here; but on a big
adventure bike, on knobblies – well,
fair play KTM (and to the Bridgestone
AX-41s for that matter), no issues.
Certainly as a bonding exercise
(with the 1290) the IoM500 worked.
Often you’ll get guys pouring scorn
on the super-ADVs, saying ‘too big,
not enough fun’. But when it comes
to a one-bike-does-all they’re hard to
beat. And nothing gets you attached
and understanding your bike like a big
ride.
w
72 www.rustsports.com