New Africa Twin v KTM 1050 Adventure

[SteveW]

The KTM 1050 Adventure is an absolute flop, you can get a new one for under 9K.
I expect with haggling you'd get even more off the price or may be some luggage thrown in.
But will the Africa Twin be a better bike?
Resurrecting the Africa Twin name and crafty peep-show marketing has probably paid off for Honda.
Is the 1050 really a crap bike?

[SteveR]

1050, neither fish nor fowl...

Good looking off-road bike that is not suitable to go off-road?? :whistle: Unlike the old 950/990 beasts!

[AndyB]

I think the new AT will outsell the 1050 Adventure by a margin of 20:1 if Honda can make enough but is it a better bike? Nobody will ever know because any tests will pitch the AT up against the 1190R which is more like it's real target market.

I don't know why KTM brought out the 1050 to run alongside the 1190 models because no matter what any salesman says, the majority of buyers will always go for the extra power and better suspension.

[SteveW]

Most new Africa Twins won't see much "Off Road" action, well not until they are on their second or third owners.
Too big, too expensive and think about its future value at the end of the PCP :laugh:
I reckon for road use the 1050 will be the Africa Twin's match. I expect the prices for the 1050 will continue to fall, KTM can't shift any.
I think KTM missed a trick with the 1050, it should have been the new 990.

[AndyB]

When I bought my 1190 (not the R version) I told the salesman that what I really wanted was a replacement for the 990 SMT so he persuaded me to have a quick go on a 1050 because all the staff in the shop thought it was a better bike than the 1190. Sorry but it wasn't.

If I'd trusted my Multistrada not to destroy itself I'd have kept it another year and had a new 1290 Superduke GT but I didn't think it would last the expected 5k miles I had planned for last summer and then I knackered my shoulder and didn't do many miles so could have waited. Such is life.

[SteveW]

The 1050 Adventure KTM is probably the more "honest" bike when I compare it to the new AT.
It's got similar power, looks and riding position, but unlike the AT it's not been marketed to middle aged men as a hard edged Enduro Adventure bike. I bet they'll be plenty of AT's keeping GS's company outside Starbucks.
The big problem for the 1050 is that the 1190 is so bloody good.

[ZX Raziel]

1050 its a great bike IMO and good looking , not everybody needs 150+ HP , The isue i have with it - Cast alloy wheels and lesser suspension ... If they had a Top shelf suspension , spoked wheels R version i would be riding one by now instead of waiting for the new AT . :whistle:

[boboneleg]

1050 its a great bike IMO and good looking , not everybody needs 150+ HP , The isue i have with it - Cast alloy wheels and lesser suspension ... If they had a Top shelf suspension , spoked wheels R version i would be riding one by now instead of waiting for the new AT . :whistle:

Great answer (thumbs)

[CRAIGREVO]

I cant understand why anyone would buy a bike that has been designed to go offroad and never use it offroad.
Why wouldn't you buy a bike that suits your riding?


There is something really sad about a 21" front wheel wrapped in road rubber.

[AndyB]

I cant understand why anyone would buy a bike that has been designed to go offroad and never use it offroad.
Why wouldn't you buy a bike that suits your riding?


There is something really sad about a 21" front wheel wrapped in road rubber.

You'll be lucky to find a 21" tyre in decent road compound but there's plenty of choice if you want an 'all purpose' tyre that you can grow to love.