NEW ADVENTURE BIKES FROM KTM, HONDA & KAWASAKI REVEALED

The EICMA show in Milan, Italy is the biggest motorcycle show in the world, and it’s in full swing this week. KTM, Honda and Kawasaki have revealed changes in their adventure bike offerings already. The following press releases are directly from those manufacturers.

KTM 790 ADVENTURE AND KTM 790 ADVENTURE R REVEALED AS 2019 MODEL IN NORTH AMERICA

KTM unveiled its most comprehensive, innovative and extreme range ever when it presented five new motorcycles at the EICMA show in Milan today (Tuesday, November 6).

Leading its 2019 line-up is the eagerly-anticipated KTM 790 ADVENTURE and KTM 790 ADVENTURE R, which is set to hit North American dealerships in spring 2019. “You spoke, we listened.” KTM is a riders’ company and these all-new models are a direct result of customer feedback mixed with the brand’s experience and expertise. Punching way above their cubic capacities, with these two machines KTM sets a new performance and offroad ability benchmark in the mid-capacity Travel Enduro market.

The KTM 790 ADVENTURE is for Travel Enduro fans of every ambition and ability, ready to discover new roads whichever way it’s pointed at – no matter the surface. The KTM 790 ADVENTURE R is a lightweight, agile and technically advanced machine for adventurers that endeavor to challenge themselves, while challenging tricky terrain. Both powered by the 799 cc LC8c parallel twin – first seen in the KTM 790 DUKE – the engine has been tuned to deliver its torque lower down the rev range to fit the specific requirements of adventure riding. The result is smooth acceleration, plentiful performance and a 450 km (280-miles) range from a 20-liter (5.3-gallon) tank.

Each of these rugged bikes has been developed by some of the best adventure riders in the world and in conjunction with the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing Team to provide a confidence-inspiring chassis with a low center of gravity and riding ergonomics to suit riders of all sizes and spirit. A full-suite of rider assistance systems, easily navigated and activated with a bar-mounted menu switch, aligned to a full color, TFT display, allow the adventurous to get the most from these machines in all situations.

Elsewhere in the KTM Travel Enduro range, the incredible KTM 1090 ADVENTURE R, KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S and KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE R receive new colors and graphics to keep these exciting machines looking as sharp and bold as they perform.

Rebooting supermoto for the road, the KTM 690 SMC R returns in 2019 and takes the KTM READY TO RACE approach to its purest incarnation on the street; lightweight, agile, addictive single-cylinder punch, premium chassis components and now backed up by leading performance-enhancing electronics.

Powering the KTM 690 SMC R is the latest generation LC4 engine; the world’s most powerful production single-cylinder engine dishes up devastating power and torque. Getting the most from this performance in all situations is a suite of rider assistance systems. Two ride modes – Street and Sport – cornering ABS, lean angle-sensitive motorcycle traction control (MTC), motor slip regulation (MSR) and Quickshifter+ are new to the game, with the familiar Supermoto ABS mode aiding rear slides with front-end confidence. All this is packaged in an updated chassis and new subframe, supported by the latest generation fully-adjustable WP APEX suspension and wrapped up in slimmer, sharper bodywork. Better still, the fun goes further with a 1.5-liter (.4-gallon) larger fuel tank.

The new KTM 690 ENDURO R is even more perfectly positioned to connect the tarmac and trails, also benefitting from the same engine, electronics and chassis improvements made to its sliding Supermoto sibling, but in a platform completely focused on offroad.

Evolution means retaining everything that was good about the previous model and building on that. Under the new seat and fresh bodywork – sharpened for both style as well as better movement on the bike – is an all-new chassis with WP XPLOR suspension derived from KTM’s world-beating EXC models. Designed to be confidence-inspiring with ease of handling, it is ready to tackle everything from easy trails to extreme offroad obstacles, as well as being a competent every day street bike. Endless enduro without the need to ever trailer to the trails.

As unveiled last month in Cologne, also joining the 2019 range is a sharper, stronger and more refined version of the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT. The most radical long-distance Sports Tourer on the market takes the best from ‘The Beast’; phenomenal engine performance, street handling and race track capabilities of the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R are brought into a machine that is as happy munching massive miles in comfort as it is carving up challenging corners. Major updates to this premium machine can be found in the engine, suspension, electronics and bodywork with a focus on improving comfort and performance – be it while two-up touring, continent cruising or track attacking.

Additionally, the 2019 KTM 790 DUKE recently made its anticipated North American debut, hitting dealerships this month. With the agility and purity you’d expect from a single, combined with the hard-hitting punch of a twin, the KTM 790 DUKE carves up the road with pinpoint precision as the most compact twin in its class.

The introduction of these new models sees the 2019 KTM range as distinctive and diverse as ever, with something for riders of all ages and abilities to create unforgettable riding memories in the unique READY TO RACE style. For more news about the KTM 2019 model range please visit www.ktm.com or your nearest official KTM dealer.

KAWASAKI

NEW 2019 VERSYS® 1000 SE LT+
ANY ROAD, ANY TIME – Kawasaki is a company that is synonymous with versatility, innovation, and the pursuit of absolute performance, and nothing embodies this philosophy more than the all-new 2019 Versys® 1000 SE LT+. It is the most versatile adventure-style motorcycle Kawasaki has ever made; it is ready for any road, any time. For 2019, the all-new Kawasaki Versys SE LT+ features a 1,043cc in-line four cylinder power plant, utilizing the latest technology in engine tuning and design, as well as a high-performance chassis and a full suite of state of the art advanced rider support features.

NEW KECS (Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension)
NEW Smooth Engine with Electronic Throttle Valves and KQS
NEW Electronic Suite including KCMF and KIBS
NEW TFT Color Instrumentation with Integrated Riding Modes
NEW Smartphone Connectivity via RIDEOLOGY THE APP
NEW Bodywork with LED Headlights and Cornering Lights

HONDA

Honda announced today that its adventure line welcomes significant improvements to the CB500X for the 2019 model year. The midsized, parallel-twin-cylinder machine remains one of the most maneuverable, rider-friendly, easy-to-own motorcycles on the road, and now performance updates encourage a greater sense of adventure.

With a 19″ front wheel, more aggressive tire treads, increased front and rear suspension travel and updated styling with a more upright riding position, the CB500X is truly adventure-ready, and improvements to the engine’s intake tract, valve timing and exhaust result in increased torque and crisper throttle response.

“While the CB500X has been popular in stock form, some more adventurous riders have turned to the aftermarket to suit their needs in recent years,” said Lee Edmunds, American Honda’s Senior Manager of Powersports Marketing. “For 2019, Honda engineers have followed our customers’ lead and made a number of revisions to the chassis and engine, moving the CB500X alongside Honda’s full-size and entry ADV models as a truly adventure-ready motorcycle.”

In addition, Honda announced the return of other adventure models for the 2019 model year, including the NC750X and CRF250L Rally, as well as the CRF250L dual-sport bike.

Pricing and availability will be released at a later date.