THE road-oriented dual purpose category is one of the most hotly contested genres in all of motorcycling.
Manufacturers, whether Japanese or European, are all releasing newer and better models and even reviving old model names to vie for the consumers' ringgit.
That this is all happening, despite the onset of the global pandemic, shows the importance of this red-hot category.
KTM's Super Adventure model has always been at the sharp end of this category. One of my favourite KTMs, the Super Adventure has it all; power, speed, comfort, style, gadgets galore and is a capable off-roader to boot.
Despite all this, KTM has seen fit to hone the Super Adventure to the sharpest edge yet with the new 2021 Super Adventure S.
There was no need for more power. A claimed 160 hp @ 8,750 rpm and 138 Nm of torque @ 6,750 rpm was, it must be said, (almost) too much but KTM lightened the 1,301 cc LC8 power unit and redesigned the oiling and cooling system.
An optional quickshifter operates a new Pankl gear mechanism for better feel and performance. The whole shebang is rotated forwards 2 degrees to improve handling.
Speaking of the chassis, the frame is all-new, shorter and with a longer swingarm. Rake and trail were massaged to create sharper steering without sacrificing stability.
The rider aids on the previous Super Adventure were numerous and the new one adds more to the fray. A radar-based adaptive cruise control, developed by Bosch, is adjustable in five levels.
The semi-active WP suspension is also improved via additional rear preload adjustability. Standard settings are Comfort, Street and Sport and two optional extra damping modes are Off-Road and Auto. An interesting option is the anti-dive mode. A new six-axis Bosch IMU controls all parameters of the other comprehensive rider aids, as well.
A Rally mode is now an option to add to the Rain, Street, Sport and Off-Road power modes and switched via new backlit switchgear.
Everything is beamed onto a brand new, 7 inch color TFT display which is Bluetooth compatible, naturally. Otherwise, how would you connect the My Ride app from your smartphone to your new Super Adventure S?
To increase rider comfort, the bodywork is redesigned to be slimmer and utilizes 3 fuel tanks; a small central tank and two panniers, totaling 23 litres.
Moreover, the seat is easily adjustable from 869 mm to 849 mm, the footrests can be moved 10 mm and the windscreen is manually adjustable over a 55 mm range via either left or right handwheels.
The brakes and wheels remain the same but the new Super Adventure S is 5 kg heavier than the outgoing version, at 245 kg.
The new Super Adventure S retails at RM132,800.00. Contact your dealer to see whether you will plump for the Rally Pack (Rally mode, MTC slip adjuster, adjustable throttle response), the Suspension PRO Pack (individual damping for the fork and shock, auto preload settings and adjustment, anti-dive setting and damping modes) or the Tech Pack (all of the above plus quickshifter+, adaptive brake light, hill hold control, and Motor Slip Regulation).