I just love how every single episode Zac sounds like he's woken up in his moto gear and rolled out the door, and progressively gets more awake as he rides along.

I love the random question read and answer at the end, "Does a helmet fit in the bags" "...yeah..." "why no shaft drive" "Idk Im not KTM..." LOL Zack you really are one of my favorite moto reviewers, you and Ari are awesome. Keep up the awesome work.

Finally another MC commute! Fav show on youtube about bikes

Wet weight is 524 lbs with full tank. It's the lightest big adventure bike even with the largish fuel tank.

Cruise control not functioning when traction control is turned off might be due to the problems old cars had with cruise control, where using it in low traction or wet conditions could cause a loss of traction with the throttle remaining wide open. I remember when I was younger using cruise control in the rain on a highway, in a corner my rear end lost traction and the cruise control caused my car to bounce off the rev limiter for like a second or two before it disengaged, which made be lose control even more quickly. Maybe just a precaution I suppose. Luckily I just spun out and lightly tapped the gutter after passing through 2 empty lanes.

Awesome! Love these MC Commute videos. You and Ari have really cornered the market (and our hearts ;)) when it comes to quality, down to earth motorcycling content! Keep em coming!

Cruise on. Hit slippery surface (ice?). Risk is cruise keeps feeding in throttle, wheel breaks traction, cruise gives more throttle slide becomes uncontrollable, rider has a bad day. Maybe. 9:05

You make me wish the were more motorcycles for you to review. Your ability to discern between flaws and preference is my favorite aspect of your reviews. Your reviews are the best, not like the best, not among the best, just the best. I suppose that's the preference thing though. Thanks, be well and ride safe!

In love with this channel. Keep up the good work sir.

The TC question: not just ice or very wet, modern cruise control is designed to maintain set speed which will cause the throttle to open or close depending on the topography (up hill, down hill regardless if you're in the middle of a turn or not), So imagine your an a wet road in Scotland going up a steep hill and in a turn, when the bike decides to accelerate suddenly you could easily loose control. Also this bike is design to travel off-road on loose surfaces i.e. Carratera Austral (1000KM of gravel) where cruise control comes very handy, as you'll ride with an average speed of 40KM/H (do your own math). Anyway same principal as above applies. Another point, as you ride with CC on, you're usually more relaxed on the bike, sudden changes in declaration and/or acceleration can cause loss of control of the bike and you're down before you've had a chance to react. This is of course amplified with heavy luggage and 2 up riding.

Thanks for another video. I personally think this is a better review then a typical magazine article. A little less-refined - which is a good thing. More relate-able. Looking forward to more

Zack your hilarious love the quick Q and A at the end! I think you should do that regularly

Good job with the whole channel. Thanks! Keep 'em coming. We play this non-stop in our shops.

Favourite motorcycle channel, and I do not say that lightly. I've pretty much watched them all. Your videos help me through the 6 month period of the year that I am not able to ride. Last few months before spring are torture though :(

Zack you have a fantastic nack for doing these reviews. Thanks. The timing of this review could not have come at a better time as I am truly considering this bike versus the BMW.

That sound effect of exhaust was awesome 😂 daga daga daga

Great review, and you hit all the highlights of this bike. I just bought the 2020 - 1290 Super Adv S, and am really happy with it. Tons of power, handles great, perfect ergo's for me, 6'0", with a 32" inseam. I don't have much trouble flat footing it. It was funny, right at the beginning when you let out about the $1200 cost of the hard bags, my wife turned and said, aren't they the ones you just ordered???? That was the end of that conversation, lol.

Would love to see the MY17 KTM 390 Duke commute.

I think the Super Adventure T was the best of all worlds, larger tank for touring, it had spoke wheels for off-road, it had factory crash bars also for off road use, it has better wind protection for touring and the same size wheels as the S for handling. I would be hard pressed to buy the “S” model over a Super Duke GT.

Very good review ! I'm not objective with the bike, since I own one, but... Yes, the brake feels a bit soft at the beginning (probably for dirt purpose ?) and I would have preferred it with more bite too, but it is VERY powerful, one finger is enough for emergency braking. I wouldn't say the mirrors are perfect : they are ok, but the left one isn't as good as the right one (because of its bracket, which prevents from tuning it as it should/could). The bike should come with all the electronic options activated at no charge, and the heated grips as well. But once fitted or activated, everything works perfectly well. KTM luggage isn't very tempting : they melt in the bike's looks (except for the top case, in my opinion), but they are so plasticky ! And the previous model encountered big problems with the locks, etc. I went for a full SW-Motech kit, and I don't regret it. Same price, better looks perhaps and no worry. Plus you can unmount the brackets in less than 30 seconds). Yes, the bike is quite huge and the seat height is impressive : I'm 6" tall and it takes some practice to feel confident on it at low speed (especially with the comfort seat). ... Otherwise, I'm so glad I picked that biked : I quickly realised that this is the bike I had been wanting for so many years, without knowing it. Just not as nimble as my previous SMT, but what a machine... "Vibrations on the highway ? No, it pulses, just like it should." Exactly. There is such a good big twin feel with this bike. In many respects, this engine is the big twin I had always wanted. I just couldn't find one with all the qualities put together at their best. And here they are. This engine is unreal. Electronic suspension just works, and the different modes are entirely purposeful. Yeah, everyone with a new bike is glad with it. Maybe. Try one ;-)

The bike can’t see the road, but it can sense the speed of the bike. So if you’re riding in the rain with cruise control on and your rear tire loses traction, causing you to slow down even a little, the bike is going to try to get you back up to speed. It doesn’t know the road is wet and the rear tire doesn’t have traction with traction control off so it’ll probably just end up flooring it when you already don’t have traction. That’s my best guess

I'd love to see a V-Strom commute. Wonder what are your opinions on the newest model and comparing it with the Versys. Great video!

"Roasted Buns"?? Had the privilege of test riding the 2017 1290 SAS for 4hrs. The only negative was the heat the bike produced. Please share with us your experience on the 2018 model. Thanks.

Great commute review as always! I appreciate your comments regarding perceived size of the bike and whether you can flat-foot it. Some of the bikes in this category are either just too tall or too top heavy for us mid-sized people to comfortably handle.

Modern motorcycles are too complex. So much to go wrong. The usual superb review.

12:51 after several months of wet miserable winter with slippery, crud covered roads I have to admit I was having palpitations when he started leaning it that far :-D

Zack, I'd love to see you take out a Honda NM4. I know it's probably a long shot that such a niche model is in the press fleet, but it was ever so slightly revised for 2018, so maybe there's a chance.

Great job as usual Zack! Can I add a FJR 1300 to the list of requests? Thanks in advance!

Great video as always, love the bike cause I'm tall. I know its been cold lately but... Hows the heat off the engine? Compared to like the multistrada or GS.

Great job Zack as always!

Thanks Zack. Great video, look forward to the dash video.

VANVAN200!! Now there is a real adventure bike

KTM claims 160hp for this version as well, seems odd that it only showed 128hp, were you measuring it in 3rd gear? I hear 3rd gear is closest to a direct ratio

These really are the best reviews, love the MC Commute 👍

Would like to hear your thoughts on a VMax. Also, when you can get your hands on a new Speed Triple and CB1000r, I'd like to see them as well. Great vid as always, keep up the great work!

Brilliant review as per usual. Thanks to you, I am now torn between the GS and the KTM! Good on you mate!

Spring is just around the corner guys!!!!

Would like to see either the 390 Duke or the 690 Duke. Actually would like to see both.

Traction control is admittedly not of much use in sunny SoCal. But in cold wet weather it is extremely useful. BTW Honda ST1100 had traction control 26 years ago.

Im getting one tomorrow! So stoked!!!

So what is your comparison the KTM 1290 and the Multistrada 1200 or 1260? Im torn between the two!!!! Whats your take?

Hi Zack, which one is better in traffic? In terms of weight and Manoeuvrability KTM or GS? Thanks 🙏

Traded my GSw in for one of these. Crazy good bike. A quick demo ride really doesn't do it justice. Once you work with the LC8 for awhile, everything else kinda pales by comparison (he said, also having a Multi 1200DVT w/full Termi in the garage).

What an excellent review. Thanks for your good work.

Zack great review but i've read that the traction control is actual quite good on the 1290S and that in sport it even lets you wheelie for as long as you want. You had it in road so propably that's why it cut the power when wheelied until you turned it off. Next time you ride one of these have a go on the Sport mode, I'm curious to know if it is actually like that. Power wheelies are the most fun of the commuting part anyways

Is a 790 Duke ride on the cards in the near future?

Your sound quality is immaculate especially during riding. Could you tell me what setup you used? Thanks for the video!

Great vid, again Zack. So this bike, Multistrada Enduro, or the new Triumph 1200 any thoughts?

Zack the kind of guy whose way to his job is his job.

Nice! Its snowing where I live so this will calm my riding urge for 19min

At 12:17-12:18 you say OK Cruse control, and it triggered Google Assistant! 😂

Please ride a Triumph Tiger 1200 XCa on MC commute

Liked before the end of the video, just because of the backing it in thumbnail ...

Any comments on 2up riding? As much fun they are ripping through the canyons, they are also made for 2up touring to a certain extent. I'm always hunting for some reviews which have 2up riding. What's the passenger's comfort level?

Seems odd that KTM are sticking to chain drive, whereas BMW and Yamaha of the same or similar engine capacity use shaft drives, which I prefer. I own a BMW GS, but I like the KTM's design and layout of the controls. I think a lot of bike adventurers will like this one.

Ok so if you had to pick between this ktm 1290 SA S or the BMW GS or GSA what would you pick??

Always nice vids zack.. Thumbs up.

Wildlife on the road - Bobcat, classic!!

I really enjoy all your video's, thank you so much.

New speed triple as soon as you can can't wait to see you commute on that

Hey Zack, I owned a 1190R the first year. Great bike, but miserably hot at seat and right thigh. Did you have the same heat issue with the 1290?

best review on this bike to date

YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHSSSSSSS . . . another episode ! They NEED to do something about that water heater size muffler . . . maybe a low mount option ? Wish it had a 17" front wheel(better tires, less weight). I have no use for a 19"(all I do is asphalt). Terrific motorcycle, $$$ be damned.

Great job Zack! Maybe a VFR800f/Interceptor commute some day? Keep it up!

This man is a hero

The cruise control and traction control are likely controlled by the same computer. I know BMW has done this in all of their recent bikes. (This is why the s1000rr got cruise control before all other superbikes)

I loved the barage of questions at the end. Keep it up in other videos

Yep, I really enjoyed this review. Glad ktm changed that look from the 990... It looked like a WWII tank, burned fuel like a WWII tank, and from Austria. It was clearly made from old panzer parts.

What motorbikes do you guys use for commuting purpose in your country ??

What about HEAT issues on the seat and left leg? Does anybody know if KTM fixed it? I’m about to buy either a 1290R or a África Twin and living in Florida heat is an issue. THANKS

love the review and really liking this bike... but 1 big question about this bike... how's the heat?? warm weather... or stop and go?

I'm also 6'2 and my Tiger Explorer is really nice for a taller dude. As was the Super Tenere when I tried it, haven't tried the ktm but I really would like a ride on this bike

As always, nice work

Another strong review! Great work! I love mine wouldn't trade it for anything :)

Great review! Just one question, which one would you pick between this and the BMW s1000xr? For canyon riding and weekend travel?Thanks!

Do a video of a typical work day is for you at motorcyclist HQ

Just about 10-minutes in, you comment on traction control with cruise control. I would argue that KTM designed it as such for the safety of those people who choose to use cruise control during inclement weather 🤔

Nice! But totally jealous...can't wait to get my bikes out again

Shaft drive adds about 120lb to a bike which is why I loved my FJ1200 but am less keen on the FJR1300 which replaced it. Too darned heavy in the parking lot. It handles its weight well on the move, but not in the garage.

Most badass look I've seen on motorcycle. Absolutely loving this new look from KTM, now if only I could afford to drop $20k for this bike including some of the accessories.

Yeah , the KTM Duke 390 and the Ducati XDiavel S.

No dank whoolie on the last road into work :(. Sick bike though, what a powerhouse!

Exhaust placement is not effective, I think the right panniers are small dimensions 🍻

I would love it if KTM would sell the 1090 Adventure in the U.S. and not just the Adventure R model. I like adventure bikes but not so much with a 21in front tire. And this 1290 S is out of my price range.

Zack, How is the Seat Comfort? Is it Firm or Soft? How is the seat build. Is it narrow or Wide enough for longer rides?

Fantastic video yet again. Struggling with a very hard decision I have to make....do I buy one of these or a GS!!

Great video, Zack.

Did you get any wind buffeting around your head at speed? Or was it clean air

Really good job. One of your best.

Hey Zack, You covered just about everything that could be covered. I would have liked more info on the lights (headlight) pros and cons?

Are the heated grips warm enough? On my 1190 ADV I didn't like them compared to the Oxford Grips...

That was great and makes me wanna test drive this beauty.

I own a 2013 GS which is a nice machine but reliability has been a major issue. Looking at the ADV as a potential replacement. One nice thing about the GS though is that it's great in hot weather as the heat stays low and it's a pretty cool running engine anyway. Could you please comment on the heat (or lack of) in your videos as a matter of course? Probably not a big deal where you are but a major consideration for us living in sunnier parts of the world. Especially since your comments are from the commuter's prospective.

Hi Zach. Do you use earplugs during these recordings or when commuting in general? Keep up the great videos. 👍

Great review. . Seems a while since the last commute

Not sold on the headlights. Maybe it looks better in person? Also, the cost of those side bags are crazy!

I love this bike! Easily the best bike on the market.

Regulars - MC commuters - know why he's adjusting ABS :D loved that.

How does this bike compare to the new Multistrata V4.

Zack,What gloves are you wearing in the video? Nice combo of subtle style and protection it looks like.