As far as big, multi-cylinder ADV machines go, BMW and KTM have been battling tooth and nail to be the top of the top, and it looks like the orange brand is flexing its muscles. That would be 1,301ccs of muscle to be exact. That is a mind-boggling amount of motor in any motorcycle, let alone one designed, at least in part, for the dirt. KTM has played around with its big-bike displacement over the years. There was a 950, a 990, and an 1190. Now, for 2017, they have settled on two versions; an 1090 and 1290, the latter of which our sister publication, Motorcyclist, got to ride down in Peru. For the full story you can click here.
While we haven't got our hands on one yet, we most likely will be reaching out to KTM to try the 1090 instead, just because it is, hopefully, a little lighter and more dirt-bike like than its bigger brother. In the past we have had a chance to spend a fair amount of time on the 1190 Adventure, which was surprisingly apt in the terra firma. For proof, check out this video of extreme enduro rider Chris Birch flogging the 1190 like his 300 two-stroke.