The Austrian manufacturer had a superlative field day at the EICMA in 2016 when it broke open the shackles to the 1290 Super Duke R and the 1290 Adventure R T and S models. It brought these blistering bikes onto the shores of America except for the 1290 Adventure S road-focused ADV motorcycle.

For 2018, however, KTM North America will be filling that void as well as they get the stage ready for the 1290 Adventure S. Spotted first on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) filings by our friends at motorcycle.com, KTM have completed homologations to add the 'S' to the 2018 adventure lineup.

The United States has been the biggest market for any manufacturer making adventure motorcycles. And with KTM being one of them, it was surprising why they kept one of their best selling big adventure tourers away from us.

Nonetheless, it will now be making its journey into the States for 2018 and will go head to head against the likes of other European road-ADV counterparts such as the R1200GSs', Multistrada 1200s' and the Tiger Explorer XRs' who are happy having all the cake for themselves.

Since there is an exclusion of the 1290 Adventure T model on the CARB filing, we expect the 'S' to replace the 'T' on KTM's 2018 adventure lineup.

According to KTM, the 1290 Super Adventure S offers 'buttery smooth cruising' atop of their extremely grippy and durable Pirelli Scorpion Trail II’s kitted onto 19" and 17" cast wheels. Power comes from a 1301cc V-twin that provides a happy 156hp and 103 lb-ft to play with and comes with MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) and Cruise Control.

It gets adjustable semi-active WP suspension units that adapt the damping rates in real-time and Brembo brakes with MSC featuring cornering ABS.

The bike is heavily kitted with a huge equipment list that includes LED headlight with integrated cornering light and daytime running light (DRL), Multifunction dashboard with 6.5" TFT display, RACE ON (Remote Key System), Waterproof phone pocket with USB, Adjustable ergonomics, Easily adjustable windshield height, Immobilizer, Luggage rack and floating case brackets, Handguards, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and much more.

All of this is surely making headways when it arrives next year and is ready to blow the competition out of the water. Both Ducati and Triumph are also getting their products updated for 2018 as we speak and will be showcased at the upcoming EICMA show in Milan that starts from November 7th.

Stay with us and we will keep updating you with fresh information like price and availability as soon as we get them.