Beauty in the eye of the beholder? KTM vs Ducati

[GG33]

Purely from a styling point of view, do we prefer the KTM 1290 Super Adventure or the Ducati Multistrada 1260.
It could be argued that both front ends are somewhat questionable, I'm still trying to decide

Discuss...

[Cylon2007]

If I had to pick one of those 2 only it would be the Ducati, I don't really like the styling of either though

[underwhelmist]

I’m sure they’re amazingly capable bikes but neither is particularly good looking to me. I think the 90s was the peak of bike styling - see the Fireblade, R1, 916 etc. As for adventure bikes the Tenere in its various guises and the Africa Twin look better than these two. Motorbike-shaped motorbikes.

[moles]

Ducati.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Ducati - the KTM looks like you're about to be headbutted by an angry, stinging insect.

[dibblecorse]

I chose the Ducati over the KTM, just couldn't get over how bad the KTM looks ....

[Pebbles167]

The KTM looks functional and ugly, design wasnt a big consideration. The Ducati looks like it at least went through some sort of styling process, even if the end result looks odd.

I think adventure bikes are nearly always ugly, albeit cool and tough looking. I'd take the BMW R1250GS Rallye

[KurtFlew]

Id choose the KTM if it's purely looks. That weird two tier front on the Ducati doesn't do it for me.

[shirt]

Neither. I really dislike the insect look. I’d also take the gs if it was purely a styling decision

[Cavey]

I had a 1260 Multi last year for a bit. Amazing bike but they look like an Angry Bird. KTMs look like Brundlefly.

[Alimarsh]

I love the look of the Multistrada, probably a good few years off but definitely want one in future

[Krikkit]

Pebbles167 said:

The KTM looks functional and ugly, design wasnt a big consideration. The Ducati looks like it at least went through some sort of styling process, even if the end result looks odd.

I think adventure bikes are nearly always ugly, albeit cool and tough looking. I'd take the BMW R1250GS Rallye

The GS looks great to me, apart from the stupid cylinder heads sticking out... Bloody awful.


Africa Twin for me.

Back to the OP, I quite like them both.

ETA: I think the 1290 is improved by lack of boxes. I saw one with the Akra exhaust a few months ago and that looked much better than the Euro-whatever compatible dustbin.

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 29th October 12:52

Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 29th October 12:52

[MrGman]

I must be one of a few then that loves the look of the KTM, probably helps that at the TT one year I was out for an early run over the mountain on my 2016 R1, and had a 1290 adventure doing a bloody good job of keeping up!!
I did look at buying one but the insurance on them is bloody ridiculous.

[Junior Bianno]

I must be biased as I have one, but I love the look of Multi. Best looking adventure bike out there to my eyes. One of the main reasons I got it. Get loads of compliments on it from non-bike people, so I think it's bit of a looker.

I like KTMs and had one before....but the 1290SA is a genuine munter. Capable, but fugly.

[Prof Prolapse]

Krikkit said:

The GS looks great to me, apart from the stupid cylinder heads sticking out... Bloody awful.

Good when it goes down with bars in the dirt and you can pick it up though.

Assuming a rock doesn't go through the gap and your cylinder head.

A mixed blessing perhaps...

[seveb]

Bloody hell, are you all going to get your nails painted this weekend in fuchsia

It's how it goes that matters not how it looks, and the KTM will be streets ahead !

[carinaman]

I really buy into the current KTM LED headlamp design.

[Krikkit]

Prof Prolapse said:

Krikkit said:

The GS looks great to me, apart from the stupid cylinder heads sticking out... Bloody awful.

Good when it goes down with bars in the dirt and you can pick it up though.

Assuming a rock doesn't go through the gap and your cylinder head.

A mixed blessing perhaps...

Yeah from a practical sense it all evens itself out, I was going purely aesthetic

[GG33]

I was really only looking at the front end. Agree, the boxes don't look good, or the massive exhaust.

GG33

[Prof Prolapse]

Krikkit said:

Yeah from a practical sense it all evens itself out, I was going purely aesthetic

Africa Twin all the way.