Just had a big breakfast at Fowlers' cafe in Bristol and afterwards wandered over the the KTM franchise bit to have a look at the 2017 1290. Doesn't matter what I thought of everything else, the bike's styling and character is dominated by that new front headlight arrangement. I'm a big fan of Kiska design and what they've done for KTM over the years. And I love the angular lines of my 990. But I think KTM have maybe lost the plot. This new plastic LED device looks like some sort of Dyson vacuum cleaning device or a revolutionary new Tefal kitchen aid for washing salads. The kind that you use once and then throw into the back of the corner cupboard still in its box and never use again. It's very plasticky and rather silly.

The eager salesman was at pains to tell me about the fact that has a slot down the centre to aid cooling because the lights generate a lot of heat and that this was a far better solution than BMW - who had put a fan behind their version. I'm like, "Yes, and so what. It doesn't make the front end not look like it's been driven at speed into the side of a bus does it?"

And that's the problem for me. Combined with the really minimal instrument panel (which is almost not there visually) The whole front end looks wrong. Like some mutated insect lava that crawled out of it's post-nuclear, radio-active nest crippled and only half formed.

If I had £14,000 to spend this might well be a deal breaker.





I guess I'm just old school me.

And that's the problem for me. Combined with the really minimal instrument panel (which is almost not there visually) The whole front end looks wrong. Like some mutated insect lava that crawled out of it's post-nuclear, radio-active nest crippled and only half formed.

^^ That is a good description. But I kinda like it. Less is better sometimes.
That Kawi brings back memories. Briefly had one similar after I sold my Blue H2.

Don't mind the headlight. Not keen on the new tail piece or the fact it doesn't come in orange anymore.

I'm quite liking the headlamp. Dash looks way cleaner than the previous models. The lack of orange frame is a major disappointment

I actually think it looks better than the first 1290, which is a total mess.

But I still prefer the 990 SDR to both of them!

If the head lights are getting really hot like the salesman said you can bet your left one
That the clear plastic will start to crack over time.

I wasn't a fan of the old 1290 when it first came out as all of the hype and teaser pics and then we all saw what eventually the public was going to get ! But getting rid of that awful exhaust,and in black it started to grow on me. It's amazing how you can buy a BMW S1000 and it comes with Akro's as standard that look nice yet half the manufacturers put on some atrocity and we spend a large chunk of wedge on what we actually want.
I'm yet to see the 2017 model, but I'm worried Ktm aren't making what we desire. Still have my 990SD in white and it still makes my gentleman vegetables tingle just looking at it and always gathers a crowd.

Yes comrades I also think the headlight looks hideous. In fact, I'm probably old school as well. I was never really all that much of a fan of the original flat slabby look headlight and I think that's why the 2007 style conversion was so popular. I agree that one can't really go past a round headlight and stand up round instruments. My only proviso would be that the instruments should be bright coloured digital with the ability of the user to upload new designs and menu's.

Yup it's possibly a sign of age comrade Agro but I often look at these images from Spirit Of The Seventies and think one day ...

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=spir ... dSKqtNM%3A

Maybe Its because the old style bikes look minimalistic.
But I do like that KTM with the round head light..
I own a 08 Speed triple and a guzzi V7stone that I basically made into a racer but with better suspension upgrades and loud pipes

I have to admit that ever since the 1290 was released I have been looking for an alternative headlight assembly or even to design a totally new one. I just can't find a suitable replacement from another bike and both my alternative design mockups just don't look quite right. its always difficult to redesign and end up with something that looks any good, mainly because the rest of the bike is difficult to match
The new light looks worse than the original i recon.