So I had the good fortune of riding a 1290 and 1100RR back to back last week. A friend was visiting from interstate and one of our good friends used to work at a large bike shop here in Brisbane and pulled some strings to get them both some bikes and I got one too.

1290 was a great ride, std exhaust is a bit soft though

I'm having this exact debate with myself. They're both awesome bikes, and I'm back and forth about which is the right choice for me. The torque, comfort, and ease of riding the KTM, versus the slightly more mental and aggressive ride of the Aprilia (plus the V-4). Handlebar risers for the Aprilia are available, but I'm not sure about lowering the foot pegs. If I find a solution for that, the choice becomes even more difficult.