KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

The naked motorcycles from KTM always had the most aggressive design language among their respective rivals. And with the 1290 Super Duke R, KTM has taken the game to the next level. The overall design language of the 1290 Super Duke R is by far the most aggressive one which we have seen from KTM, and makes the bike look futuristic as well.

At the front, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R has got the new-age diamond shaped headlamp cluster. It comprises of daytime running LEDs at the edges and full LED headlight assembly within it, which is partitioned into two parts with a line running in the centre.

The side profile of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R looks muscular and minimalist at the same time, thanks to the beefy looking fuel tank and the lack of body panels on the sides. The big fuel tank has a sleek and angular looking extension, which complements well with the inclination angle of the front headlamp assembly.

The lack of proper side body panels means that the engine, as well as trellis frame, are exposed in their full glory right from below the fuel tank all the way to the rear tail. This make the bike look quite mean. The single piece exhaust pipe, however, is quite small, and could have been a bit bigger to go well with the muscular theme of the motorcycle. KTM has made the 1290 Super Duke R’s rear quite minimal looking, thanks to a petite LED tail light and a small rear fender.

The fully digital instrument console on the 1290 Super Duke R is by far the most comprehensive one which we have seen on a flagship KTM. Though it is not as futuristic looking as the Duke 390, it packs in two LCD screens – while the right one encased along with the analogue tachometer shows the speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, gear indicator and clock, the left one placed at an offset shows the real-time data like average fuel consumption, average speed, distance to empty, etc.

KTMs have always been known for their tremendous handling characteristics, courtesy the top-notch hardware they are blessed with. The 1290 Super Duke R is no different, with the motorcycle getting upside down telescopic forks at the front and monoshock with single-sided swingarm at the rear, both of which are sourced from WP. The stiffly sprung suspension is complemented with the sharp high-end Brembo disc brakes the 1290 Super Duke R has got, making it a true-blue fun machine to ride.

Powering the KTM 1290 Super Duke R is the twin cylinder engine which has been developed by KTM. The four-stroke, liquid-cooled, fuel injected, 1301 cc V-twin engine of the motorcycle generates a maximum power of 180 PS and a peak torque output of 141 Nm, making it one of the most powerful flagship naked motorcycles on sale globally. This lightweight and super responsive engine is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox with slick and short gear ratios.

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R, given its flagship positioning, has been equipped with all the possible safety features, the list of which includes cornering ABS with supermoto mode, electronic stability control, traction control, cruise control, three different ride modes, quick shifter, keyless ignition, tire pressure monitoring system, auto-cancelling turn signals and MyRide technology for wireless tethering of your smartphone to the instrument console via Bluetooth.

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is an epitome of hooliganism on two wheels, with its super aggressive nature in almost every aspect making it a sharp ended scalpel on two wheels. It is quite hard to tame by amateur riders, given its super responsive performance and sharp riding dynamics, but in the hands of a seasoned rider, it is a great tool for both street as well as track performance.