KTM got us hooked ever since it started releasing teaser videos of its new 1290 Super Duke R. We had a feeling that it won’t be a totally new motorcycle but putting the image of its current model into the equation, we realised KTM didn’t need to put up a brand-new motorcycle. The 1290 Super Duke R is still a beast and it has just gone beefier!
Unveiled at the ongoing EICMA 2019, the new 1290 Super Duke R gets a handful of cosmetic changes that include sharper and more muscular tank shrouds that incorporate air intakes and aero winglets, there’s a new underseat cowl at the rear to hide the exposed sub-frame, and we also have a newly designed LED tail lamp.
KTM’s signature LED headlamp remains the same but now it houses a ram air intake in between the two split headlamps.
Even though the new 1290 Super Duke R is powered by the same 1301cc, LC8, V-twin engine that produces 177 bhp and 140 Nm of torque, it has given the bike a brand-new frame which is three-times stiffer than before. Also, this frame is 2 kg lighter and thus, also should improve the handling of the bike even further.
KTM has also increased the length of the single-sided swingarm by a bit and tweaked the design of the sub-frame for better feel and traction.
For the electronics, the 1290 Super Duke R gets four riding modes (Rain, Street, Sport, Track), lean-sensitive traction control, launch control, rear-wheel lift control, quick shifter and cornering ABS with Supermoto mode.
