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We tested the KTM 1290 Super Duke R: the 180 hp beast gains control, but maintains all its character
We tested the KTM 1290 Super Duke R: the 180 hp beast gains control, but maintains all its character

Video: We tested the KTM 1290 Super Duke R: the 180 hp beast gains control, but maintains all its character

Video: We tested the KTM 1290 Super Duke R: the 180 hp beast gains control, but maintains all its character
Video: 2021 KTM 390 Adventure | The Best Small ADV ? 2024, March
Anonim

There are motorcycles that take you from one place to another, motorcycles that tell you things and others that excite you. The KTM 1290 Super Duke R It is one of those that are in this third group, because it is all character and emotion.

The latest generation of the Super Duke R lineage has arrived in 2020 with the same recipe as always. On the outside there are some changes, on the inside a new more refined electronics and an engine prepared to overcome the Euro 5, but despite everything it maintains that aura of a motorcycle unleashed.

KTM 1290 Super Duke R: the untamed beast

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 005
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 005

Naked bikes with a large displacement and sporty cut have evolved a lot in recent years. We have gone from having naked bikes with racing aspirations to having sport bikes that have been stripped almost completely and equipped with a wide handlebar to become beasts for the road with powers that far surpass those of many sports cars of only a few generations ago.

Just look at how in the market we have machines like the BMW S 1000 R or the Yamaha MT-10 as representatives of the old school, but concepts that once seemed radical to us have now been left behind seeing other monsters like the new Ducati Streetfighter V4 or the supercharged Kawasaki Z H2. Motorcycles of 200 hp or more without fairing.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 009
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 009

With each manufacturer following their own recipe and taking advantage of the platform of their sports bikes in one way or another, KTM stays true to its principles to do the things that Mattighofen gets out of the gonads. That is why they remain committed to evolving one after another to a bike created to earn the nickname "the beast."

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is not derived from any sports car. It is not an adaptation, it is the evolution of a species that in 2020 arrives more refined than ever and that, although it has lost some power, continues to maintain the same overflowing character with which it landed in 2005 with the first of its up to now five generations: the KTM 990 Super Duke.

Austrian character and evolution

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 002
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 002

After the achievement of a teaser that KTM was releasing to us throughout 2019 until it was presented at the last Milan Motor Show in November, we expected that the new KTM 1290 Super Duke R would receive a complete aesthetic revision. But no, or at least this new generation has not been separated from the aesthetic concept that we already knew.

It is true, on the outside it seems that the KTM 1290 Super Duke R does not receive too many changes, but the reality is far from that first impression. From the front mask to the tail, practically everything has changed on this new Austrian supernaked. You can tell that it is one of the star products in the KTM catalog.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 019
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 019

The look of the Super Duke R is still commanding. The extremely sharp front headlight with a hatchet in the front area is distinguished by its shapes and the contour highlighted by the LED daytime running light. Extensions pounce around him that, as always, are born in the tank and are thrown towards the front wheel to be even more pointed in this generation and in the side view they touch the front wheel at the height of the fork. They have an aerodynamic function, generating load on the front axle.

If we keep looking towards the rear we find a new subframe that abandons its multitubular structure to become cast iron. The two seats are placed on it, with the passenger seat much tighter than before, and ending with a tail that is no longer as pointed as the previous one.

The overall impression is that of a compact motorcycle, small and of contained dimensions, in which only the prominent tank covers stand out, giving it a brutal character, as if they were trying to eat up the previous train. A whole spoiler about his behavior

Super Duke is refined for Euro5 but maintains brutality

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 014
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 014

It didn't take too long to make use of its keyless starter and hit the ignition. Glossy to the ears: the twin engine comes to life with the characteristic sound of large vee engines of the orange house. Yes, it is Euro5, but at first hearing we did not notice a great change in mechanical noise. It still feels powerful while idling.

While we were delighted with the sound we began to fiddle with the new dashboard, now with better definition graphics and smoother operation. The control pineapples are also new And the truth is that initially with so many menus and so many buttons it can be overwhelming, but a couple of minutes are enough to understand how it works, although we will deal with that later.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test

We put ourselves at your fingertips and ergonomics has changed a bit, now the posture is a little more stretched out on the handlebar, equally wide, but more bitter. There is no doubt that we are looking at a sporty naked, very sporty. We hit the ground quite comfortably with a height of 835mm and a very, very narrow leg arch.

Despite the wide and tall tank and the exaggeration of the side covers, once at the controls of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R we felt as if we were driving a very compact motorcycle. With only 1,497 mm wheelbase it is a very short bike, and that has grown 15 mm in this measure.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 008
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 008

It sat an extremely agile and reactive steering bike. Its movements at the controls are intuitive and precise without being nervous as it could happen in some circumstances in the previous generation. The touch of the controls is very pleasant, especially the hydraulic clutch with Magura material, although once in motion we will not use it too much.

It must be said that the unit we have tested equips the full Tech Pack, an optional equipment that costs 941, 26 euros and includes the Track pack (Track and Performance riding modes), bidirectional quickshifter, Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) and adaptive brake light.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 012
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 012

Among all this, what we will give the most use will be to bi-directional semi-automatic shift, a gadget that stands out for its use or versatility. We can forget about the left lever, whether it is riding at a calm pace in the city with smooth changes (except when driving at very low revs) or with almost immediate transitions when connecting gears by opening throttle in sporty driving. Pedal travels are always short and precise.

And speaking of opening gas, it is time to talk about the engine. The propeller is still the same 75º vee twin that we already knew before, but suitably modified to pass the Euro5 anti-pollution regulations.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 016
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 016

In this generation the numbers hardly vary. Some power has been lost upstairs, but with 180 hp of maximum power and 140 Nm of torque coming from its 1,301 cc it continues to behave like a magnanimous propeller. The delivery in any gear is brilliant, highlighting a ubiquitous torque delivery even rolling below 3,000 rpm, where there is delivery, but the engine does not just turn round and we found some typical roughness in a bi of this caliber.

Playing second and third gear on curvy roads is a bit like an orgy of runaway steeds on demand of the right fist. You have to be very clear when opening more than half the gas because delivery is overwhelming, and as the tach gets closer to 10,000 rpm things happen really fast. It is not a motorcycle for beginners.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 007
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 007

You have to know how to carry this type of motorcycle and forget about looking for the red line. It is better to always go in a higher gear because at very low revolutions we have massive amounts of torque And, incidentally, when entering the curves we will not have as much retention, which will allow us to run the bike better. When going out you have to dose with your right fist, but it is still relatively easy to see the traction control act.

Luckily this fifth generation also has an excellent brake section, in which the new radial brake calipers stand out. Brembo Stylema biting 320mm discs. A set with a very direct touch, a bit hard but very dosable and with a power to match that is expected from the set.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 019
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 019

It is true that when using very strong constant braking we notice some extra travel in the lever, but to be honest the truth is that the set signed by Brembo it is well above the circumstances that a motorcycle is going to find on the road. The rear brake, on the other hand, did not seem very dosable.

It might seem like a minor matter, but the cycle part has also mutated on the new KTM 1290 Super Duke R, and it has done so completely. The chassis is brand new and it is composed of a new structure that maintains its multitubular architecture. At the rear the aluminum swingarm is also new, as are the now five-spoke wheels, with the rear growing to a 6-inch throat to fit a 200mm tire.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 010
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 010

The suspensions as usual remain a set signed by WP, with a APEX front fork with 48mm diameter stanchions and a rear monoshock with link rods. Both teams are fully adjustable but already with the standard setting they offer a fantastic touch.

It is true that in a daily driving the set has a somewhat dry behavior, something uncomfortable in the rear axle, but when it comes to tightening the rhythm it is appreciated. The suspensions read the asphalt and transmit a good feeling of confidence, keeping the trajectory accurately. On curly asphalt or in poor condition the set is not particularly comfortable (despite KTM's offroad genes). It is not your environment.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 010
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 010

Riding fast in cornering areas is where the KTM 1290 Super Duke R proves that it is made to devour apex. Steering agility is high, perhaps not as extreme as in the previous model, but what it has lost it makes up for with an extra dose of confidence that allows us to move it more decisively from one side to the other aided by an apparently high center of gravity. Good behavior also from the WP steering damper, containing the shimmies without making the steering feel heavy.

Special mention for the electronics. We greatly appreciate the effort that KTM has been making for years in the electronic section of its motorcycles, implementing driving aids and, also, doing it in an effective but not intrusive way (unless we are looking for the tickle).

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 002
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 002

The electronic throttle It is attached to a six-axis inertial measurement platform that blesses the set with ABS with anti-lock cornering, which we appreciated during a photo shoot in which it suddenly started to rain like crazy and left the road a bit fox. It was only once, but the ABS worked in a timely manner and saved us from an inopportune scare. Enough to justify your presence.

Although the Super Duke R is a motorcycle that treads better than ever and takes advantage of the effectiveness of the Bridgestone Battlax S22 that fits, by opening the throttle the traction control is a resource that we will see act in a regular way, yes, it does so in a way that does not slow down the motorcycle too much.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 001
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 001

The driving modes Standard are Rain and Sport, to which we must add Performance and Track, focused on a much more sporty use. In Sport mode it is already a motorcycle that allows us to play with the SM mode for the ABS (disconnects the anti-lock of the rear wheel) and the disconnection of the antiwheelie; more than enough fun for the road.

If we are looking for something else, the more radical modes will provide us with other abilities such as Launch Control for brutal starts from a standstill or the regulation of the rear wheel slip at the stroke of the dedicated buttons on the left hand wheel, being able to adjust from 1 to 9 how much we want to let the rear axle slide when opening the throttle. The regulation of the engine brake is also configurable.

Obviously these skills are focused on a circuit use. Unfortunately we have been left with the desire to test this bike on a closed track, because we bet whatever it is because that is where the best benefits of a very fine-tuned electronics and a cycle part are whose chassis has gained in rigidity according to the brand.

Supernaked on the verge of 20,000 euros

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 012
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 012

Another blessing of the electronics in the Super Duke R is that for road travel the speed control it suits us very well. By pressing a couple of buttons we can set the speed or modify it to taste with the + and - buttons on the left pineapple.

Yes it is true that you have to adapt to the number of buttons that we find everywhere. There are many buttons to operate the menus and the different functions, including two configurable buttons for favorite functions on the left hand side. Not all have a well defined touch and we found that some were too close together to operate with gloves on.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 021
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 021

On fast stretches of the highway it is obvious that the KTM 1290 Super Duke R does not feel particularly comfortable. It is not its environment and it is where its biggest drawbacks surface: there is no aerodynamic protection (of course) and a remarkable amount of vibrations. The sixth gear is still very long, leaving the engine very low revs at 120 km / h to reduce consumption, but making vibrations more noticeable.

So yes, it is true that the KTM 1290 Super Duke R is a motorcycle that vibrates, but precisely because it is a motorcycle with character. It is not one of those that does everything well and can end up boring you; Not at all. The Super Duke R is still pure thrill on two wheels.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 017
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 017

Emotion also comes at a price, and although KTM has made an effort to extend the range of the Super Duke R, the truth is that with a 16-liter tank it shows itself as a very sensitive motorcycle in terms of consumption when we open the throttle. At the end of our test we were unable to get off 6.2 liters per 100 km the average gasoline consumption, also having a reserve whose estimated autonomy decreases dramatically.

From our point of view it was already one of the most visceral motorcycles on the market. Now maybe she has lost a bit of that wild motorcycle perception to feel more controlled, both in the cycle part and in the refinement of the electronics, but she continues clinging to the top of the motorcycles with the most personality on the market.

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 018
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 018

Now, everything has to be paid for. As standard, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R is a motorcycle that is not cheap, as costs 19,900 euros, to which should be added a little more than 900 additional euros for the Tech Pack, exceeding 20,000 euros. The outgoing model was priced at € 17,999.

With a price like this, you have to look at other alternatives, because we have options such as the Yamaha MT-10 SP (18,499 euros), Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory (16,999 euros), Ducati Streetfighter V4 (21,990 euros) or Kawasaki Z H2 (18,450 euros). euros).

Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 022
Ktm 1290 Super Duke R 2020 Test 022

KTM 1290 Super Duke R 2020 - Rating

7.3

Motor 8 Vibrations 6 Change 8 Stability 8 Agility 9 Front suspension 8 Rear suspension 7 Front brake 8 Back brake 6 Pilot comfort 6 Consumption 6 Finishes 8 Esthetic 7

In favor

  • Brutal aesthetics
  • Overwhelming engine
  • Direction agility
  • It's all character

Against

  • Perceptible vibrations
  • Bare autonomy
  • Engine with a lot of character
  • High price
  • KTM 1290 Super Duke R 2020 - Technical sheet

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    Topics

    • Naked
    • Testing area
    • KTM
    • KTM 1290 Super Duke R

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