KTM 1290 Superduke R

[Gremlin]

thats cause once you own one, you'll ride it till its dead. Well that's what I intend to do with mine, I just love it that much.

My old bike I believe?

Love that you're enjoying it

[Owl]

Saw the 1290 Superduke at AFC yesterday.

Very very nice bit of kit indeed! Only 3 complaints really....1# No preload adjustment on the forks??? 2# Oil cooler looks like an afterthought, but I'm sure quite functional. 3# New tail-tidy required, but that's normal.

Really looking forward to seeing the black one in a couple of weeks.

[Riddler]

My old bike I believe?

Love that you're enjoying it

Hey,
Ya mate, the regulator rectifier shit itself last year and I have just put a new chain and sprocket on it but apart from that it just keeps clocking up the miles and peeling rubber off the tyres, not missing a beat. How's the big BMW going for you so far?

[Gremlin]

Ya mate, the regulator rectifier shit itself last year and I have just put a new chain and sprocket on it but apart from that it just keeps clocking up the miles and peeling rubber off the tyres, not missing a beat. How's the big BMW going for you so far?

Woah, never expected modern bikes to continue having reg rec issues, but there you. The gearing on it wasn't stock, not sure if you knew, as it made 6th unusable below 120-130kph...

BMW is great, put even more km on it than the KTM (83k clicks in 3 odd years).

Still miss the mental aspect of the KTM... BMW and all it's electronics is more... reserved.

[angle]

thats cause once you own one, you'll ride it till its dead. Well that's what I intend to do with mine, I just love it that much.

Is it though because it's a KTM or because it's a V-twin? What is servicing like?

[Oscar]

Aye, the two models that least need moar power get the new mill.

And I'm gutted there's no 1290 SMT.

I would hazard a guess that the "ordinary" adventure model, which has a 19/17 wheel set up, is so close to the SMT that they might not bother.

[Yamahardman]

I love it, looks super cool, and sounds awesome too!

[Riddler]

Woah, never expected modern bikes to continue having reg rec issues, but there you. The gearing on it wasn't stock, not sure if you knew, as it made 6th unusable below 120-130kph...

BMW is great, put even more km on it than the KTM (83k clicks in 3 odd years).

Still miss the mental aspect of the KTM... BMW and all it's electronics is more... reserved.

Good to hear you're liking the BMW. I had heard from others the gearing on them was higher for the European roads. I didn't know it was geared higher than it is now, not surprised you changed it. If you'd like to see the old girl again, and I often attend the ATNR and the odd NASS rides. I'd also like to see your BMW and no doubt all the mods BMW riders add.

[Riddler]

Is it though because it's a KTM or because it's a V-twin? What is servicing like?

As quoted by Gremlin further up the page KTM's have a certain mental aspect about them. As the UK site MCN have stated in many of their youtube vids, KTMs are the "ultimate hooligan machine" I demo'd several different bikes before I bought my 990SM including the Ducati street fighter which is a vtwin. I was sold on the KTM for several reasons it suited my size being tall(upright seating position) it suits the NZ roads and it looks and sounds good.
Kick your leg over one, you'll see where I'm coming from.
Service is 7500kms (minor) 15000 kms (more in depth) intervals and comparable to other european brands for cost.

[Ocean1]

I would hazard a guess that the "ordinary" adventure model, which has a 19/17 wheel set up, is so close to the SMT that they might not bother.

Except for the 30kg of 'venture crap it comes with. And the limited choice of tyres.

Seems picky to be bleating about the lack of choice in bikes nowadays, there's so many superb machines available. And yet pretty much all of the big upright nekid sprotsbikes are based on superbikes with tiny chassis, originally made exclusively for genetically stunted chimps with hereditary rickets and prehensile knees.

Which means that if you're of normal dimensions your choice is somewhat limited to retro UJMs or bloated 'venture bikes. The new duke might have more top end than my 1125 LOKI, but it's 20kg heavier, if it's not at least something that represents a full size bike I'll be disappointed. Again.

[Kendoll]

Woah, never expected modern bikes to continue having reg rec issues, but there you go.

Seems to be an eternal problem, my Street Triple's reg rec melted while I was out riding. Fun times...

[Oscar]

Except for the 30kg of 'venture crap it comes with. And the limited choice of tyres.

Seems picky to be bleating about the lack of choice in bikes nowadays, there's so many superb machines available. And yet pretty much all of the big upright nekid sprotsbikes are based on superbikes with tiny chassis, originally made exclusively for genetically stunted chimps with hereditary rickets and prehensile knees.

Which means that if you're of normal dimensions your choice is somewhat limited to retro UJMs or bloated 'venture bikes. The new duke might have more top end than my 1125 LOKI, but it's 20kg heavier, if it's not at least something that represents a full size bike I'll be disappointed. Again.

The diff in weight between the 990SMT/Adv is 8 kilos.
I'm not sure if that qualifies as "bloated".

However, my comment was prompted by the fact that KTM seems to be playing the BMW game now. Instead of the basic adventure model, they're now offering the adjustable everything, traction control, abs and more expensive and more fragile adv bike that's never gonna go off road. These will be parked next to BMW 1200GSA's at coffee shops throughout the world as Ewen & Charlie wannabes compare notes over trim lattes.

The pussification of the Adv models mean that the SMT will be squeezed between the Adv and the Superduke.

Or - I could be completely wrong and KTM will build a rip snorter SMT to put up against the Multistrada...

[george formby]

Watched a comparison vid recently, KTM 1290, an Aprilia, er, Tuono I think & a Triumph Street Triple. MCN or some such. Yup, the KTM was woo hoo ect ect but they placed it second to the Aprilia. One reason. You can't change your settings on the fly. The testers got miffed at having to stop to play with the buttons.

[Ocean1]

The diff in weight between the 990SMT/Adv is 8 kilos.
I'm not sure if that qualifies as "bloated".

I was comparing it to a 1290SD. It's down 35hp too, although the torque delivery is more important for me.

The pussification of the Adv models mean that the SMT will be squeezed between the Adv and the Superduke.

Or - I could be completely wrong and KTM will build a rip snorter SMT to put up against the Multistrada...

Ya got me, I'm a pussy. Or maybe all those wannabes might have just have wanted a reasonably current tech big bike and an adv machine is the nearest they could get. As I said if you're over six foot there's not a lot to choose from. KTM had it right with the SMT/SMR, it's a pity to see them abandoning a complete section of clients to follow a dubious market rather than defining what looks to me to be a big gap in it. A reasonably easy development for them would be a 1290 SMT at 160-170hp and 180-190Kg, and if the styling was other than the typical adv style top-heavy looking attempts to incorperate the radiator into some form of bodywork it'd sell like very hot cakes.

[Larksea]

pretty sick bike, too hot for my cool blood.

fk its funny comparing the ktm promo vids to the honda ones ive seen lol. pretty obvious what market they are aiming for. They should market it with an obvious catchphrase like "the cops will never catch you" or "designed to ride one one wheel" or "front wheel optional"