In addition to unveiling its all-new 2019 790 Duke, at this week’s Intermot show in Cologne, Germany, KTM also announced updates to its 1290 Super Duke GT sport tourer and 1290 Super Duke R naked sportbike.
2019 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT
After a first ride on the then all-new 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, we had this to say: It “seems nearly flawless, the perfect sport-touring machine for a rider who needs some creature comforts but doesn’t want to give up sportbike levels of engine performance and handling. It’s comfortable for all-day riding, offers decent wind protection, makes enormous power and does indeed handle and stop like a sportbike, with settings for mellow engine and suspension modes that turn it into a touring pussycat.” (Read the full review here.)
For 2019, KTM has updated the 1290 Super Duke GT, giving its liquid-cooled, 1,301cc LC8 V-twin lightweight titanium valves and intake resonator chambers for smoother low to midrange torque delivery. The GT’s WP semi-active suspension, which has three modes (Sport, Street and Comfort), has been revised, and it an LED headlight (in addition to the LED daytime running light), hand guards, cruise control switches moved to the left handlebar, a new windscreen with an easy-to-use height adjuster and a new 6.5-inch, full-color TFT display with KTM My Ride navigation.
Read our 2017 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT long-term review
Other features on the 1290 Super Duke GT include riding modes, Motorcycle Stability Control (which includes cornering ABS and traction control with multiple modes), Quickshifter+ (for clutchless up- and downshifts), the KTM Race On keyless system, heated grips, tire-pressure monitoring, a 6.1-gallon fuel tank and standard 30-liter hard saddlebags.
2019 KTM 1290 Super Duke R
Known as “The Beast,” the KTM 1290 Super Duke R’s 1,301cc LC8 V-twin makes a claimed 177 horsepower, and in the hands of Chris Fillmore, a race-prepped SD-R set the two-wheel record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2017. For 2019, the SD-R’s LC8 engine, which has a 13.6:1 compression ratio, gets lightweight titanium valves and intake resonator chambers for smoother torque delivery down low.
With a lightweight tubular chrome-moly steel trellis frame and subframe and minimalist design, the 1290 Super Duke R has a claimed dry weight of just 430 pounds. It is equipped with fully adjustable WP suspension, riding modes, multi-mode cornering ABS (including Supermoto mode) and traction control. The optional Performance Pack adds Motor Slip Regulation and Quickshifter+, and the optional Track Pack adds a Track mode, anti-wheelie off, TC slip adjust and launch control. Lightweight cast wheels are shod with Metzeler M7RR supersport tires.
Other standard features include cruise control, KTM My Ride Bluetooth system, KTM Race On keyless system, a multi-function, full-color TFT display and an LED headlight and daytime running light. Pricing and availability are TBD.
Check out Rider’s Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles for 2019
great performance i’m sure. still, you have to look at it. In that regard, give me a bmw s1000r any day.