KTM is pulling out all the stops in the battle for super naked supremacy in 2021, as a lighter, angrier, and more focused KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is announced.
New 2020 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R Review
The machine will not be a total surprise to many readers, as the path to this motorcycle has been fairly well documented in a series of patent filings and leaks from the firm. What wasn’t truly known was the exact spec of the heavily revised bike.
Lighter, harder, faster
The ethos behind the bike is to focus on ‘pure performance’, with KTM claiming the bike to be the result of its R&D department having free reign to build the bike of its dreams. That means the new RR is 9kg lighter than the standard Super Duke R, tipping the scales at 180kg, while the engine is claimed to produce 180hp and a 103lb-ft of torque.
Helping the bike shed the weight is extensive use of carbon fibre, with the bike’s scorpion-like tail unit being just one of a number of lightweight parts on the new machine. The wheels are also 1.5kg lighter than before and are shod with super-sticky Michelin Power Cup2 hoops for added grip on the track.
The chassis of the bike has also been revised, with bespoke WP Apex Pro 7548 Close Cartridge forks, an adjustable WP Apex Pro 7117 steering damper, and Apex Pro 7746 rear shock rounding out the hardware.
Beneath the skin, the electronics of the bike have also been revised, with the introduction of Track and Performance riding modes. KTM states that they allow the rider near-unlimited adjustability options for rear-wheel slip, throttle response, Launch Control, and Motor Slip Regulation.
Limited edition
Now, before you head off down to your local dealer to slap a deposit on the counter, you should probably be made aware, the bikes for Europe are only available through an online pre-order portal. And when that does open on April 8th, they will probably move quickly. Only 500 are being built worldwide, and KTM has not disclosed how many will be allocated to the European continent.
For more information or to place a pre-order, head to: www.ktm.com
