KTM goes all out with the new 1290 Super Duke GT and R version

Bruno Gomes

October 3, 2018

There’s no doubt that KTM is going through a great moment, with sales increasing worldwide and at the same time they’re expanding their MotoGP effort which will get the help of Malaysian star rider Hafizh Syahrin in 2019. With that in mind, KTM has gone all out in search of perfecting some of their models, and the result was shown at the INTERMOT Cologne motorcycle show.

The main attraction at the “orange” brand is the arrival of an updated 1290 Super Duke GT.

Born in 2016 with the goal of offering riders a more touring biased naked bike, unlike the sporty and aggressive Super Duke R, the GT has received some important changes to get ahead of her many rivals.

With the twin-cylinder LC8 engine giving 175 hp and 141 Nm of torque, KTM engineers have revised engine internals to give the engine a feel of more instant power and torque, with revised resonator chambers, titanium inlet valves and a new mapping . To help get all this power to the ground, the Super Duke GT will now feature, standard, the Quickshift+ system, allowing the rider to change gears without ever touching the gear lever.

On the electronic level, this bike gets all the riding modes we already seen since 2016, but as of 2019 model year the GT gets a more track focused riding mode called, you guessed it, Track! By choosing Track, the rider will be able to unleash the full potential of this KTM naked-touring bike, with special parameters for traction control, ABS or stability control. This riding mode is part of the optional equipment list.

With touring in mind but not forgetting the straight out performance on track, KTM have installed an updated version of the electronic WP suspensions. These are semi-active, and feature a new and more powerful control system that allows the suspensions to respond faster to any change in the conditions of the asphalt. The rider is allowed to choose one of three suspension modes: Comfort, Street or Sport.

Small colour and graphics changes are also worth mentioning, and to round out the most important changes in the 1290 Super Duke GT there’s a new adjustable windscreen, with the rider able to adjust it using only one hand.

For those riders that demand the absolute performance, KTM also has something special prepared for 2019: 1290 Super Duke R!

This power naked continues to feature a torquey V-twin engine LC8, able to pump out 177 hp, the same as before. The new features are the small change in riding position, with KTM moving the low height handlebar a bit further to the front of the Super Duke R, for a more direct feeling of the steering, while for 2019 KTM gives this naked a fresh look with new graphics.

All the switches are now illuminated, the ignition system is keyless for less hassle when we need to go out fast and don’t want to bother with the key, while KTM is offering, as an optional, the Performance Pack and the Track Pack, both aimed at those riders that want to explore the 1290 Super Duke R on track.