Am I the only one who's a little nervous around the Super Duke? Should I trade the Griso in for it? Check it out at AF1 Racing: www.af1racingaustin.com/used-inventory/2018-ktm-superduke-r
True story. there aren't many bikes on the market that will roll off the show room floor and rip big fat wheelies in 4 gears JUST buy twisting the right grip.
Bro I feel that! My 701 supermotos got the pod filter, open header and exhaust and an efi remap pushing near 80 HP and it rips up in the first 3 gears np and you can easily clutch up in the last 3 (I'm probably also not that good at wheelies haha)
My first ever big boy bike baptism came from a 2017 super duke. I remember being thrown the keys, getting on the freeway, having it in third gear thinking i was safe to rip on it and the next thing i knew i was staring at the sky at triple digit speeds. I went to the first exit, flipped around, gave the key back and said thank you but absolutely not lmao
I have a '23 1290r evo and have only ridden it in good weather in the Southern US. It is easy to ride as long as you are judicious with the upper mid range... Be smooth and enjoy a stonking fast bike. Just hang on and don't mess up...
i owned a 180hp Kawasaki ZX12R and that was like a turbine engine. The speed just builds and builds and builds and never stops. The 1290 Superduke is completely different beast, It's a time machine. Just twist the throttle and BAM you're 800 meters ahead in a heartbeat. there's just so much torque on tap it basically goes into Warp drive
Really surprised to hear people think it's ugly. I'm a yamaha simp but think the mt10 is pretty fugly meanwhile I think this looks like that spikey gun from halo or some futuristic insect. I love it.
Great video. My first ktm was and still with me 690 supermoto, now I have got a 1290 superduke 2016 and i am fully converted to ktm. Best bikes ever. And i rode r1, zx10 for years on track and road, hobby raced. I just added puig sport screen to 1290, 200+ kmh no problem anymore. I have 16 tooth sprocket, acra catless, tougher springs. Perfect. No need for quickshifter. Its perfect.
2019 SDR owner here. You need the “performance pack” installed by a dealer to enable the quickshifter-I like having it, but I don’t use it all the time. One of the reasons why I love my gen 2 Super Duke: a drunk, Austrian R&D team took an adventure frame and stuffed a bored-out v-twin race bike engine into it. It CAN be raced, and plenty ppl do track them, but the riding position is more upright than most “super nakeds”, and I most often enjoy riding it like a “power cruiser”. It really is a Jekyll/Hyde kind of bike and riding experience. Slightly longer travel (and softer stock setting) suspension is off putting to most at first…unless you’ve ridden a supermoto before, and you see the connection and lineage. Brilliant bike for “cruising” and has monster torque that can favor low rpm riding, easily. But…you can ALSO put it into track mode and she RIPS!
I see you put the speedometer in KMs. The 2nd gen superduke does have autoblip up-down as a "pay to turn it on" option. Tech pack / Race pack bundles it in. Also Spite, this needs to be talked about with the Superdukes, ALL OF generations of the 1290... the radiators crack, especially if you wheelie and set it down hard. I'm in the KC area and I'm one of 5 superdukes in the area on their second radiator. There's another guy who has a spare after he cracked it on the upper right mount (same place as half of us) and had it repaired, it cracked again on the opposite upper mounting point and he bought another radiator and had that one repaired a second time at a different shop. Myself? I have a Super adventure radiator installed and some "nascar" engineering going on.
Thanks for mentioning your experience! I'm considering the Super Duke, but I hadn't heard about the radiator situation, and because you chose to share, I can prepare for it - I appreciate you!
My 2015 that I've had since new has never failed, and I jumped mine over two lanes well in the triple digits going through an intersection. My son's 2019 is on its second radiator. While it IS a common complaint, they don't all fail.
So as an owner, I absolutely love my 1290R. I'm 5'8 with the accessory tall seat, I love the height as it's such a similar position to a dirt bike. Quickshifter up and down was an option starting in 2017, as is 10 level traction control and track mode. An intake and tune drops about 30 pounds and gains about 30 horsepower, if you think it's an animal now you'd be in for a shock
there is NOTHING that the RC8R and the Superduke have in common. I know this because I have both in my garage. So in that regard, KTM has been true to their word. Spec sheet differences aside, the chassis set up that makes the 2 bikes such polar opposites. The SD feels more like and overgrown steroid infused supermotard, and less like a no holds bared super bike. both in chassis layout, riding position and power delivery and ride characteristics. Even the 3rd gen when everyone "says" got the RC8 frame, couldn't be any further from the superbike DNA of the RC8 if it tried. the frame make look the same to the untrained eye, but it's vastly different. The RC8 does absolutely have no place on the street. as a road bike, its just terrible. Its laser focused on doing one thing, being on a track @ 8k+ RPMs. Its power delivery from the LC8 is tuned that way. Not so the tuning on the SD version. it has more displacement, more torque, and more HP, but it makes it much lower in the rev range where street riders live, on a bike that can be as angry or as gentle as your intestinal fortitude demands. Generally speaking the SD is a bike you can live with every day, the RC8 is a bike you pull out when your regular dominatrix is off on holiday.
A have a 21 SDR and the thing is, you have to respect it. Even after 3 summers riding it, it catches me by surprise once in a while... But it is soooo much fun. It is truly a beast.
In 2021 i was interested in buying a Superduke R, but I couldn't touch my heels completely flat as I'm 5'9" tall. I ended up getting a Ducati Streetfighter V4S instead which I'm still very happy with, but I am envious of the torque on the KTM.
I went straight from a cobbled-together Harley Softail with ~65hp to a 2015 SDR with 180hp and it truly does live up to everything you hear about it. _Nothing_ can touch it in terms of raw acceleration or torque, except perhaps the Kawi H2, and that only because it's supercharged.
I have that exact same bike. Year and color. Mine has 20k miles with 0 issues except frequent tire changes….. The sdr never get old and it’s a pleasure/ thrill to ride. Ps it does have a quick shift but it has to be u locked via ktm software purchase 500$
Go for it. It is an easy bike to ride and it is not as fast as they say. I have a 2nd gen and it is a gential giant until you don't want it to be, but you need to be in the powerband.
@@Lex-RexTHIS is what I need to hear😅 In all seriousness tho, that's kinda the message I get from this video as far as it only being a monster when you want it to be. I'm not a dumbass on my bikes...I think, so I'll be good. How's the reliability been on it (as a KTM) I've heard good things about the lc8 and spite mentioned it as well.
18:50 My first bike was a klr 650, went straight to a 1290 super adventure R. Def was terrifying riding it home lol Would never look back tho, amazing bike.
Spite dropping by to say I bought a 22 1290 SDR Evo a week ago for 13995 with 800 miles, tech pack, akro slip on and steering damper. Also I’m 5’5” and it’s honestly a vibe getting on it. I feel like a jockey.
Even if you never own one, I think everyone should *ride* a Superduke at least once. I've been riding for a decade+ now, but buying one this year made me feel the excitement I felt when I first got into riding again. If you're ever in Oregon, Spite, you're free to ride my '23 SDR EVO (or my super adventure) for as long as you'd like.
Hey I am debating to get this or the new 990 coming out, any opinions you have on it? Also can I get just the super duke R or is the evo worth getting, its like 4 grand more in my area.
@@eeepmeeep I don't think the Evo is worth 4 grand more. I think the 990 looks interesting but I still like the big v-twin more, but I'd still wait for the 1390 superduke release before buying, you'll be able to get some *great* deals on old 1290s at that point.
As an owner: 1) Driving comfort rated 10 The saddle is comfortable, it gets half the air compared to other naked bikes I've had, in the mountains it's spectacular and on the motorway it feels like traveling in a car. 2) Engine versatility rated 10 It adapts perfectly to everything, from walking to the track, it can be very sweet or very naughty, it never "kicks", always smooth and ready. 3) Consumption Rating: 9 On the "RAIN" map on the motorway you can easily reach 24km/l going at a constant speed, for a 180 hp motorbike it's incredible. It's the bike that borders on perfection. That model (2017-2019) already has all the optional hardware fitted...they are electronically unlocked by the dealer when you pay for them. Luckily I got it used with all the additional packages.
I've got a 1290 SA and it's really great, very comfortable for the taller rider. However, I do kinda think my next bike might be a Super Duke GT. It would be better in the twisties and still have some little side bags for overnight trips. Glad to see you got to revisit and appreciate the Duke after a bad first impression.
I have a 2023 1290R Evo. I think it could be the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It's long for tight corners, but the geometry lets it finish corners SO well. And like you say, the bike tames RIGHT down if you want it to (even if you want to put it in Street / Rain mode) and with the Evo suspension it's always got the right suspension setup for your weight, you can adjust in 5% preload increments or just let it do it automatically (with three weight settings to get it closer to where you like it). With a tune they really, really do want to rip your arms off in the aggressive throttle modes. BTW, you'd like the cruise control setup on the 2023.
I remember the first time a bike got out of hand & wheelied under me. Admittedly it was only a 2 stroke RG250, not a Super Duke, and I was a new rider, but the front wheel was off the ground for a good few seconds & I nearly fell off the back of the bike. It sure taught me to respect the power band & hit it in a more controlled manner. I suspect that has happened to you too. Subconsciously you've stored that memory and, coupled with the many bikes you've ridden since then, you've adapted to the power & it seems far less intimidating as a result, especially with having ridden a turbo Bussa under your belt. My advice, only ride the Hawk between reviews. It'll give you a better appreciation of the power of the review bike.
Those specs are impressive for a V2. My biggest bike was a FZ1 with around 150hp and I'm sure less torque than the KTM. Personally I'm going to the smaller bikes as I don't do as much joy riding, mostly commuting. I'm tired of paying for the gas on my car and buying a bike that gets 60mpg pays for itself in real time.. like a free motorcycle that will keep the mileage down on my car and be really cheap and fun. I used to clean up and restore old Honda CBs, and they were really slow compared to my daily ride but I really enjoyed wringing the neck of the smaller bikes. I had a 1974 CB200T and I loved that thing even though it would only do 65mph
I just started riding this year. I got 1,800 miles on my 390 ADV before I decided to trade it in for a 2023 SDR EVO with the tech pack. I absolutely love it and it’s super easy to ride in street mode. Unfortunately since it’s getting cold out I have to wear my big bulky winter gloves which makes it difficult to actually control it in either of the modes above street. But street is plenty enough for me for now!
I’m five nine and have a 2014 and haven’t had any issues with touching but I might be biased because I learned to ride on a bike that I couldn’t touch on when I was 13-14. I think this review nails it, I can’t believe how calm the bike acts when you want it to, sitting in traffic or slower areas it behaves way more politely than you would ever expect. But then the moment you try and get more it gives you everything you could want. It’s incredible! Also I have a graves exhaust that makes it sound absolutely incredible. The stock pipe is awful
A riding buddy of mine recently layed one these down. It wasn’t the first time he got too sassy with the throttle . It definitely bites back! Last bike he had was CBR954RR. Completely different league of bike. Definitely want one someday!
Which electronics options did that bike have? KTM nickel and dime you on the electronics. It already has the components for the quickshifter installed, but you have to pay to have them enabled in the software. I have the same model, but bought all the electronic options. "Track Pack" gives you 9 stage traction control adjustment on the fly, separate adjustment of throttle response, the "track" preset, anti-wheelie off and launch control. The "Performance Pack" gives you the bidirectional quickshifter and the motor slip regulation (engine braking control). It's a decent quickshifter for such a big V-Twin. Definitely worth it. Especially in being able to dial in the levels of traction control, throttle mapping, ABS, engine braking etc that you personally prefer rather than those basic presets or just off, although admittedly I rarely change them now I've found what I like. Being able to separate traction control from wheely control is a no brainer in comparison to having to turn everything off for fun.
The big hypernakeds are absolutely ridiculous. I was considering one of these after my tracer was stolen, but ended up with a 2023 MT10SP instead.... Because the Superduke was so ugly. Yes. I picked an MT10 because the alternative was too ugly. Edit: that said... Man, the feeling and sound when you really romp on these kinds of bikes... It does something to you. Nobody needs these. But damn if they're not fucking amazing.
Similar story about a Suzuki TL1000 that came into my shop for braided stainless brake lines. It had been crashed, no plastics, repaired, tuned and streetfightered with normal bars. To this day, 20 odd years later, the scariest, fastest accelerating motorcycle i have ever ridden.
I had a 2006 SV1000S, which had the same engine, with a very similar tuning for the K6 model. 126 (claimed by Suzuki, at the crank). This was a very good engine, but even at the time, it was a bit down compared to the 990 LC8 of the Superduke (in stock settings for both). So, maybe you had an incredible TL1000 at hand, but I doubt it had anything to do with the raw power of a 1290. I mean, the feeling must have been impressive, but the 1290 is in a league of its own. I ride a stock Super Adventure, and it will lift the front in 4th with no clutch, at times.
As a relatively short dude at 5’7 (30” inseam) I’d say when it comes to hyper nakeds and super sports - seat height shouldn’t realistically matter. Even someone several inches shorter than I could confidently plant 1 foot down. If you aren’t comfortable stopping and planting just 1 foot, then you shouldn’t be on a crazy powerful bike to begin with.
2018 has quickshifter up and down plus rev match auto blip but you have to pay extra for KTM to unlock the packages with those features including anti-wheelie off mode.
Fantastic review, very informative. I especially loved that it's the embodiment of felony evasion and a rolling war crime! I've grown to like the beast wars styling over the years.
you are NOT prepared. you're going to think you went from a Cesna to an F22. I know HD bros like to think their bikes are fast and torquey and powerful. They aren't. not by modern bike standards. and they are almost twice as heavy to boot. Fun story. I live in Daytona. HD cooperate set up a display tent one bike week that included a "Dyno Drag" and they were showing off their new 117 CVO with all the go fast bits on it. They BEGGED me to line my 2015 SD up next to it on the rollers for 3 pulls. the crowd gathered, we touched them off and the CVO took 3-4 extra seconds to complete the virtual quarter mile on all 3 pulls. to say it wasnt even a race was an understatement. HD shut down the dyno drag afterward and had the entire rig hauled away that night and it has never been back since.
Just to put Pierer's comments into context .... KTM 1290 SDR - 200kg, 180bhp, 173mph (on a 3km runway) ....... KTM MotoGP RC16 - 160kg, 270bhp, 230mph (Mugello 1.1km main straight). The SDR is definitely a beast but it's lardy, way underpowered and a touch slow compared to an RC16.
460lb wet doesn't seem heavy to me, for a bike with this much power! I guess I'm old, though...my first bike was a CBR600F3. A whole pound lighter, 90-odd horsepower, and it felt plenty stinking fast at the time. 100% agree that keyless ignition on bikes is stupid and needs to go away. It's just a thing you didn't need or care about, that can fail and leave you stranded. And you're paying for the privilege. What innovation! I can't say I've been on a bike yet that genuinely terrified me, either. Not because I can use even a fraction of what they have (hardly), but because I'm nervous enough on a high-powered bike to keep my wrist in check. Any production bike is ridable if you keep it below quarter-throttle. I never once pinned my S4R or Multistrada, I'd have been afraid to!
i agree about the quickshifter. i always leave the qs off. relaxed riding, spirited riding, doesn't matter. even if i did track days, i think i would probably still leave it off. i'm sure it's faster, but even on a track day i'm not there to shave seconds, i'm there to enjoy riding fast. and it's more fun to shift manually, not to mention smoother.
Dude ! im 6ft 4" i dont even know what made me swing my leg over, cant believe that i have loads of room, i had to ride big stuff like adventures, Africa twin, multistrada, 1200gs f800gs etc and i just got rid of my s100xr coz it was to cramped, amazing little wippy bike, so much fun
I agree that you don’t need a QS to have a good time. I own one with and one without. It’s funny when I’m on the SS950, I will at time just forego the QS and shift the thing. I really enjoy shifting. Then when I’m on the HD, I don’t have a choice. But it is a HD so I don’t even think about bumping the shifter. Good video. I get the feeling I should have considered the SD when I was shopping for my Ducati.
honestly i love not using the Quick shifter on my SD , i have a gen 3 & it is so much fun, i hate the keyfob my self, bike puts a smile on my face every time i ride it, the torque is unreal, its not a top end bike though. like you said its not a perfect bike. the first time the front wheel came up it bought me back to when i rode a quadzila had no idea there was so much torque . just my 2 cents,
It’s has a quickshifter fitted, Owners not payed to have that function unlocked, or it’s got a clutch leaver that’s not activating the clutch switch so it thinks the clutch is being used for changes.
Torque of a Harley 107 and almost 180 all below 9500 rpm. When you compare dynografts ZH2, Aprilia V4, Ducati Streetfighter v4, the SD makes more horsepower and torque til 9500 than those other bikes. Great street performance. You do not need to ride around town revving to 10,000-14,000 rpm like the competition. I have owned 2 SD’s. Look no further. Great touring bike idling at 70 mph
I test rode a SuperDuke at Mid-Ohio vintage days in 2007. One of the chaperones had to chase me down to tell me to "cool it" on the throttle because I passed the guy riding in front of me dawdling along on an Adventure 690. The SuperDukes were either 950s or 990s at the time. I don't think they were over 1000 cc (yet) at that time. No need to answer because I'm still not set up to read it.
I remember changing my pants once on my buddy's modded cbr1100. Hit it coming out of a corner a little too much and it was a fast long turn to begin with. I try not to pull up a wheel in corners anymore. It's a weird feeling. If you aren't leaned just right you are going to the ground lol
Fun video Spite! I also think this bike is bonkers but would love to ride one at some point just to experience it. Even though it's completely unnecessary for me due to my Z750 having plenty of power for street usage. Even for a open track day or long distance trip. Hehe I know you really like the Super Duke R and was thinking oh will he trade in the Griso or does he go balls out and go both. 😆 Can't decide for you obviously and it's a tough one but KTM might be having it's issues it may be very well not on this one, you never know until it happens of course. Whilst the Griso is more of rare sight to see which makes it a cool bike as well.
I’m coming from a 08’ Suzuki Bking 1340 inline 4 to the soon to Purchase 21’ SDR Vtwin 1301. Just wondering how comparable or transitional change I should be expecting. Thanks. Also, my Bking has zero rider assist (abs, msr,mtc, 6 axis Imu, quick shifter, etc).
The dash on this video was release for the 2017 model. Newer ones are certainly brighter.Preferences are preferences, and personal taste isn't to be discussed, I'm told. But modern KTM's dashes don't wash out at all under the sun. They cope with direct sunlight much better than any analog or LDC clock I've had in the past, and are always very legible in my experience. The same could be told for BMW's dashes (that are even better for my taste). And at night, they offer the best possible experience, but that's another story.
The Problem with the electronics on this bike is, if you are not in rain mode (i mean when are you in rain mode on this bike, exept if you drive in so ... whats funny), eaven at traction controll at max it won't interfere until you are nearly falling. (tested it on wet leaves it's funny if the rear wheel don't have traction and the electronics dose nothing eaven if its on max) So if you ride this beasts you need alot of expirience or it can be realy ugly realy quick.
Everytime when I see a super duke r review they always told that do not get it for first bike or something like that. I disagree at some level. I bought that bike couple years ago as my first bike and my previous experience with motorbikes was 50cc moped about 15 years ago so basicly nothing. All I knew that motorbikes are fast as f*ck so naturally I respect that bike and take it very, very easy. Couple "accidental" wheelie but that bike never scared me, its just so SMOOTH and EASY to predict. Last year my little brother bought yamaha r1 as his first bike and when I tested it it felt so slow even tho its 1000cc. And it was pretty slow until it hits 11k rpm and pop the wheel up, that scared me. Thats not easy to predict and my honest opinion is that my bike was way better first bike than that r1. Of course people say that u had to buy something like 600cc first and drive that couple years before buying +900cc. It waste of money and even tho u had some experience with 600cc, that 1300cc will suprise u even more than it did for me. Just because I took it really easy cuz I didn't have any idea how powerful motorbikes really are and 600cc guys think they know but they don't.
