Worth Trading Up? | 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT 

scott, i just wanna say i've been watching some of your videos for several weeks now and for a one man production team you do an incredible job for your videos. From scenery, commentary, and video quality it all seems top notch compared to other bike reviewers / vloggers. Please keep up the amazing work.

The Mister Rodgers of motorcycle reviews, so calm and relaxed while explaining what we might want to know, loved it, subscribed!

The ultimate sport touring machine in my humble opinion. Love your reviews Scott, so relaxing and balanced, keep on!

I'm not fluent in English but a saw many of yours videos cause they are awesome. Like the détails of yours reviews👍🏻 better than mainstream media. It's details we want. Thanks for your work 🤗🤗

let me tell you this again guys.. BEST MOTORCYCLE REVIEWS, period!.

I like your composure and calmness

Thanks again Scott. We miss you in America bro. I recently traded in my HD for the Superadventure S and cant be happier. KTM Rocks !

As always, great review. No, let me change that:- As always, THE best reviewer on RU-vid!

The reliability seems pretty iffy then - so many reviewers seem to have had problems. Bit worried about getting one given the warning light you got! Bike seems pretty good, but would like a bit more wind protection. Maybe aftermarket screen is the only way to go.

Love your reviews, keep up the good work, much appreciated 👍

Nice presentation. You really give lots of respect to every machine you review and do a great job covering all the features including ergonomics and slow speed handling. Cannot wait to see what Generation 3 of the 1290 SuperDuke GT will be like. Cheers!

Great review! I Hope to see some cruiser review in the near future (like the new bmw r18 and the Harley line-up; would be great even a comparison with the older models with the twin-cam),

Mate I live in Pads and have to say I enjoy your honest reviews, I've got a Bking and was looking at getting the GT for those long rides back up north uk.

Love the 360 Gopro footage, really great "3rd person" perspective!

Okay just saying here at 4:00 on your film guy has balls of steel to pull in that close, and if it's a drone... Welp... Your drone has BALLS OF STEEL TOO!!! Lovely video, I'm vicariously living the dream during this covid quarantine dreaming of open roads and a bad-ass bike very much like this one!!! Good on you mate, love it!! 👍

Another awesome review! I think I might lean towards the updated BMW s1000XR over the KTM.

Thanks Scott! As Harley has a peculiar flicker (indicator) light setup, KTM has this weird placement of the hazard (emergency) switch on the right hand.... Same as my SDR - very difficult to operate once on the go using the throttle hand. Regards!

Hi Scott, thanks for all your graet reviews. Altough this video is posted a while ago, just want to ask your view on a matter related to the 1290 gt. I own a 2020 ktm 1290 gt and had great fun with it last year with no issues whatsoever. However a month ago things went terrible wrong when I took it for a spin in the first ride of the season. I fell in the first corner 20 meters from my house. Probably I have taken off my feet from the footstep causing the bike to crash my left under leg. It is hold in place with a steel plate and 12 screws. I consider myself as an experienced and cautious rider. I fell over riding in first gear with a very low speed. The road was dry and the bike wasn’t stalling. The corner is slightly negative in the wrong direction. I haven’t touched the front brake, neither pulled the throttle as I didn’t want to wake up the neighbors on a Sunday morning. It frustrates me to a great extent why I don’t understand what caused the crash. This is why I reach out to pick your brains on this, and maybe also from others. Any similar experiences or any bike specific issues you can think off? Looking at the conditions that day, normally the rider is to blame, I can’t recall exactly what happened but would take the same turn in the same way next time. Any insights would be more than welcome and thanks in advance for all the tips and guidance!

Well reviewed Scott! I still don’t understand why KTM have orange frames, I’ve always said it’s because they want to hide the rust...😎. I think KTM have always produced sport bikes first before touring bikes. It’s their DNA & I’d prefer a BM over a KTM. So, no issue riding the F900XR. It’s more than enough of a bike than you & I will ever need. Take care & ride safe too!💯👌🏍

Brilliant review and presentation, as always. Go safe and thanks.

TFT wise I’d rank BMW #1, Kawasaki #2, and KTM #3. Great review!

Thanks for your great in-depth reviews , brilliant work Scott 👍👍

SCOTT! Hello, my friend. Another great review. And right on time, too. I was wondering when you were going to do the Gen 2 GT. I have ridden the Gen1 and I liked it very much. The power, suspension and brakes were amazing. However, I found the menu system on the Gen 1 to be cumbersome, the wind protection came up short for me and overall the ergos, while not bad, are not what I was looking for either. As you know I currently ride the Triumph Trophy SE. For me there is no way I would trade it for the Duke GT. The only real advantage the GT would provide is the power and some enhanced electrickery, and frankly it's not enough to get me to switch. If I am being honest I don't need that much power anyway. And the Trophy provides enough electrickery for my taste, along with superior element protection, silky smooth operation and luxury that the Duke cannot compete with. Looks? That is subjective, so not something that counts in general, but I happen to enjoy the look of the Trophy over the GT. I do completely agree with your assessment of the Pirelli Angel GT tires as well. Angel GTs are what I run on the Trophy, and they are fantastic. I won't run anything else on this bike. Having said ALL of this, I am taking nothing away from the Duke GT! It's a great bike. If I didn't own this Trophy it would be on my short list of bikes I could own. Cheers!

You're chill personality sells the bike.

in my "humble opinion" , this is a great review, thumbs up

Thanks , I think this is my next bike . 👍👍

Great review as always. I was born in PB, know all the dealers and routes and tested many of the bikes myself. My objective and subjetive impressions are always exactly the same as yours. Therefore for me, your humble opinion is very accurate and reliable :-) And thanks to your clear English, i don´t notice that it´s not in german ;-)

I've got a 1st gen and I love it except for the lack of a center stand. Heated seats, saddlebags and a top box turn it into a great sport touring motorcycle. So sad reliability issues spoil the whole package.

What was that warning light on the dash?

What is your opinion regarding passenger seat and position . Nice review 👌

Dig this guy smooth talker,no nonsense right to the point right on man.! Ive rode a 2016 GT 1290 its a great feeling sport bike .I Also rode it back to back with a 2017 BMW XR 1000 .The KTM feels way more like a giant dirt bike firm racier fast light stiffer .The BMW is fast but feels much heavier the ride is like being on a couch ,you can almost fall a sleep riding it ,it might be better for super long trips.But the KTM just feels so much faster and puts a stupid grin on your face .!!!!!

Big fan of the LC8 motor but also understand your decision to downsize. A comparison based on an extended trip would be interesting.

Simply the best Bike👍

Clicked the "like button" before the video started…. Thanks, very nice & honest review !!!! VVV

That's a magnificent bike. I have to get out and try one.

Your background music blended in well with audio. Kudos!

Great review! thanks for making it. which one between a 1250RS and this one would you choose for long-distance trips with panniers and pillion? i'm about to buy a new bike and i'm still bias between these twos.

I would say that the BMW and KTM TFT is tied for first and Triumph and Ducati is fighting for second.

I was sure.. You can't resist.. KTM is tooooo fun

As I sit here, I cannot see the screen on my smart phone. I have an ST1300 and the display is unreadable much of the time. Are the TFT screens on these new motorcycles readable in sunlight?

Great as allways!!!

Scott you rock man, great review 👍

Not sure which looks better, that bike or the German countryside in Spring.

I've said it before, I love the KTM street bikes, I just don't trust the brand (yet). That Warning light is a perfect example...

2022 Super Duke GT or BMW R 1250 GT/RT...cross country touring...I am buying one of these, what bike would you prefer?...I am62 athletic..

Great video as usual. Thank you Scott. I'm looking at this and the Multistrada 1260S GT. Any thoughts comparing the 2?

I've sold my 2002 honda vtr 1000 sp02, becouse of my partner (back pain during long rides). I still want some sport (ish) riding, actually I am crading for some sport rides. Do you feel like that this bike has got it all, or is it the one for me? I like and I want a V-twin as I am used to. I have some long trips planned also (3000km and more). Is there any optional equipment worth having on this bike (like bigger screen, akrapovic - must have,...)?

Well done mate. Totally agree with your review

Great review, thank you.

Nice review as always. Just one question.., you are comparing this ktm with the BMW R1250RS but wouldn’t it be more comparable with the bmw S1000xr instead?

Great Review Scott, as always. I wonder why they don't give the SDR adaptive suspension.

greetings from Sauerland - good job ;-)

The world’s biggest exhaust. Are you using a wife angle lens? Good vid tho! Thanks

Great review Scott.👍

Hi friend. Thank you for theKTM 1290 Super Duke GT test! What do you think? Does it compares well with the BMW 1250 RT? Grateful in advance for your kind reply 🙏🏻

if I had 20KUSD to spare, this is the bike i would buy. but i do not have that and could not justify it so something like the BMW 900XR or 790/890 Duke are two I could see buying.

I don’t know why but i don’t have the wow factor with this bike. Although it is packed with top stuff

so Scott you had the old one, do regret getting your F990XR instead of upgrading to this? Amazing bike, but the cost!

It has been a while since you did a review in the sdgt. I own a gen 3 sdr and having serious issues with my neck. I’m 1,92 and considering changing it for a gt. As you are familiar with both, would you consider the riding position of de gt much more straight up and comfortable compared to the r? Your thoughts would be very much appreciated!

Great Review again

2018 brand new 0 km super duke gt or full loaded demo 2020 900XR. Here in Mexico they are offering me both at almost same price. Which one would you take if want to use it mostly for weekends short-medium trips (250-500 km)? Thanks in advance

What kind of riding gear do you use?

Enjoyed the video!

Good night i would like to know if you are enjoying yours XR, i also have One and i'm loving it.

perhaps you did not upgrade to the GT was the 8K price increase?

what top speed on this thing?

Sehr schönes Review, Bitte bei Gelegenheit die Royal enfield 650 paraleltwin testen danke

I have Pirelli Diablo Rosso III in my Tracer 900 GT and it became a different bike handling-wise.

I have the 2019 and love it.

Many thanks, I had a gen 1, now have a gen 2 (58 miles on it due to lock down) Firstly I think your opinion does matter, Secondly, what sort of mileage did it have on it for the quickshifter to work so well?

This, the Multistrada or the S 1000 XR?

Not to far from Bielefeld. If it exists.

How tall are You? Its ver important talking about wind protection.

I can’t decide between super adventure S and this

What about the warning light?

What a nice voice

It looks better with the bags on...

Didn't know how to start it eh? 😂