ROOTSY KTM SUPER DUKE 1290 R SPECIAL EDITION
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Enjoying blending in with autumn...”
After nine months under my nominal control, it’s time to say auf wiedersehen to the Austrian Duke as I can no longer avoid KTM’s calls for the 1290 Super Duke R SE’s return. It’s been a brilliant (best part of a) year with it, though thanks to the addition to some pertinent parts the second half has certainly superseded the first few months.
I’m not naturally a showy person, so to be presented with a Special Edition machine that KTM had blinging up to the max with the Power Parts catalogue thrown at it ran counter to my inhibitions. Some bits I’d choose, like the Akrapovic exhaust, wave discs and carbon fibre covers (the seat’s nice, too), but the orange anodized triple clamps and reservoir caps are all just a bit too brazen for me. I’d go as far as the zesty levers and leave it at that. Still, an extra grand for that little lot really is tremendous value.
I say I’m not a show off, but the thing makes you behave like you’re in the starring role of a Broadway musical. You get on it and you can’t help but lark about. The first photoshoot I did with it I just wanted a wheelie shot. That, I could supply. After hooking up a high one on my first pass, Jonny declared that he’d got the shot – the same a few months later with a stoppie. “Are you sure you’ve got it?” I asked. “Yup,” was the reply. I was disappointed not to be required to do another 17 passes…
Things, however, then plateaued for a while as the marriage settled down. For all of the bragging about the bike being The Beast, the reality is that with all the electronics engaged the Super Duke R is a bit of a pussycat. The lack of integration of the clever stuff with the massive motor somewhat stymies a fluid, fun packed ride, so to spice things up in the proverbial bedroom I asked KTM if they could fit the aftermarket Akrapovic system and the special dongle that stops the TC and ABS settings from suffering amnesia every time you turn the engine off.
The result was the near transformation of the bike. The exhaust released 8bhp – lopping a healthy amount of weight off in the process. The thump in the midrange was now Tyson like, but with no ensuing bites lurking in the throttle’s delivery. The dongle’s ability to store a setting meant that it was a summer full of wheelies, stoppies and messing about backing it in at roundabouts. I’d still like a bit of TC and the ability to do wheelies, but I’m happy with the progress made here.
Two big trips were undertaken on the Super Duke R. Beej went off to the North West 200 and I went to the Swiss Alp – both of which you’ll be able to read about next month. Suffice to say, I thought it was a brilliant machine – the integrated luggage turning the bike into a load lugger extraordinaire, while I was never really bothered about the obvious lack of weather protection as I rarely strayed over the 100mph mark – it’s hard to go that fast on mountain switchbacks…
The best bit about handing it back is that the company has listened and will put into effect the sort of changes that we’ve been asking in the next generation model – again, about which you’ll read all about in the next issue, because we’re off to Qatar to ride it! The good Lord KTM giveth and he taketh away in equal measure!