It’s good, but not perfect
Dan reflects on the highs and lows of his time on the 1290 Super Duke GT
I couldn’t believe my luck when I was entrusted with KTM’s 1290 Super Duke GT. Grabbing the keys in early February, I couldn’t wait to put its 173bhp V-twin to the test on track and lose my European touring virginity. It was going to be epic.
Fast forward to early March and there’s been one rainsoaked track evening, no Euro adventure and only 6500-miles. Gutted. Thanks Covid. That’s not to say the year was a total washout though and between lockdowns the Austrian powerhouse has become one of my favourite bikes. Aggressively styled, incredibly fast and comfortable enough to swallow hundreds of miles between fill-ups, the GT proved itself to be a true all-rounder – even managing to be calm and refined on sub-40mph jaunts into traffic-filled city centres and achieving 50.01mpg.
Where the GT really stood out was on weekend rides. Despite a fat 23-litre fuel tank in front of you, the bike feels narrow between your legs and more of an engaging proposition than its more bulbous 17in-rimmed rivals such as the BMW S1000XR and Kawasaki Versys 1000. The chassis works with the electronic WP suspension to create a nimble package that rails through fast bends. Not only this, but the bike will happily tour in comfort - taking three days and 860 miles around the south coast in its stride, with the cruise control and adjustable screen upping the comfort stakes en route.
Optional extras
Touring was made easier by a pair of £700 KTM panniers, which took everything I needed and were a doddle to take on and off. What helped less was the £218 ergo heated seat, which gave me a numb bum after around 150 miles. If you’re touring, leave the standard unit on. Other mods included a £787 Akrapovic slip-on end can and £306 Track Pack electronics update, which allow you to cycle through nine stages of traction control on the fly.
Electrical upsets
For all of its good points, the bike has thrown up a handful of phantom warning lights on the 6.5in TFT dash and the keyless fob stopped responding during a road test in the summer. Some 3000 miles later, the TFT dash had to be replaced under warranty due to water ingress – not something I would expect to happen after 10 months of garaged ownership.
If you’re in the market for a bike with superbike power and the comfort to carry you to the south of France, the GT is a great option, but be prepared for a few issues along the way.