KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

The Super Duke GT is barely a year old, but its fundamentals come from the comically powerful naked Super Duke launched back in 2013. It shares the same tubular steel frame and 1301cc V-twin, but adds more comfort, practicality and useability by featuring a manually adjustable screen and a five-litre-larger fuel tank, as well as semi-active suspension, heated grips, cornering lights, cruise control and integrated pannier mounts all as standard.

However, the panniers themselves (a pair of 30-litre boxes) are an extra, costing £668.04. Our test bike has further electronic options. One is MSR (Motor Slip Regulation; £121.38) a kind of reverse traction control which opens the throttle slightly to prevent the rear wheel sliding under sudden deceleration or sharp downshifts. The other is Hill Hold Control (£151.98), which detects when you’re on a slope and automatically keeps the back brake on at a standstill.