KTM 1290 super duke r
this month i have mostly been… “Exploring the limit of grip and the KTM’s safety blanket ”
The shite weather of late has been an ideal test environment to explore the Super Duke R’s traction control and ABS in a safety sense – rather than a performance enhancer. Consequently, I’ve been riding like a right James Blunt, which gives you some idea of just how brilliant the system is.
I’ve been spending most of my time in ‘Street’ mode, gradually upping the pace until the TC kicks in. On cold tyres, in damp conditions, right through to sun-drenched Tarmac and scorching rubber, the KTM holds your hand and feels pretty much uncrashable. Aside from excess load on the front mid-corner, the ABS has saved me more than once and the TC light has been permanently illuminated when riding in iffy conditions – despite the excellent mechanical grip.
The TC light has been permanently illuminated in iffy conditions...”
I’m hoping KTM will install the Bosch MSC on the Super Duke R very soon.
An over-exuberant throttle hand on cold tyres at a slight lean angle corrects itself, subtly repositioning to upright without a vasectomy. Like most KTM’s, it bullies you into all sorts of naughty business – it’s just taken a little time to adapt to its refinement.
I’m also seriously impressed with the OE tyres. The Dunlop Sportsmart 2 is close to becoming the tyre of the year for me; superb warm-up time, epic grip, just as epic stability, and, er, epic wet performance.
In terms of modifications, we’ve started this month. The boys at P&H Motorcycles were harping on at how important a radiator guard is for my 899 Panigale race bike. Judging the appalling state of the UK roads, and the fact I often ride in a group of mates, it only takes one errant stone to thwart a trip out. R&G do an orange item for under £75. A radiator costs ten times that. It was a no brainer. The R&G item is secured via two bolts at the bottom of the SD-R’s rad, and a few cable ties at the top. It takes two minutes to fit. It’s still a no brainer.
The Super Duke R is a bike that’s taken time to fully appreciate (and I’ll admit to being a little over-critical at first sight), but we’re in love now. As you can see from the last few mags, we’ve been riding a number of the KTM’s rivals. Let’s just say I’m chuffed the 1290 is in my garage.
Hopefully we’ll go searching for some horsepower next month...