2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Archives

2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Launched at EICMA 2019

The 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R was launched at EICMA 2019.
Power remains at 177 bhp, but torque is up to 140 Nm.
Lighter components bring weight down to 189 kg dry.

The 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R was launched at EICMA 2019.

KTM had teased us with three videos leading up to this launch. We were imagining a bike that’s not only more advance, but of course, more powerful than its predecessor.

The 1290 Super Duke R was a game changer in the supernaked segment, utilising brute power to blow everything else away and came to be known as “The Beast.” Some came close for 5 years since its launch in 2014, but it still ruled the roost as the King of Supernakeds.

Until the Ducati Streefighter V4 which debuted this year.

It’s because the 1290 Super Duke R’s 1301cc, 75-degree V-Twin still makes 177 bhp. But it’s torque is the highest at 140 Nm.

But as beastly as it is, that power is held in check by some really smart electronics and chassis combination. KTM was the first manufacturer to utilise the inertial measurement unit in the 1190 Adventure, and the component is in The Beast, as well. As such, there’s all the cornering traction control, cornering ABS, cornering lights, and so forth. But KTMs have one extra “supermoto” ride mode which allows the rider to power slide the rear wheel.

The new bike has a new subframe which is made of aluminium and carbon composite (gone is the steel trellis). Some weight is also shed through lighter wheels, brakes and the new swingarm. The revisions bring its dry weight down to 189 kg.

Suspension is now WP APEX front and rear, with 48 mm forks. The front brake calipers are now Brembo Stylema.

The Beast may not longer be king on paper, but we are certain that it’s still an entertaining/scary thing to ride.

Third #GETDUKED Teaser Video for 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R

KTM has released the third #GETDUKED teaser video.
It shows a motorcycle being blatted around on a racetrack.
It should be the new 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

KTM has released the third #GETDUKED teaser video for what should be the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

The previous two videos showed a motorcycle being built then prepared for a test on the racetrack in this video.

It shows a motorcycle blasting around a track interspersed with the typical seizure-inducing flash cutting footages of the bikes parts, including what we saw as Brembo Stylema front brake calipers, fitted to a Showa BPF-like fork lowers at 0:14. Does this mean the new Super Duke R will be more track-focused? KTM has no plans of building another fully-faired sportbike since axing the RC8 years ago.

But while the rest of the video is your standard new bike teaser fair (which is too many these days, by the way), it’s good to hear the glorious roar of the V-Twin engine.

A noteworthy feature of the 2020 bike is the aerodynamics. Taking a cue for their MotoGP efforts and also that of upcoming supernakeds, the it’ll have winglets on the radiator flanks. There were spyshots earlier and the prototype uses the kind of aluminium seat subframe first seen on the 790 Duke.

The new Super Duke R will have some stiff competition to dethrone it as the King of Supernakeds.

The video ends with the date 5th November 2019, which is the opening day of EICMA 2019.

New 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Incoming?

KTM released a teaser video for a new Duke.
We are inclined to believe it is the 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R.
Will we see a power increase in the face of upcoming new supernakeds?

Before we continue, we’d like to say, “Here’s another teaser video.” This time it’s from KTM with the hashtag #GetDuked. But certain frames in the teaser got us to believe that it’s going to be the new 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R.

Eagle-eyed viewers freezes certain frames in the video and pointed out that there were glimpses of a bike with a single-sided swingarm. That’s the dead giveaway for a 1290 Super Duke R, since a revised 1290 Super Duke GT had been introduced for this year.

The prototype 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R was spotted on a number of occasions. If the pictures are anything to go by, the new bike will have a new frame and subframe. The new bike’s frame looks more sparse, rather than taking on the appearance of a ladder. As for the new subframe, it resembles the aluminium one used on the 790 Duke.

We were thinking of either the rumoured 490 Duke or 890 Duke initially. But there’s still no confirmation if KTM is indeed working on these two.

This new bike will be unveiled on 5th November 2019, the opening day of EICMA.

But the most important question is probably whether we’ll see a power increase for the new 1290 Super Duke R. The model has held the title of the most powerful supernaked for many years. However, Ducati is set to introduce the Streetfighter V4 while Kawasaki has teased with a supercharged “Z” model which is a naked H2 in essence.

Let the arms race begin.

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