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BRITAIN’S TOP-10 NAKEDS
KTM 1290 be for everyone but it is
‘The Beast’ may not
10SUPER DUKE R an absolute marvel
Astonishing motor and reasonable road
manners make this a supernaked like no other
Price £16,349 Power 177bhp Torque 103lb·ft Weight 206kg Seat height 835mm
KTM’s supernaked won’t appeal to 1301cc V-Twin is
everyone — that’s just a fact of life. To some devastatingly fast
riders, the bold and brash approach taken and gutsy
in both the styling and attitude of its bikes
by the Austrian manufacturer is a turn-off.
However, for others, it gives them their
unique spirit and is a draw.
On thing’s for sure; it is devastatingly
fast. A booming 1301cc V-twin, it boasts
almost 180bhp and more than 100 pounds
of torque and has electrifying throttle
response. There really is no other naked
bike on the planet that delivers the same
amount of grunt. But there is more to the
KTM than headline figures and all that ‘No other naked
guttural torque. KTM loves to market the
Super Duke R as ‘The Beast’, a title which delivers the
is wearing a bit thin now – because when
you need it to be, it’s actually easy-going. same amount
In the last update (in 2020), KTM made a
deliberate decision to refine its supernaked of grunt’
through an all-new chassis that features a
rising-rate suspension linkage rather than
the previous direct-link connection. This
system gives the Super Duke R much more Take to the road on the Super Duke R and
compliance in its chassis and WP the initial impression is just how
suspension, allowing the shock to respond shockingly powerful the V-twin motor is.
properly and removing the choppy and An absolute weapon of a powerplant,
feisty handling sensation that blighted the when you bang the throttle open it
previous generations. When combined unleashes a monster hit of torque that
with a more refined engine and electronics thumps you back in the seat and puts some
package, the result is a truly brilliant bike. serious strain on your arms. If you want
that instant kick of adrenalin, the Duke
certainly delivers it, as it will lift the front
in the first four gears with no effort
whatsoever. However, it unleashes its
power with a large amount of control. The
throttle control is precise and the
electronics far from obtrusive as they
gently come into play, which means you
can actually use the power and enjoy the
thrill rather than be intimidated by it.
The punch of its motor combines with a
The V-twin engine’s beautifully set-up chassis to make it a
performance is wonderful ‘point and squirt’ bike that can
incredible and the roll through bends with great balance,
chassis excellent. agility and stability and then fire out of
Electrical glitches aren’t them with an instant kick of torque rather THE COSTS
uncommon. than have to wait for the drive to build up SERVICING
with the revs. Ride it in this way and it is
RIDE VERDICT KTM has hard not to really fall for KTM’s bonkers Minor 9000 miles/£350
finally managed to hit the naked as it feels like a bike built for the PCP
Major 18,000/£600
right balance between sheer enjoyment of rapid road riding. £185.91 a month x 36
performance and road Make no mistake; the Super Duke R is a (£3300 deposit, 7.9% APR, 4000
manners with the latest serious bit of kit, with a serious price tag, annual miles, £8955 final payment)
generation of Duke. The but it has enough tech, quality components AFTER THREE YEARS
PREDICTED VALUE
result is a staggering naked. and feisty spirit to make every ride a thrill £9500
without overstepping the mark. JON URRY
50 SEPTEMBER 2022
