No sooner have we spoken out about the roadster craze "this time they've gone too far" than a new ramshackle presents itself. Lurking in the excitement, ready to flay every inch of asphalt, menacing like a deaf and blind vengeance, the new 1390 Superduke R has the counters and neurons in a frenzy. The 1290 was already crazy; its replacement seems to pulverize reason.
It's heavy, furious, Mad Max to the eyeballs and connecting rods. KTM's beast celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Duke with 190 horsepower under the handle! One hundred and ninety grunts expelled from an even bigger, even more fearsome engine. Yet only 2 mm have been added to the bore. Just the thickness of a slice of ham, for 1350 cm3 of hypertrophied muscle. The Austrian V2 is a nightmare for tires and the competition.
It is now flirting very closely with the hyper-powerful machines from Ducati, MV-Agusta, BMW or Kawasaki. The Streetfighter V4, Brutale 1000, M 1000 R and Z H2 think they're safe with the extra 10 or 20 horsepower they generate. But the Superduke makes explosive use of its architecture and displacement. The monstrous Katoche spits out up to 14.8 mkg of torque. Enough to slap you in the face with every acceleration. But where it wrestles hard and mercilessly is in the arrival of power. At 10,000 rpm, its 190 horsepower are on fire - at the same rpm, its rivals produce 170 hp. They then benefit from extra length, while the Austrian engages a new gear and another drive stage.
This LC8 block is a rhinoceros on amphetamines. The engine-makers have given it a new camshaft with two separate valve lifters, a more direct air intake, a new air filter housing, revised 5th and 6th gear ratios, and injection housings inflated to 60 mm. These changes have not only increased its power but also improved its emissions, making it Euro5+ compliant. The airbox forces the fuel tank to take on a new shape, and this little bugger takes advantage of this to gain 1.5 liters of capacity, for a total of 17.5 liters.
With the 1390 Superduke, such a huge heart doesn't translate into a gentle smile. Like the 990, it takes on the new Duke identity. The face of a highly radioactive necrophagous mummy, with unparalleled aggressiveness. KTM has succeeded in making it more "expressive" than the borborygmatic looks of certain Yamaha and Suzuki productions.
The Superduke's main aesthetic evolutions are a new, tormented face and new sides. Large scoops conceal the radiator and act as winglets. But the design takes care to leave the tubular steel trellis frame clearly visible. Slightly modified from the 1290 - following the mechanical evolution - it uses the engine to provide part of its rigidity. It's on the suspension side that things get a little livelier. The 48 mm WP inverted fork with APEX technology is updated, while the rear gets a new shock absorber, also WP APEX. In addition to preload and rebound adjustment, it features separate settings for high- and low-speed compression. The DCC (Dual Compression Control) setting has been improved for a better compromise between comfort and performance.
Optimized suspension and increased dynamism. The 6 mm shorter wheelbase contributes to this. New Michelin Power GP tires have also been requisitioned to stick to the road. They also shave 1,200 grams off the weight of previous envelopes.
The electronics are not to be outdone, with a 5-inch TFT screen featuring new graphics, revised navigation and, as an option, a telemetry and GPS stopwatch display. To get it, you need to opt for Track Mode. The 1390 Superduke R can be supervised with 5 Riding Modes, but only 3 are standard (Street - Sport - Rain).
Let's take a look:
In "Rain", the electronics only let 130 hp through, softening the throttle and maximizing traction control.
With "Street", all the power is there, the right-hand grip reacts normally, traction control intervenes less and the bike allows slight wheeling.
It's more fun in "Sport", where throttle response is more direct, while a slight loss of rear grip and a little more freedom to lift the front wheel are allowed.
Under "Performance" (optional), more people are added. The rider can customize traction control and throttle response, deactivate anti-wheeling, adjust engine braking, and engage Launch Control. This mode also includes cruise control.
Once "Track" (optional) is engaged, the Superduke makes it clear that it wants to take to the track. The display switches to a track-oriented theme and settings.
Electronic assistance can be adjusted as in "Performance" mode, but the bike deactivates cruise control and the KTMconnect app. Getting a notification while you're on the move is out of the question.
Yes, it's a sick bike. Yes, the Superduke is even more aggressive. Yes, its 190 horsepower are totally incendiary. But fortunately, the bike's chassis and electronics are such that we're not going to screw up just yet. Moving on to episode 1390, the machine becomes almost surreal. It's almost as if the Hulk has changed shape and color.
It will also be available in an EVO version, with semi-active suspension.
2024
Ktoch
Model 2024
