Road test of KTM1290 SUPER DUKE R 2014 The tamed beast?

a whole season without a KTM test ride...
That's what I think as I pull into the importer's parking lot. Why? Lack of time.
The desire was there, but I sadly had to do without my favorite Austrian bikes for 12 months.
This year, I'm determined to make up for it, and I'm starting straight away with a fighter plane...

the tamed beast? By Oli the Belgian

after going through the obligatory paperwork for this kind of test, I step out into the parking lot and hear the deep sound of the twin-cylinder in the distance.
To say that I'm a little excited is an understatement; this bike has had an "effect" on me since the first photos.
And I'm far from disappointed when I see it in front of me. What a face!
Ultra-aggressive, top-of-the-range finish; in short, it rocks.

on the road

after some sound advice on which computer to use if I decide to ride the "track" version (without any electronic aids, that would be madness), I wisely set off for the "road".
The bike is extremely light to move.
Well, we can quibble about the kickstand, which is hard to find, but the atmosphere on board is very contemporary.
The dashboard is the same as on the Adventure, and the controls under my fingertips have come a long way.
KTM has finally decided to use modern-looking equipment. Gone are the enduro elements.
The seat is now "in" the bike, and despite the thinness of the saddle, the incredible quality of the suspension makes the bike very comfortable.

the 1290 is chomping at the bit, and so am I.
The first few meters reveal a very agile two-wheeler. The bike handles like a 690 Duke, so civilized does it feel.
But as soon as I open the door, a different face emerges.
The 180 well-awakened horsepower propel the bike straight to an unspeakable speed.
Fortunately, the pressure on the helmet due to roadster protection is there to call you to order.

basta, I leave the fast lane as quickly as possible to attack (the word is weak on such a machine) our small, bumpy roads in Walloon Brabant.
I can't help but draw parallels with mySuzuki Virus test ride, as this bike demands such vigilance on the throttle.
The torque available, the ease with which the bike can be angled and the power of the braking quickly instills confidence in the rider.
Let's not forget that it covers 0 to 200 km/h in just over 7 seconds.
But the laws of physics still apply, even to such an accomplished beast.
And entering a bend 30 km/h faster than with my FJR, it's still hot.

indomitable, then?

well, no, hence the title of my editorial.
After the excitement of the first encounter, and having had to change my over-optimistically soiled underwear 2 or 3 times, the return to the life of a biker reveals another side of the SuperDuke.

the mill accepts 6th gear at 130 without flinching, and you'll just have to drop down a gear to overtake without knocking the engine.
The bike is a real pleasure to ride, as the 17-minute video on my Youtube page proves.

overall comfort, apart from a few visible vibrations in the mirrors at certain engine speeds, is very good.
For the duo, I'll give you a wild card: the positioning of the footrests and the thickness of the passenger seat leave little doubt as to comfort.

a final complicating factor for us poor Belgian bikers is the protection offered by the rear mudguard. Short, not very wide and hollow in the middle, I think this is a record-breaker... No drop will be able to spare your back!

in conclusion

i'd like to start by quoting Sylvain when, after a few kilometers on his handlebars, he got off the Katoche and said:"tcheu, everyone's looking at me with this bike! "

and yes, once again, the Austrians have succeeded in bringing out a bike with incredible plasticity, an extremely raucous sound and an inimitable mouth.
For the timid, there's still a much more discreet black version.

I promise, 2013 is the last year I'll skip a KTM test ride!

See you soon

Oli the Belgian