2022 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R AND KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO
INTRODUCTION: Hello everyone and welcome back to Motorcycle
News with me, Burtoni Motors.
Before the craziness of EICMA really starts to kick-off next week, KTM decided to launch
an updated 1290 Super Duke R and a new flagship of the Super Duke family, the 1290 Super Duke
R Evo.
LOGO As a quick refresher, KTM’s 1290 Super Duke
R was overhauled in 2020 with a dramatic weight savings, a reworked LC8 engine, and an updated
electronics package. While it was not as powerful as the recently launched Ducati Streetfighter
V4, it was definitely one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles in the segment.
That 1301 cc LC8 is a wonderful power plant pumping out 180hp and 140nm of torque. Some
would call it one of the best V-Twin engines to ever be inserted into a motorcycle… and
I’m definitely one of those someones.
2022 Updates: Let’s jump into 2022 since that’s why
y’all are here anyway. For 2022, KTM went ahead and updated the 1290 Super Duke R with
a few things that owners were looking for and in doing so created the all-new 1290 Super
Duke R EVO which brings more technology and adding a 2nd generation of WP’s APEX Semi-active
Suspension.
With new Semi-Active Technology (SAT), the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO retains everything
that is loved about the motorcycle but now gains an even wider range of usability that
allows the motorcycle to be confident on poor road surfaces to the most pristine track,
all at the click of a switch.
There are now three different damping modes as standard - COMFORT, STREET, SPORT
In addition, the spring preload of the rear suspension can be set via the TFT Display
menu to up to 20 mm in 10 steps, depending on the requirements of the rider. In this
case, the adjustability setting ranges from 0% to 100%, in 10% or 2mm increments.
Obviously this is really aimed at advanced riders because if I were to get on this bike,
I’d have absolutely no idea what to do.
In addition to the standard suspension settings, the optional SUSPENSION PRO package offers
three more damping modes, namely TRACK, ADVANCED, and AUTO.
- TRACK provides the stiffest available setting developed internally by KTM test riders to
provide the ideal setting for track days and specifically for faster race tracks where
you need additional support under hard braking.
- ADVANCED allows the rider to select the level of damping for the fork and shock on
a scale from 1 to 8. This suits more technical riders who are looking for the smallest marginal
gains and want to fine-tune and tailor their suspension settings for their riding styles.
- AUTO is the most intelligent of the trio and is capable of detecting different riding
styles and automatically adapting the suspension damping, being softer and more comfortable
when cruising through the city, and harder and more focused when riding aggressively
on a fast mountain pass. This auto adjustment between modes happens almost instantly without
any interference in the ride.
SUSPENSION PRO also offers three automatic preload auto-leveling settings – LOW, STANDARD,
and HIGH.
In this instance, the suspension is able to adjust the preload automatically in accordance
with the weight of the rider and recreate 3 defined geometries:
- AUTO-STANDARD, which is neutral with a balanced geometry
- AUTO-LOW: which is more relaxed than the auto-Standard with more comfortable geometry
and with a lower seat height - and then AUTO-HIGH which you could guess
is an aggressive agile track attack geometry, with a more loaded front end/
Another optional feature on SUSPENSION PRO is an anti-diving setting that keeps the front-end
high under hard braking. As with most electronic functions, it can of course be switched off
if desired.
The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R and KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO continue to feature the RAIN, STREET,
SPORT, and optional TRACK and PERFORMANCE ride modes, affording riders improved feedback
about what the engine is doing, with less intrusive traction control and anti-wheelie
mitigation. Selecting any of the above settings can be
performed on the fly.
Throttle response is given a further boost with the addition of a new quick-turn throttle
twist grip, reduced by 7 degrees to 65 degrees. KTM R&D developed this solution not only to
offer a faster and more responsive throttle, but also to reduce the rider wrist angle as
well as the elbow drop at full throttle.
COLORS In terms of looks, the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE
R and KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO retain an aggressive street presence but introduce two
new colorways. A familiar blue and orange livery is flanked by an all-new silver and
orange. The signature KTM orange frame - reserved only for KTM ‘R’ models - and hot orange
wheels give a visible warning to stay clear because this bike is always in attack mode.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: While not an official price, rumors of the
2022 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo hitting the showroom floors for $19,599 MSRP has been
floating around. But, we do know that the bike should be available from January 2022.
So if you want one, you better give your local dealer a call asap.
ACCESSORIES: It would not be a new motorcycle launch unless
there were some newly developed accessories to help personalize ride. Bags, shirts, things
of that nature.
WRAP-UP: Is this a game-changer? Well, for KTM I bet
this is a huge upgrade from the 2020 1290 Super Duke R to the 2022 EVO. The suspension
sounds extremely expensive and technically and should be the advantage that you need
to take off a few seconds off a lap time…. If you were an avid rider. When you look at
the larger market, is it the fastest bike out there? No, that’s the Ducati. Is it
the motorcycle with the most carbon? No, that would also be the Ducati. Is it the only bike
with electronically controlled suspension? No, that would be the Aprilia. This bike called
the scalpel for a reason though, I bet all of the parts together make it extremely sharp
and honestly an amazing experience no matter if you are heading for some back-road adventures
or if you are rushing the corkscrew of Laguna Seca.
Now, that’s all I’ve got for you today. Go out there
and ride safe!