2020 bikesales Bike of the Year: KTM 1290 Super Duke R

While some machines in the 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Awards were arguably more refined than the KTM 1290 Super Duke R, there were few, if any, that were as much fun.

From the moment you open the throttle to when you park it in the garage, it’s impossible not to have a good time on the 1290 Super Duke R, our Best Naked offering in 2020. Try and ride it without a maniacal smile on your face – I dare you!

Part of the Duke’s appeal is its rawness and bare-bones aggression, attributes that may well relate to the brand’s off-road heritage.

It may sound odd, but the 1290 Super Duke R feels at times like riding a high-powered supermoto. It has that classic KTM growl, and a raw, visceral and evocative engine. Add in a nice wide 'bar, unequalled wheelie ability, and a light and agile chassis, and it’s easy to see how KTM might have taken inspiration from its world-beating off-road range.

Of course, it’s not a dirt bike – it’s a 1301cc V-twin super-naked that puts out 180hp (132kW) at 9500rpm and 140Nm at 8000rpm. Let’s be clear, the 1290 Super Duke R is no gimmick – it’s a true race-bred road weapon that is just as at home on the track as it is on the streets.

And with a significant makeover for 2020, it's also KTM’s most complete road offering to date. Since its release in 2012, the 1290 Super Duke R has been favoured for its wild performance and daredevil appeal, but it can now add genuine sophistication to its resume.

To list all the changes would take another whole story but, in short, the latest version of the 1290 Super Duke R gets a new chromoly-steel trellis frame, new WP Apex suspension, extensive updates to the engine and drivetrain, and the latest and greatest in rider aids and safety features. Peak power gets a 3hp boost and the bike has shed 6kg in weight.

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2020 Bikesales Bike of the Year winner: KTM 1290 Super Duke R

KTM calls the 1290 Super Duke R the ‘Beast’, but the updated engine and drivetrain offer more real-world performance, and rideability. Yes, the performance is borderline mental, but the everyday rider can jump on and still have a ball. The same cannot be said for every high-performance machine.

The versatility of the engine is surprising. You can ride the socks off it, but you can also cruise along at a mellow pace. And there is torque right through the rev range, meaning a messed-up gear change is not the end of the world. On the twisting mountain road over Mount Hotham, I found myself leaving it in third gear and using the broad spread of torque to sling-shot me out of the corners.

In the handling department, there's a lot to like. Everything about the way the 1290 Super Duke R handles is so precise. Simply point and shoot, and the bike will hold its line and remain balanced right through each turn. The new chassis lends the 1290 Super Duke R even more agility than before yet with greater feedback, and its light and compact nature make it is easy to muscle the ‘Beast’ around when necessary.

Elsewhere, there is technology galore with a 5-inch TFT screen, three ride modes (plus an optional Track mode), traction control, cornering ABS (with a Supermoto ABS mode), cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive brake light, LED lighting, and connectivity via the KTM MyRide smartphone app.

My only issues with the 1290 Super Duke R concerned its abrupt throttle response and its very firm suspension setup. The throttle can be twitchy, especially at lower speeds. Experienced riders should adapt pretty quickly, but less experienced pilots may be startled by the bike's aggression.

The simple solution is to stay in Street mode (which is still very responsive), while Rain mode mellows the response significantly for wet and slippery conditions.

The suspension is sportsbike firm and big bumps can be bone jarring, but the flip-side is that it contributes to the bike's superb sporting DNA. Plus, it is all (manually) adjustable, including fork clickers for rebound and compression damping adjustments.

Fuel economy? The KTM 1290 Super Duke R returned an average of 7.0L/100km over Bike of the Year, with only the Ducati Panigale V2 and Triumph Rocket 3 R thirstier. Yes, the Beast has a bit of an appetite!

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R isn't perfect, and there are other machines with a better finish or a cleaner design. But it’s not meant to be perfect, and with a name like the ‘Beast’, it’s less about beauty and finesse, and more about fire-breathing power and razor-sharp handling.

And still, it’s a capable, rideable, and confidence-inspiring machine. It is the kind of bike that will make amateur riders feel like TT winners. Well… at least until an actual TT winner goes flying past you (thanks Cam).

Let’s face it, motorcycling should be about fun, excitement, and freedom, and the 1290 Super Duke R delivers all those things and much, much more.

ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, eight-valve, 75-degree 'LC8' V-twin
Capacity: 1301cc
Bore x stroke: 108mm x 71mm
Compression ratio: 13.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 180hp (132kW) at 9500rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 140Nm at 8000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed PANKL with quick-shifter
Clutch: Wet multi disc, slipper
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Chromoly steel tubular trellis with aluminium-carbon-composite sub-frame
Front suspension: WP APEX 48mm inverted fork, fully adjustable, 125mm travel
Rear suspension: WP APEX monoshock, fully adjustable, 140mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 320mm discs with Brembo Stylema radial-mount, four-piston, monobloc calipers (Cornering ABS equipped)
Rear brake: 240mm disc with Brembo twin-piston caliper (Cornering ABS equipped)
Wheels: Cast alloy
Tyres: Bridgestone Battlax S22; 120/70ZR17 front, 200/55ZR17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed dry weight: 189kg
Seat height: 835mm
Wheelbase: 1497mm
Rake: 25.2 degrees
Fuel capacity: 16 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $28,095 ride away
Colours: Orange or black
Bike supplied by: KTM Australia