One of the vital magnificent and terrifying steeds in motorcycledom will get its second main overhaul for 2024. The brand new KTM 1390 Tremendous Duke R will get a much bigger motor, a much bigger tank, semi-active suspension and a savagely alien new headlight design.
Critically, for those who thought the boggle-eyed BMW S1000R or the angry-eyebrows Yamaha MT-10 had some bizarre faces on them, the brand new Tremendous Duper Duke headlight makes each look downright typical. Think about the previous 1290 Tremendous Duke headlight – now intestine the center out of it, leaving the perimeters, and stick a few brutal projector housings in there, stacked vertically in order to verify it does not remind anybody of any mammal.
What’s left appears completely regular from the facet, however hideous and unfinished-looking from the entrance – one thing like a drooling, mechanical Predator alien. As a bit of design, it feels scandalous, impolite and confrontational, and thus completely acceptable for some of the unapologetically hooliganistic bikes in the marketplace.
The 1290 is now a 1390 – albeit in identify alone. Similar to the 1290 was truly a 1301 for those who had been counting cubic centimeters of displacement, the brand new 1390 is definitely a 1350. The brand new engine positive factors its 49 cc by being barely bored out. KTM says it provides extra energy and torque all through the complete rev vary, but additionally that it “permits for a extra differentiated gas mapping to satisfy the newest EURO 5+ emission rules.”
Peak claimed horsepower goes from a puny 177 to a chic sufficiency of 190, and peak claimed torque is a rare 107 lb-ft (145 Nm), up from a pittance of 106 lb-ft (144 Nm). Frankly, for those who’re in a position to really feel both change from the saddle, you should be using it lots tougher than I rode the previous one. And I gave it my stage finest shot; it was so monumentally torquey that it wheelied in fourth gear for those who checked out it within the improper tone of voice.
However in addition to being one of many wildest bikes I ever rode, it additionally managed a level of practicality – and KTM has added to it once more with the 1390, upping the capability of the gas tank to 17.5 liters (3.85 gal) and thus boosting gas vary as much as round 300 km (186 miles).
Commonplace, it will roll with KTM’s personal absolutely adjustable WP Apex suspension. On the fancier EVO mannequin, you’ll be able to anticipate the newest era of WP’s semi-active know-how, full with electronically managed magnetic valves for super-quick damping adjustment in response to highway circumstances and rider mode requests. By the way, have you learnt what WP stands for? Yeah, I feel I might be going with simply the initials too.
Naturally the 1390 Tremendous Duke R is kitted out with all the suitable electronics to handle, tame and neuter its outrageous efficiency while you deem it prudent. However one watch of KTM’s promotional video for this new bike ought to make it clear sufficient what it is constructed for. It may be extremely simple to journey, however it’s additionally constructed for superhuman riders to do superhuman issues on.
Personally I nonetheless cannot consider we’re allowed to only go and purchase this stuff.
The 2024 KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R – NAKED AND UNASHAMED, NO BULLSHIT. | KTM
Supply: KTM