News 4 Mar 2016

Review: 2016 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

CycleOnline.com.au tests the 2016 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT.

Words: Matthew Shields

For many years sports-tourers have been on the more gentle, relaxed side of the sports and touring combination. Set for comfort, well-controlled handling and strong and predictable engine characteristics, theses bikes were a little short on delivering proper sports-riding excitement. Now there are bikes that fall into this sports-touring genre that are really exciting sports-tourers like BMW’s S1000XR, Ducati’s Multistrada, Kawasaki’s Ninja 1000 and Suzuki’s GSX-S1000F. There are many choices to make in this category, and the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is the latest.

The Spanish island of Mallorca was the lavish location for the GT launch. From the moment I walked into the forecourt of the hotel, the sight of riders in everything from race leathers, to jeans and leather jackets, to full textile suits, indicated everyone had a different idea of what sports-touring is or was going to be on the GT. Choosing textiles paid off as the entire day except for an excellent, all too brief stretch of coast road at the end of the day, was sketchy or wet. Nonetheless, in the conditions this gentler and technically advanced evolution from the 1290 Super Duke R nakedbike shone.

KTM makes it unashamedly clear that the GT is evolved from the Super Duke R. First released only two years ago, the Super Duke R delivered a far superior machine than the model before while retaining the wild side that the Super Duke forged its reputation on. In creating the Super Duke GT from the SD-R the differences are heavily to do with styling and ergonomics, but at the same time KTM has been sure to address aspects of the engine and handling to better tailor the GT to touring needs.

Source: Supplied.

The engine has redesigned cylinder heads, modified valve timing and a change to the engine mapping to create an engine with 127kW of power and 114Nm of a wider ranging band of torque. These figures are impressive on their own, but when you consider the GT weighs in at 205kg dry, it’s a combination that makes for a pretty good power-to-weight ratio. The GT’s ride mode selector changes engine characteristics in each mode. Sport is punchy and hard-hitting – not as much as the 132kW/144Nm Super Duke, just a bit milder. Street makes the low to midrange even easier to control while the Rain mode makes it easy to ride in the worst of conditions and limits output to 75kW.

Other controls and aids include a quickshifter, Combined ABS, dynamic traction control, cruise control and self-cancelling indicators. Include heated handgrips and a heated seat as rider aids – as anyone would in winter – and you have a lot of functions for a base-spec motorcycle. The GT comes with a tyre pressure monitoring system and a LED cornering light that, as the name suggests, points the extra lights on the lips of the fairing around a corner. Also, an optional plug allows you to use Hill Hold Control to hold you in place when you take off and Motor Slip Regulation to stop rear wheel lock up on deceleration.

These electronics are great base-spec equipment, but the list fails to include the semi-active WP suspension. With no change to the chassis or ergonomics of the Super Duke R except the handlebar position, the handling of the GT is as quick and stable as the Super Duke R on our very brief spell of dry, twisty and bumpy roads. The difference that each mode delivers between Comfort, Street and Sport was strikingly different but we didn’t get a chance to explore them each properly.

After moving to a different character in each of these modes, the semi-active side of the suspension applies that style of control to the suspension using its various monitors and sensors. With a longish 125mm of travel up front and 156mm at the rear, there is plenty of stroke for the suspension to work through, as the system controls suspension stroke length, rebound and compression damping on the fly, while automatically adjusting spring preload.

Source: Supplied.

The rider is a lot more comfortable thanks to wider and higher handlebars with a more comfortable seat over the nakedbike. The fairing screen is hand adjustable for height in a simple push-pull system and the dash console has all the information you could possibly need on the road and between services. The Brembo brakes are as good as they come – M50 Monoblocs – fed by radial master cylinders and are a level you see mostly on up-spec models. They run on a combined system where the ABS system evens out braking pressure to get the most efficient stopping possible.

Pillions will find they have a more comfortable seating position on the GT: the seat is plusher, the footpegs are lower and the heel slip plates larger. The integrated pannier mounts look great and function well with the accessory panniers. With the panniers on the bike they sit just wider than the handlebars and create a big, flat carrying space with the use of the pillion seat. It’d be one of those accessories that will pay for itself in no time.

After a big day of riding in mentally and physically demanding conditions, the GT was comfortable, exciting and easy. This is the kind of thing that is not easily said about many roadbikes in those sorts of conditions, let alone one you can ride like a sportsbike and effortlessly do big, boring days on. The Super Duke GT retails for $27,990 plus on road costs in a highly competitive market packed with bikes with either thrilling performance or top level luxury – and that is something the GT has both of.

Specifications

Engine type: 75-degree V-twin, four valve per cylinder, liquid cooled
Capacity: 1301cc
Bore x stroke: 108 x 71mm
Compression ratio: 13.2:1
Claimed power: 127kW @ 9500rpm
Claimed torque: 144Nm @ 6750rpm
Dry weight: 205kg
Seat height: 835mm
Wheelbase: 1482mm
Fuel tank capacity: 23L
Colours: Orange or Anthracite
Price: $27,990 +ORC
Detailed specs: www.ktm.com.au

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