KTM Superduke 1290R
Discussion
I've not ridden the gen 1 or 2, but I have a gen 3 that is bonkers. I often hear that the gen 3 is tame compared to the previous versions so they must be insane!
I believe the engine is similar on all three generation, and that v twin totally dominates my bike. It has crazy low down torque, so it wants to wheelie everywhere and you're never in the wrong gear.
I took mine from Surrey to Cornwall and back last Friday for no reason other than I wanted to ride it.
I believe the engine is similar on all three generation, and that v twin totally dominates my bike. It has crazy low down torque, so it wants to wheelie everywhere and you're never in the wrong gear.
I took mine from Surrey to Cornwall and back last Friday for no reason other than I wanted to ride it.
I’ve had a Gen1 for 2.5 years. Prefer to the gen 2 I had apart from lack of quickshifter. Radiators crack on their mountings but apart from that the gen1 is fairly robust. I’ve updated the front internals on my with Andreani cartridges but it’s still a bit on the hard and unforgiving side. A decent exhaust is a must( Akra on mine)Mines currently up for sale on EBay as I fancy a change but not bothered if it doesn’t go. Servicing is yearly/ 9000 miles and valves at 18 k. Gen 2 was better on fuel, but prefer the analogue clocks and having a key with the Gen 1.
I’ve had the Gen 2 since new (2018). No real issues with it, plenty of power but don’t feel like it’s trying to kill me each time I go out. Akra sounds mental.
Original seat is uncomfortable after about 150miles but the powerparts one is better and only really started to feel it after about 8-900 miles on a weekend trip.
Handling felt a bit vague on the Metzlers but much better now I’ve changed to Michelins but everyone has their own preference with tyres.
Original seat is uncomfortable after about 150miles but the powerparts one is better and only really started to feel it after about 8-900 miles on a weekend trip.
Handling felt a bit vague on the Metzlers but much better now I’ve changed to Michelins but everyone has their own preference with tyres.
The gen one and 2 are the same bike, I've had both ( at the same time) from new albeit the gen 2 has some more toys they felt the same to me. Start pushing on with this bike and it will bite you, you can ride it hard but it takes some learning and will never be civilised.
Its a great bike but the engine dominates the chassis and no matter how much people spend on suspension its an adventure bike frame that squats at the rear and is high at the front hence its character .
People will say the gen3 is no better, most of these people are just unable to purchase a gen3 at a reasonable trade in value or just pootle about so hence they become protective of the old bike.
The gen 3 bike is not even relevant to the old model, it might as well have a different manufacturers badge on it, it is a totally different bike for the better, yes I've owned one since its 1st release .
As far as motor goes the gen 3 engine braking has been dialled out for the better.
Saying all of the above the old bike is still an experience like no other and I have enjoyed many years on all 3 models .
Its a great bike but the engine dominates the chassis and no matter how much people spend on suspension its an adventure bike frame that squats at the rear and is high at the front hence its character .
People will say the gen3 is no better, most of these people are just unable to purchase a gen3 at a reasonable trade in value or just pootle about so hence they become protective of the old bike.
The gen 3 bike is not even relevant to the old model, it might as well have a different manufacturers badge on it, it is a totally different bike for the better, yes I've owned one since its 1st release .
As far as motor goes the gen 3 engine braking has been dialled out for the better.
Saying all of the above the old bike is still an experience like no other and I have enjoyed many years on all 3 models .
Edited by mak on Saturday 14th May 21:56
mak said:
The gen one and 2 are the same bike, I've had both ( at the same time) from new albeit the gen 2 has some more toys they felt the same to me. Start pushing on with this bike and it will bite you, you can ride it hard but it takes some learning and will never be civilised.
Its a great bike but the engine dominates the chassis and no matter how much people spend on suspension its an adventure bike frame that squats at the rear and is high at the front hence its character .
People will say the gen3 is no better, most of these people are just unable to purchase a gen3 at a reasonable trade in value or just pootle about so hence they become protective of the old bike.
The gen 3 bike is not even relevant to the old model, it might as well have a different manufacturers badge on it, it is a totally different bike for the better, yes I've owned one since its 1st release .
As far as motor goes the gen 3 engine braking has been dialled out for the better.
Saying all of the above the old bike is still an experience like no other and I have enjoyed many years on all 3 models .
What a cracking collection there! I didn't realise that the 1&2 were the same essentially. I would love a 3 but can't quite stretch to it yet. Was the 2 keyless (am sure another poster mentioned something along those lines)? Also the 2 has the newer style headlight with the horseshoe effect led's doesn't it?Its a great bike but the engine dominates the chassis and no matter how much people spend on suspension its an adventure bike frame that squats at the rear and is high at the front hence its character .
People will say the gen3 is no better, most of these people are just unable to purchase a gen3 at a reasonable trade in value or just pootle about so hence they become protective of the old bike.
The gen 3 bike is not even relevant to the old model, it might as well have a different manufacturers badge on it, it is a totally different bike for the better, yes I've owned one since its 1st release .
As far as motor goes the gen 3 engine braking has been dialled out for the better.
Saying all of the above the old bike is still an experience like no other and I have enjoyed many years on all 3 models .
Edited by mak on Saturday 14th May 21:56
robinh73 said:
What a cracking collection there! I didn't realise that the 1&2 were the same essentially. I would love a 3 but can't quite stretch to it yet. Was the 2 keyless (am sure another poster mentioned something along those lines)? Also the 2 has the newer style headlight with the horseshoe effect led's doesn't it?
Gen 2 was keyless, tft screen, horseshoe headlight, quickshifter, launch control, flatter bars among the updates.Gen 3 has a different frame.
scorcher said:
Gen 2 was keyless, tft screen, horseshoe headlight, quickshifter, launch control, flatter bars among the updates.
Gen 3 has a different frame.
Right, that is good to know. Thought the frame on the gen 3 looked different. Sounds like the gen 2 is where I shall look unless there is a right spec and price gen 3.Gen 3 has a different frame.
Biker9090 said:
Am I right in thinking they had issues with destroying gearboxes on a bad downshift?
No, that was aftermarket auto shifters fitted to the old gen 1 bike that didn't cut the ignition and fuelling correctly and hence over fuelled the large v twin with some catastrophic results on certain bikes, Nothing to do with Ktm it was clearly documented that these kits were not suitable on this bike.
What's the headlamp on the Gen 1 like?
The six LED set up on the Gen 2 is better at illuminating the road ahead?
It seems from another PH thread the keyless ignition on the Gen 2 can be problematic.
I may be venturing into a main dealers. Checking their used stock they've a sub 10K mile one with FSH for not much more than the discounted dozen in 2019. Another dealer has a Gen 2 with not much more miles for 1,500 less hence me asking how the Gen 2 headlamp performs.
I've seen a low mileage damaged repaired Gen 3 on eBay that could be using heat wrapping to hide a dented exhaust. I don't like the look of the tank on the Gen 3 even if it has velocity stacks under it.
The six LED set up on the Gen 2 is better at illuminating the road ahead?
It seems from another PH thread the keyless ignition on the Gen 2 can be problematic.
I may be venturing into a main dealers. Checking their used stock they've a sub 10K mile one with FSH for not much more than the discounted dozen in 2019. Another dealer has a Gen 2 with not much more miles for 1,500 less hence me asking how the Gen 2 headlamp performs.
I've seen a low mileage damaged repaired Gen 3 on eBay that could be using heat wrapping to hide a dented exhaust. I don't like the look of the tank on the Gen 3 even if it has velocity stacks under it.
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 19th May 13:01
The thing that would put me off the Gen 1 is the traction control system is hideous. It's on or off with no adjustment, and when it's on it's constantly cutting power on hard acceleration.
My old man has a Gen 2, which has a few different levels of TC and is a much better bike for it.
My old man has a Gen 2, which has a few different levels of TC and is a much better bike for it.
DanGPR said:
The thing that would put me off the Gen 1 is the traction control system is hideous. It's on or off with no adjustment, and when it's on it's constantly cutting power on hard acceleration.
My old man has a Gen 2, which has a few different levels of TC and is a much better bike for it.
Can’t be riding mine hard enough My old man has a Gen 2, which has a few different levels of TC and is a much better bike for it.
I've got a Gen3 had it for around 18 months and about 5K miles. Since owning this bike my Panigale hasn't turned a wheel. It's just simply the best bike I've ever owned, crazy torque (140nm) which beats a V4R in the ripping your arms out of your sockets, all day comfort, goes pretty much anywhere and does most things well.
Big differences on the Gen3 are electronics (which will be obvious), better suspension and a rear linkage, new frame which looks a lot like an RC8 frame, power is about the same though. Radiators cracking are still a thing, this looks to be down to the rubber mounts on the frame which support the tank move around which causes the tank/rad to come into contact. I saw earlier this week that KTM have finally released a new braced radiator to negate this issue.
It's actually incredible on fuel also given the size or the engine and it's power/torque output, a friend who has a Tuono is filling up pretty much twice as ofetn as I need to, the only real downside is they eat rear tyres unsurprisingly.
Big differences on the Gen3 are electronics (which will be obvious), better suspension and a rear linkage, new frame which looks a lot like an RC8 frame, power is about the same though. Radiators cracking are still a thing, this looks to be down to the rubber mounts on the frame which support the tank move around which causes the tank/rad to come into contact. I saw earlier this week that KTM have finally released a new braced radiator to negate this issue.
It's actually incredible on fuel also given the size or the engine and it's power/torque output, a friend who has a Tuono is filling up pretty much twice as ofetn as I need to, the only real downside is they eat rear tyres unsurprisingly.
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