KTM Super Duke 1290 R
Discussion
The KTM I took out had the quickshifter and it was so smooth makes riding far more enjoyable.
I rode the Aprilia Tuono Factory a month before and that's a fantastic bike the only problems with that bike for me was I'm 6ft2 and found I was a little tall to get comfortable, I'm not sure I would want to go for a really long ride as I commute alot to work via my bike, secondly the Aprilia is so insane it won't let you ride it gently you have to ride on the limit everywhere, I don't want a £15k bike that I can only look at in the garage because I no longer have a licence, when I test rode the Aprilia I spent most of it on the back wheel although I did have a massive smile on my face.
The KTM seemed to give me the best of both worlds, a gentle giant when you want it to be and a complete beast, I've just got to find the best deal now, one the KTM forum someone is suggesting there could be a bike price drop coming for the next quarter.
I rode the Aprilia Tuono Factory a month before and that's a fantastic bike the only problems with that bike for me was I'm 6ft2 and found I was a little tall to get comfortable, I'm not sure I would want to go for a really long ride as I commute alot to work via my bike, secondly the Aprilia is so insane it won't let you ride it gently you have to ride on the limit everywhere, I don't want a £15k bike that I can only look at in the garage because I no longer have a licence, when I test rode the Aprilia I spent most of it on the back wheel although I did have a massive smile on my face.
The KTM seemed to give me the best of both worlds, a gentle giant when you want it to be and a complete beast, I've just got to find the best deal now, one the KTM forum someone is suggesting there could be a bike price drop coming for the next quarter.
mak said:
Good god BN let it lie man , you no you wont one 
I will add some pics as this topic is picture less. The 1290r, so good I purchased 2
The mk1 was purchased new and eventually was sold, replaced by the mk2, there is no difference from 2017 through 2018 the mk2 is the same bike until they introduce a new model.
They are a cracking bike, you can use the enormous grunt to just short shift through the box and keep the pace down while enjoying the punch of the motor but it becomes a different bike when you start hitting the throttle stop, its brutal . It tuck me a while to learn how to ride this bike and its more rewarding for it.
If you do find yourself out with a Tuono owner who rides hard it will keep up but boy do I get tired of him asking if someone is mowing the lawn every time I start the 1290 up
Note the size of the Tuono and the massive helmet in the pic, that's a seriously big head
In fact I probably need to confess, I like the 1290 sdr so much I needed to see what it would be like in a sports bike equivalent , its Good
On the other side of the coin I totally understand why this bike is not for some yet others love it, get out there and get one in the garage
This is completely epic and makes me want to pull the trigger on an SDR now, but I will wait just in case the deals get better.I will add some pics as this topic is picture less. The 1290r, so good I purchased 2
The mk1 was purchased new and eventually was sold, replaced by the mk2, there is no difference from 2017 through 2018 the mk2 is the same bike until they introduce a new model.
They are a cracking bike, you can use the enormous grunt to just short shift through the box and keep the pace down while enjoying the punch of the motor but it becomes a different bike when you start hitting the throttle stop, its brutal . It tuck me a while to learn how to ride this bike and its more rewarding for it.
If you do find yourself out with a Tuono owner who rides hard it will keep up but boy do I get tired of him asking if someone is mowing the lawn every time I start the 1290 up
Note the size of the Tuono and the massive helmet in the pic, that's a seriously big head
In fact I probably need to confess, I like the 1290 sdr so much I needed to see what it would be like in a sports bike equivalent , its Good
On the other side of the coin I totally understand why this bike is not for some yet others love it, get out there and get one in the garage
I couldn't believe how easy the bike turned in it was like a sporst bike
Richyboy said:
Get the exhaust, its mental with it.
Random stuff I can put forward after owning for some time. The ktm tail bag is very useful, you can have a usb cable come up from the hole in my picture, below the pillion seat. The under pillion seat mobile phone holder is a bit redundant, I use a quad lock mount for my phone and have a cable that reaches to the under seat USB port. The rabbit ears look terrible so I replaced them with CRG lanesplitters, that are excellent. I don’t use the cruise control as much as I did with the s1000r, I think it’s because I like the engine feel a lot more.
The evotech crash bar things actually look good on this bike, like an oem part.
I had the suspension setup, which improved it massively.
Wind protection is probably the best for a naked. The bike is very comfortable on long rides.
You have to make sure the battery inside the keyless key is supported by a grey cover, if that isn’t there the battery moves and isn’t registered by the bike. TPMS warned me of a rear puncture but I think the front sensor is faulty.
I was thinking of selling mine when the new s1000rr comes out but I’m not sure that bike would entertain as much as the KTM on the road.
You have almost everything on your bike that I want to get when I buy one.Random stuff I can put forward after owning for some time. The ktm tail bag is very useful, you can have a usb cable come up from the hole in my picture, below the pillion seat. The under pillion seat mobile phone holder is a bit redundant, I use a quad lock mount for my phone and have a cable that reaches to the under seat USB port. The rabbit ears look terrible so I replaced them with CRG lanesplitters, that are excellent. I don’t use the cruise control as much as I did with the s1000r, I think it’s because I like the engine feel a lot more.
The evotech crash bar things actually look good on this bike, like an oem part.
I had the suspension setup, which improved it massively.
Wind protection is probably the best for a naked. The bike is very comfortable on long rides.
You have to make sure the battery inside the keyless key is supported by a grey cover, if that isn’t there the battery moves and isn’t registered by the bike. TPMS warned me of a rear puncture but I think the front sensor is faulty.
I was thinking of selling mine when the new s1000rr comes out but I’m not sure that bike would entertain as much as the KTM on the road.
I've heard a few comments about the front end being a bit skittish, has anyone added a steering damper and did that help ?
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