KTM 1290 SUPERDUKE (2013 - 2016) Review

Year: 2016

Gen 1 version 2016. test rode later models but gen 1 by far most fun. After many years riding motocross and streetfighters ktm superduke gen1 ticks all the boxes.

Year: 2017

Annual servicing cost: £300

Best feature for me is its powerful motor. It’s reliability over the winter months is questionable.

Buying experience: Buying experience from Drysdale Motorcycle (only Scottish dealership) was ok. The initial after sales experience could have been better. However, it seems to be getting better. Time will tell.

Version: R

Year: 2016

Annual servicing cost: £290

This is the bike of dreams.

Buying experience: I would like to see a few more main agents in NW England but the Rocket Centre was great to deal with if just a little far for servicing.

Version: R

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £280

Tried the batch super makers but the Superduke was just too much fun & i had to have it... 2 years, 8k miles later i'm still grinning like a Cheshire Cat 👍

Buying experience: I had to haggle but got a good price through the Rocket Centre.

Year: 2015

Glad that I have this bike, I love the big twins. I have owned the Honda VTR, Suzuk SLR and the Tuono R,, but the KTM SDR shines through, With the smooth power delivery, at slow speeds you can just roll on in 3rd gear and the bike just pulls and pulls, Spend most of the time in 3rd,4th and 5th gear, Easy to turn and very planted in the bends,

Buying experience: KTM Birmingham were great, friendly and always there to help

Version: GT

Year: 2016

A true Sports Tourer. Some minor niggles but pretty perfect and less of a compromise than the Adventure Sports class. Perhaps not very pillion friendly with pannier only luggage. Design of the S/S swing arm makes chain lubrication tricky, really needs a centre stand. Droopy front end design is an acquired taste but the headlight throws a great beam.

Buying experience: KTM dealers still sparce and they still cant match solus dealers like BMW.

got to be the most fun ive had on a bike , smooth and fast if u need it to be, handles well, nice power , and slow speeds fun to :)

This is the first naked bike I've had for many years. I've been running litre sports bikes and super bikes for years. But this KTM is just amazing. I'd expected to struggle at speed with no fairing, but I feel as comfortable as I do on my S1000RR plus there's more leg room due to the riding position. Brakes and handling are as you've read in the tests - beyond most of our abilities. The sheer grunt of the motor has to be experienced, I'm no wheelie king so when I'm planning and achieving wheelies simply by winding the throttle on it has to be one serious engine. Gearing is good but I notice that I'm usually in 4th gear on the open road which just reflects how fast this thing is at the top end. The only niggle that I have is the speedo accuracy which is a tad more optimistic than you'd expect. Hopefully that will be corrected in a future software update. Other than that I can't fault it, even the toolkit is impressive. Yes it's expensive but I challenge anyone to ride one and then be in the least bit hung up over the price. The standard exhaust sound good with a lovely burble and popping on the over-run. I've yet to play around with the 2 position handlebars but the levers are easily adjustable - the gear lever in particular can be set to your preferred height in a minute.