Big Daddy
The evolution of KTM's Superduke has come a long way from its dirtbike manufacturer dabbling in roadbike days. The halo machine from Austria, celebrating 30 years of performance, has recently undergone a small growth spurt, and this machine now sports a 1350cc V twin with more power than sense. The Austrians have also thrown a complete MotoGP-style electronics package at the bike to try and reign in its hooliganism.
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An interesting aside is that the Superduke is the only super-naked bike that doesn't have a full-faired sportbike as its base. The 1390 Superduke is built from the ground up to be a stand-alone machine that is basically an engine with wheels, held together with the thoughts of a frame, and it's fantastic!
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Styling
The entire current Duke range has the same aesthetic, and it's one of those designs that you either like or don't; it is largely due to the new headlight arrangement. The gaping maw design is more Decepticon transformer than sportbike and it does give the bike an extremely aggressive appearance. The bright orange paintwork is unmissable in traffic or on the track, and the plumber's nightmare of an exhaust system is a thing of beauty. There is a full LED lighting system front and rear, with the taillight integrated into the turn signals.
Tipping the scales at a mere 200kg's, the 1390 is light and agile and with its 834mm seat height, aerodynamic bodywork and winglets, looks aggressive and overly capable.
Tech and Features
Taking centre stage is the 5" TFT screen that is readable in just about any light and features KTMConnect smartphone connectivity. It also houses the electronics package, which features the ride modes. Rain, Street, and Sport are standard, but it is the optional Performance and Track packs that light up the Duke. Performance mode allows you to manually set up functions such as Manual Traction Control, ABS slide, Engine braking, Throttle response and Quickshiter operation. Track mode releases the full gamut of possibilities, allowing the rider to tweak that and everything else, as well as turning the screen red and dishing out telemetry and lap times.
Engine and Drivetrain
The LC8 75-degree V twin makes up a large part of the bike. It is a stressed member of the frame assembly and produces an almost 1:1 ratio of 140kW and 145Nm. It has the same stroke as the 1290 but 25cc's per cylinder more bore. New tech in the form of cam-shift on the intake cam delivers much better torque down low but more power up top.
The Superduke has WP Apex adjustable suspension that allows for an array of suspension settings, allowing for an incredibly usable ride from mild to wild. A set of Brembo Stylema brake callipers, with 320mm rotors up front and 240mm inboard in the rear, will bring the machine to an abrupt stop.
Let's Ride
Taking delivery of the 1390, we left on our first ride tentatively, knowing full well the raw power underhand. We tootled around the city and onto a few open roads with the full complement of rider aids engaged. This ride returned 5.9l/100km or roughly 280km on a 17.5l tank. Once we'd become accustomed to the power delivery and felt out the handling, we began playing around with the multiple settings to find a setup that suited our riding style.
Once the happy medium had been found, the Duke became an absolute pleasure to ride until we forgot to return the settings to our chosen setup after some filming and immediately stood it up on the back wheel! The raw, unadulterated power will catch you unawares and scare the daylights out of you if you aren't expecting it.
We attempted a longer ride on the open road and found the Duke to be less than enjoyable due to the heavy wind buffeting. It is comfortable enough for distance but the constant fight against wind will tire you out prematurely. The 1390 comes alive in twisty corners and dynamic handling situations, and there is heaps of feedback through the chassis and you can just feel the power burbling under the surface waiting to be unchained and released onto the tar... thank heavens for those rider aids!
Model and Price
| KTM 1390 SuperDuke | R 389 999 |
* Check with your local KTM dealer for special deals when available
Pros and Cons
- Awesome electronics
- Cam-shift technology
- Addictive torque
- Aggressive styling
- No wind protection
- A lot of vibration at higher revs
- Switching off electronic rider aids not advisable.
Verdict
If there is one word to describe the 1390 it would be, Extra, just too much.... Without the electronic aids, the Superduke would be virtually unrideable for the everyday rider with limited track experience. There is so much power and torque on hand that it needs to be kept on a leash. It's ridiculously obnoxious with its power output, and we love it! It's the very reason large displacement naked bikes exist!
In the past, KTM has had some issues with reliability and build quality, but they have gotten on top of that with this new machine, and it delivers in spades! It may be too much for the road and almost too much for the track, but if going fast and destroying tyres is your thing, there couldn't be a better bike for it right now.
