Intermot 2018: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT
Mad Austrian V-twin gets more power and added tech updates for 2019
NOT SO long ago, 175bhp was the sort of power you’d only be able to get from a full-on superbike. Probably one on the grid in BSB. But now, even a twin-cylinder touring roadster puts out this sort of nonsense without blinking.
Yes, KTM’s officially-bonkers 1290 Super Duke range has had a a bit of an update, and the GT model now hits 175bhp and 104 ft-lb of torque from its 1,301cc V-twin lump, thanks to revised resonator chambers, titanium inlet valves and new ECU mapping.
But the extra grunt isn’t the only change for the GT. There’s a new up/down quickshifter as well, plus extensive rider aids, and it’s all controlled from a new colour TFT dashboard. In front of that sits a new LED headlight design, with six LED units, plus a tank-mounted cornering light setup.
Finally, the suspension is also updated, to the latest WP semi-active system, using three different damping modes, plus pushbutton preload adjustment. Nice.
