KTM has launched the 1290 Super Duke R in Indonesia at a price of 475 million Rupiah (approximately Rs 23.79 lakh). The menacing motorcycle is one machine, naked bike lovers would want to die for.
The Austrian bike manufacturer has maintained the customary street fighter design cues but in a bigger and more muscular form. If not the muscles, the bright blazing orange paint on the black coat will surely grab some eyeballs. If that isn't enough to grab someone's attention, the tune from the muffler will definitely make heads turn. The bike gets a tubular trellis frame which features 48 mm USD telescopic inverted forks and a monoshock unit mounted on single-sided swingarm. This is the first ever single-sided swingarm which has the exhaust integrated into it.
The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is powered by a liquid cooled 1301cc twin cylinder engine which churns out 180bhp of power and 144Nm of torque. Though huge, the motorcycle weighs just 180kg and the KTM claims that the bike has been designed very aesthetically to give the rider the ultimate riding perfection. The main highlight is that the motorcycle can do the 0 to 100kmph sprint in just 7.2seconds and the 100kmh from a standstill in a mere 3seconds.
KTM has packed the Super Duke with many rider friendly features. These include slipper clutch which reduces the effect of engine braking while a rider decelerates while entering into a corner. Another feature is the ride by wire to improve throttle response and traction control which can be also be turned off when the rider wants to take it on the track. The bike also features an ABS developed by Bosch.
KTM launched the KTM 1290 Super Duke R in the UK last year at a price of £13,999 (approximately Rs 14.3 lakh). With the manufacturer beginning to market the naked bike in Indonesia this month, we hope the company thinks of bringing the product to India as well. KTM introduced the KTM Duke 200 in India in 2012 and changed the entry-level performance scenario in the country soon followed by the launch of the KTM 390. KTM should bring the Super Duke here so that motorcycle enthusiasts back here taste the bigger pedigree KTM offers across various countries the world. It shouldn't be difficult for the company to bring the motorcycle to the Indian soil considering all the infrastructure and facilities the company already has in India.
