They call it The Beast, and for good reason, because the KTM 1290 Super Duke is a v-twin monster for the street, and now for the 2020 model year, it is getting even more beastly as it just debuted at EICMA.
Instead of giving the KTM 1290 Super Duke R a ridiculous top power figure (peak horsepwoer remains at 177hp (132 kW), the Austrians focused on coaxing more tire-shredding torque from the Super Duke R. As such, a whopping 103 lbs•ft (140 Nm) of torque is on tap at 8,000 rpm.
The changes for 2020 don’t stop there though, as a new chassis has been thrown into the mix, which is closely based off what was seen on the KTM RC8 superbike. The Beast even loses weight in the process, with a claimed 416 lbs (189kg) when dry.
To make those figures, KTM took its Euro4 engine and added a new crankcase, and used a lighter aluminum/ carbon composite rear subframe – all while increasing chassis rigidity. Other weight savings come from lighter wheels, brakes, and swingarm.
With all that brawn, there is some brains as well. To that end, a six-axis IMU has been thrown into the electronics package, which helps power traction control, wheelie control, and cornering ABS (with rear-wheel “supermoto” mode, as it should be).
Braking is handled by Brembo, with Stylema calipers featuring at the front. Of course, suspension is done by WP, with 48mm APEX forks at the front, and an APEX shock at the rear. There is even a big “fish finder” TFT dash to keep you warm at night.
And while there are no winglets to be found on this streetfighter, we are happy to report that the KTM 1290 Super Duke R will come to the USA as a 2020 model year bike. No word on pricing yet, though.
Source: KTM
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