KTM Teases 1290 Super Duke R Launch

Dennis Chung
by Dennis Chung

KTM is preparing for the official launch of the final production version of the 1290 Super Duke R. The Austrian manufacturer has set up a new website for its new “beast” at http://www.1290superduker.com/. The site is fairly simple at the moment, with a glimpse of the bike, a warning that “Something big is coming!” and a countdown timer ticking away the seconds until Sept. 30.

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We’ve been counting down for the launch ourselves since KTM unveiled the prototype 1290 Super Duke R at the 2012 EICMA show. Over the last few months, KTM has been showing off more of the 1290, first revealing a stars-and-stripes Patriot edition paint job for the Fourth of July and having former MotoGP racer Jeremy McWilliams ride the prototype at the Goodwood Festival of Speed weeks later.

Along with the new website, KTM has released a teaser video with some onboard footage on a race track (though it would have been nice to hear the engine roaring rather than the heavy metal soundtrack.)

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There’s still a bit less than two weeks to go until we get all the official specs, but so far we know the Super Duke R will use an engine based on the RC8 R’s V-Twin. The chassis uses a chrome molybdenum steel trellis frame, a single-sided swingarm, WP Suspension components and Brembo brakes. KTM also equipped the 1290 with modern electronics including ride-by-wire throttle, traction control and ABS.

[Source: KTM]

Dennis Chung
Dennis Chung

Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.

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