New Delhi: KTM has taken the wraps off a potent motorcycle – the new Super Duke 1390R, which is a successor to the 1290 Super Duke. This motorcycle is a hyper-fast street bike that has been reworked in every possible department to make it more powerful, lighter, agile, and feature-rich than its predecessor.
Design and features
The new Super Duke 1390R has a similar overall styling to the outgoing model but with some noticeable changes. The LED headlight has a new design that gives the bike a more aggressive look. The winglets on the sides of the fuel tank have also been redesigned to improve the aerodynamics and stability of the bike. The fuel tank is now bigger at 17.5 liters, which increases the range of the bike. The wheels have been marginally redesigned to reduce the unsprung mass and enhance the handling of the bike.
The new Super Duke 1390R also comes with a host of electronics that enhance the performance and safety of the bike. The bike has four riding modes – Rain, Street, Sport, and Track – that adjust the power delivery, throttle response, and traction control according to the road conditions and rider’s preference. The bike also has a lean-sensitive traction control system that prevents the rear wheel from spinning or sliding when cornering. The bike also has a full-color TFT display that shows the speed, rpm, gear, fuel level, mode, and other information. The bike also has a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) that alerts the rider if the tire pressure is low. The bike also has an optional advanced anti-wheelie feature that prevents the front wheel from lifting off the ground during acceleration. This feature can be entirely switched off if the rider wants to enjoy some wheelies.
Engine and performance
The new Super Duke 1390R is powered by a new 1,350cc LC8 engine that produces a whopping 190bhp of peak power. This is a significant increase from the 1290 Super Duke, which had a 1,301cc engine that produced 177bhp of peak power. The new engine also has a new cam shift system that churns out a broader power and torque spread, making the bike more responsive and versatile. The bike also has a redesigned airbox and shorter throttle bodies that improve the intake and combustion efficiency of the engine. Moreover, the ram air system has been redesigned, too, for more direct airflow into the engine, which boosts the power output. The top two gears have also been revised for use over a more comprehensive speed range, making the bike more suitable for highway cruising.
The new Super Duke 1390R has a top speed of 280 kmph, which is 10 kmph higher than the 1290 Super Duke. The bike also has better acceleration, reaching 0-100 kmph in just 3.2 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the 1290 Super Duke. The bike also has a better fuel efficiency, delivering 18 kmpl, which is 2 kmpl more than the 1290 Super Duke.
Price and availability
The new Super Duke 1390R will go on sale in Europe very soon, and we can expect it to be priced a bit higher than the outgoing model, which had a price tag of €17,999 (Rs 15.8 lakh). The new Super Duke 1390R is expected to compete with other powerful and agile street bikes such as the Ducati Streetfighter V4, the BMW S 1000 R, and the Aprilia Tuono V4.
