KTM 1390 Super Duke R revealed; torquier than every other supernaked

KTM has taken the wraps off the 1390 Super Duke R and the first thing that jumps out at you is that it gets the new headlight design from the 990 Duke. Alongside the ‘standard’ Super Duke, KTM has also revealed the 1390 Super Duke R Evo. 

1. New engine has 60,000km valve check intervals
2. Electronics suite has been revised
3. Super Duke R Evo gets an option to lower rear shock like a GP bike

KTM has overhauled its monstrous LC8 V-Twin engine and capacity now stands at 1,350cc. The bump up in displacement has been achieved via a larger 110mm bore, 2mm larger than before. This motor now makes 190hp at 10,000rpm and 145Nm at 8,000rpm, which is an increase of 10hp and 5Nm over the outgoing 1290 Super Duke R’s mill.

Fuel tank capacity has also gone up by 1.5 litres, which now brings the total to 17.5 litres. The airbox and air intake have been revised to make space for this larger fuel tank, says KTM. The main frame, suspension units and braking hardware have been carried over relatively unchanged from the 1290 Super Duke R.

KTM has gone for a minimal approach when it comes to design and claims that the thickness of every panel has been taken into account to keep the weight as low as possible. This model also marks the first time the Super Duke gets winglets to increase downforce at higher speeds although the extent of that hasn’t been revealed yet. The 1390 Super Duke R weighs 200kg (without fuel) and has a seat height of 834mm. At 149mm, ground clearance is quite usable for a bike in this category. 

The LED headlight has been carried forward from the 990 Duke and the only way to describe it is polarizing. Let us know whether you’re a fan of KTM’s new headlight design in the comments section below. 

Electronics are another area of revision with a tyre pressure monitor system now being a part of the package now. There are five riding modes on offer – Rain, Street, Sport, Performance and Track – the last two are optional extras. Cruise control and KTMConnect functionality have been bundled into Performance mode so if you want access to those features, you’ll have to shell out more. Engine Brake Control is also an optional extra as is the 5-step adjustable Wheelie Control function. 

KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo: Top-spec Super Duke 

The main change on the Super Duke R Evo is that it utilises semi-active WP suspension units compared to the manually adjustable units on the standard model. The big talking point here is the new ‘Factory Launch’ function, which drops the rear preload to hunker the bike down (like the KTM RC16 GP bike) so you can get the best start possible. Visual differences between the Evo and the standard 1390 Super Duke R are limited to just a small blue strip on the Evo’s fork.