Debuting at this year’s EICMA show in Milan, Italy, KTM pulled the curtain back on their 2017 Super Duke 1290R. It’s a modification based on its precursor, the earlier 1290R otherwise known as The Beast. However, this thing takes that nickname a step further looking more like a superbike from your worst nightmare.
What stands out the most upon first glance is certainly the new split LED headlight that brings out the bike’s sinister appearance. Couple this with the upped horsepower to 177 thanks to an LC8 V-twin engine, a performance pack including Motor Slip Regulation, Quickshifter, and KTM My Ride that links with your smartphone, and you have a powerful performance machine that’s cut out for 21st-century riding. Additional features on the devilish two-wheeler consist of a new WP shock absorber, a set of Metzeler M7RR supersport tires, cruise control for speeds up to 120 mph, and new resonator chambers on the cylinder head. It’s a scary cool bike that proves the Austria-based brand is not only here to stay but prepared to start leading the way in the world of motorcycle innovation.
