1290 Super Duke R
Discussion
What is people's experience of the current generation of these - 2020 on?
I had a test on one the other day and while generally impressed I was left a little cold.
I'm no 'electronics' luddite and appreciate the safety net but felt that the main restrictions were prior to anything untoward actually happening. What I mean by that is a handful of throttle in 1st or 2nd was metered out very differently to the higher gears regardless of traction or wheelie considerations.
I turned up for a test ride on a 2017 SV650 and found even quite aggressive throttle inputs in the lower gears on the 1290 were very filtered in comparison. It felt like I could easily use a lot of throttle on the 1290 in 1st and 2nd and not get very much response at all. I expect you could get used to it and ride around it but my SV650 genuinely pulled harder from low speeds in lower gears for a given throttle input than the 1290 KTM.
Its a very fast bike at speed but I wasn't feeling it in the lower gears at all. I'm no Triumph fan but the throttle connection (feeling of torque) was way better on a 1050 Speed than the latest 1290 Super Duke.
I'd kind of decided on a 1290 over the obvious Tuono competition but haven't ridden the Tuono yet and think I need to try one as the 1290 wasn't as strong as I was expecting.
The 1290 also had some strange vibrations in 6th at 60mph ish (lower speeds for 6th) which made it feel like it was chugging like it shouldn't at that speed.
The upshift QS action was a little long but the down with auto blipper was good.
I was on the Evo (electronic suspension) model and didn't find it that it that special. The road feel is good but its not especially plush even in the comfort setting. I rode a 1050 Speed Triple over the same roads and it was smoother, although the KTM had it for sportiness.
On the plus side I didn't feel excessive heat in traffic and the clutch was light. The brakes were the standout difference, apart from that under 70 mph the SV650 would give it a very hard time in respect of across the ground speed (accepting there may be a way to ride around the 1290 ECU restrictions).
in summary as much as I want a 1290 its a struggle to find £12k+ of performance / enjoyment over a 2017 SV650. It even sounds the same which is were I think a Tuono may tick a few more boxes for me with the V4.
I had a test on one the other day and while generally impressed I was left a little cold.
I'm no 'electronics' luddite and appreciate the safety net but felt that the main restrictions were prior to anything untoward actually happening. What I mean by that is a handful of throttle in 1st or 2nd was metered out very differently to the higher gears regardless of traction or wheelie considerations.
I turned up for a test ride on a 2017 SV650 and found even quite aggressive throttle inputs in the lower gears on the 1290 were very filtered in comparison. It felt like I could easily use a lot of throttle on the 1290 in 1st and 2nd and not get very much response at all. I expect you could get used to it and ride around it but my SV650 genuinely pulled harder from low speeds in lower gears for a given throttle input than the 1290 KTM.
Its a very fast bike at speed but I wasn't feeling it in the lower gears at all. I'm no Triumph fan but the throttle connection (feeling of torque) was way better on a 1050 Speed than the latest 1290 Super Duke.
I'd kind of decided on a 1290 over the obvious Tuono competition but haven't ridden the Tuono yet and think I need to try one as the 1290 wasn't as strong as I was expecting.
The 1290 also had some strange vibrations in 6th at 60mph ish (lower speeds for 6th) which made it feel like it was chugging like it shouldn't at that speed.
The upshift QS action was a little long but the down with auto blipper was good.
I was on the Evo (electronic suspension) model and didn't find it that it that special. The road feel is good but its not especially plush even in the comfort setting. I rode a 1050 Speed Triple over the same roads and it was smoother, although the KTM had it for sportiness.
On the plus side I didn't feel excessive heat in traffic and the clutch was light. The brakes were the standout difference, apart from that under 70 mph the SV650 would give it a very hard time in respect of across the ground speed (accepting there may be a way to ride around the 1290 ECU restrictions).
in summary as much as I want a 1290 its a struggle to find £12k+ of performance / enjoyment over a 2017 SV650. It even sounds the same which is were I think a Tuono may tick a few more boxes for me with the V4.
trickywoo said:
What is people's experience of the current generation of these - 2020 on?
I had a test on one the other day and while generally impressed I was left a little cold.
What I mean by that is a handful of throttle in 1st or 2nd was metered out very differently to the higher gears regardless of traction or wheelie considerations.
I turned up for a test ride on a 2017 SV650 and found even quite aggressive throttle inputs in the lower gears on the 1290 were very filtered in comparison.
The 1290 also had some strange vibrations in 6th at 60mph ish (lower speeds for 6th) which made it feel like it was chugging like it shouldn't at that speed.
in summary as much as I want a 1290 its a struggle to find £12k+.
Seriously you think a 1290r on wide open throttle in 1st and second is a bit limp wristed ? In fact, that's not even a question. Crack on with the sv650 and maybe the 12k plus has some bearing on the matter. I had a test on one the other day and while generally impressed I was left a little cold.
What I mean by that is a handful of throttle in 1st or 2nd was metered out very differently to the higher gears regardless of traction or wheelie considerations.
I turned up for a test ride on a 2017 SV650 and found even quite aggressive throttle inputs in the lower gears on the 1290 were very filtered in comparison.
The 1290 also had some strange vibrations in 6th at 60mph ish (lower speeds for 6th) which made it feel like it was chugging like it shouldn't at that speed.
in summary as much as I want a 1290 its a struggle to find £12k+.
Dont lug a motor around, if it needs a lower gear just drop it into 5th.
mak said:
Seriously you think a 1290r on wide open throttle in 1st and second is a bit limp wristed ?
I do yes. There is definitely some serious ecu restriction going on.Retarding the timing has been a thing for a long time I’m just surprised it’s so evident on what bills itself as a ‘serious’ performance bike. There is no way the bike I rode was anywhere near unrestricted.
Edited by trickywoo on Saturday 29th October 19:19
mak said:
Dont lug a motor around, if it needs a lower gear just drop it into 5th.
In the interest of not putting it through a hedge 5th was the first gear I went wot at I would guess starting at 50mph. I was underwhelmed.That said I later rolled it on wot in 3rd and was really impressed with the pull to the limiter. I know it’s got the power but the artificial restrictions seem way too conservative.
count duckula said:
Rain mode ?
Would make sense being limited to 100bhp but I was in sport. I’m in no way saying it was slow - it was pretty breath taking at speed in the higher gears but very soft in the lower gears. I was definitely 3/4 throttle in 1st and 2nd from low revs and not much happened.
Does anybody have/seen a TPS map for a 1290? My guessing is that 1st and 2nd gear are somewhat restricted to <100% throttle even when giving it 100% with your right wrist, presumably to keep you from looping it and presumably to keep KTM out of the courts when it's TCS can't keep up. 180hp should be, by most accounts, a mind-bending amount of power to put through a 190 section tyre, which makes me think you weren't actually getting all of that owing to electronic restrictions.
I don't know enough about them, but am sure I have read or been told about some sort of 'up' key that you have to purchase and plug into them to unleash something electronically?
Or, it could have just been a bad one.
I don't know enough about them, but am sure I have read or been told about some sort of 'up' key that you have to purchase and plug into them to unleash something electronically?
Or, it could have just been a bad one.
I have the 1290 GT which is probably slightly less aggressive than the R but simply cracking the throttle open in 1st will engage the electronics to protect the idiot at the controls ! Same as riding along at 50ish in 3rd then cracking it open hard - the front comes up, the wheel comes off the ground then the electronics catch up to stop you going head over arse and it feels like you've hit a massive flat spot. It measures fork extension and throttle etc so it knows if you're being a dick.
You need to learn to ride it, easy it off the line carefully - You'll soon find how much throttle you can apply and how quickly.
Or you can turn the electronics off. Lets see you do the full throttle in 1st then
You need to learn to ride it, easy it off the line carefully - You'll soon find how much throttle you can apply and how quickly.
Or you can turn the electronics off. Lets see you do the full throttle in 1st then
I have a 2022 model, and I would agree with you if it was in Road mode. It's quite tame in that respect.
Not in Sport mode though. It's a completely different animal and will happily lift the front, even in 3rd, without you actually having to try.
I can't ride it in Track mode. I find the throttle too sensitive for bumpy roads.
3rd and 4th are where the fun is. 6th gear is a complete waste of time for anything under 100mph. It will rattle your teeth out. They all do that sir. Though -1 tooth off the front sprocket apparently makes it more usable.
Not in Sport mode though. It's a completely different animal and will happily lift the front, even in 3rd, without you actually having to try.
I can't ride it in Track mode. I find the throttle too sensitive for bumpy roads.
3rd and 4th are where the fun is. 6th gear is a complete waste of time for anything under 100mph. It will rattle your teeth out. They all do that sir. Though -1 tooth off the front sprocket apparently makes it more usable.
I think (and very much on the assumption here) that the SDR you rode had (and again I dont know the electronics package that well) was set quite high which will make it feel restrictive
I say this because I have a few friends with Gen3's and I own a '21 latest Tuono 1100 Factory. If I pin (or WOT as you put it) in 1st and 2nd with WC in 2-3 and TC more than about 6 out of 8 it feels heavily governed.
On the flip side if I turn WC off which is how I prefer it and TC on 3-4 so there is no intervention I feel a much harder hitting power
If I sit bolt upright on my bike and pin it in 1st gear without question I'll flip it within seconds. 2nd gear I'll have to do a video and upload (it'll be on private land) but I think it will definitely lift again quite aggressively unless I get my weight right forward
If you are Southeast based I'm genuinely keen to see you do what you say with the underwhelmed part of power. Happy to have a spin with you any weekend just private message me
I say this because I have a few friends with Gen3's and I own a '21 latest Tuono 1100 Factory. If I pin (or WOT as you put it) in 1st and 2nd with WC in 2-3 and TC more than about 6 out of 8 it feels heavily governed.
On the flip side if I turn WC off which is how I prefer it and TC on 3-4 so there is no intervention I feel a much harder hitting power
If I sit bolt upright on my bike and pin it in 1st gear without question I'll flip it within seconds. 2nd gear I'll have to do a video and upload (it'll be on private land) but I think it will definitely lift again quite aggressively unless I get my weight right forward
If you are Southeast based I'm genuinely keen to see you do what you say with the underwhelmed part of power. Happy to have a spin with you any weekend just private message me
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