2023 Superduke 1290R - is this normal?

[MOBB]

First off, love the bike, what a psycho!

Had its running in service last week so I can now open it up properly, crikey...............

I've owned quite a few big bikes, consider myself competent, not a track rider, more of a road hooner.

My issue is - this thing shakes its head a LOT - even when pootling, if I get buffeting from a van etc in front, the handlebars shake a fair bit.

Now I can open it up properly, of course the front goes light, fine with that - but again it feels like the bars are waggling left and right as soon as it goes light.

I've never thought I needed an adjustable steering damper before, the bike has a standard fixed one but its supposedly mediocre.

I'm not a track demon so wouldn't have thought I would need one really? I wouldn't want to wreck the fantastic turn in the bike has, but there must be a happy medium!

Or am I just a pussy on a beast? Or does my bike have an issue?!

I havent adjusted anything on the suspension yet, and I'm 15.5 stone, might have a play

Edited by MOBB on Monday 19th June 15:25

[airsafari87]

Are you hanging on and gripping the bars really tight? If you are then relax your grip.

Have you set the suspension up yet?

Both of these will play a factor.

I’d be pretty certain that there isn’t a problem with your bike though.

[Freakuk]

MOBB said:

First off, love the bike, what a psycho!

Had its running in service last week so I can now open it up properly, crikey...............

I've owned quite a few big bikes, consider myself competent, not a track rider, more of a road hooner.

My issue is - this thing shakes its head a LOT - even when pootling, if I get buffeting from a van etc in front, the handlebars shake a fair bit.

Now I can open it up properly, of course the front goes light, fine with that - but again it feels like the bars are waggling left and right as soon as it goes light.

I've never thought I needed an adjustable steering damper before, the bike has a standard fixed one but its supposedly mediocre.

I'm not a track demon so wouldn't have thought I would need one really? I wouldn't want to wreck the fantastic turn in the bike has, but there must be a happy medium!

Or am I just a pussy on a beast? Or does my bike have an issue?!

I havent adjusted anything on the suspension yet, and I'm 15.5 stone, might have a play

Edited by MOBB on Monday 19th June 15:25

So I've got a Gen3 MY2020.

The standard damper is crap, I did hear KTM may have updated this as it was a common complaint. However, I upgraded to a Hyperpro which has helped, but I suspect you also need to up your rear preload to put more weight on the front. If money is tight you can change the oil in the standard damper, video on YT going through the process.

Mine developed a knocking sound from the front end after about 1000 miles, I eventually tracked it down to the headstock and needed nipping up, it was around a 30 min job, with minimal tools/strip down so it could be the first signs of that after everything is bedding in. This also seems to be a common issue.

There's a few little things that you probably need to check/watch over time also, nothing major but from my experience : -

1. Rad guard, I assume you have one, if not make sure you do
2. The exhaust clamp on the front cylinder can become loose, which in turn the clamp can rotate and the bolt can puncture the rear of the rad, I think this may have been addressed on the 2023 models??
3. The exhaust valve mech is a PITA, at some point you will get an MTC failure message, 99% of the time it'll be a small stone getting in the mech and jamming a cable, only two bolts to remove the cover and check, but the cables will stretch regardless and sooner or later it'll happen - Easiest fix is to remove the servo and cables and plug in a Healtech ESE delete.
4. The pillion seat locking mech, the cable can/will pop out of the plastic holder at some point leaving you unable to remove the pillion seat. Hot glue gun/cable tie the end of the cable into the holder now to prevent it happening.
5. Switchgear suffers from water ingress, no idea why this is an issue in this day and age, when washing don't directly spray water at your switchgear.

Other stuff : -

1. Change the gearing, being a big twin it'll chug around at low speeds.
2. Depending on how you ride/feel on the bike have a look at Superduked.net and the rear linkage.

HTH

Edited by Freakuk on Monday 19th June 15:41

[paddy1970]

When I have this type of problem, I always start with the simple thing... try to adjust the tyre pressure up and down by a few psi to check if this impacts on the wobbles...

[HairyMaclary]

It's a well known complaint on the super adventure. Try your tire pressures first and get the headstock bearings checked.

[KTMsm]

MOBB said:

I havent adjusted anything on the suspension yet, and I'm 15.5 stone, might have a play

I suspect this is one of the issues

IIRC the standard settings are for riders circa 4 stone lighter

[Hugo Stiglitz]

A aftermarket steering damper

[airsafari87]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

A aftermarket steering damper

Is the answer after doing everything everybody above has said.

Wanna buy some magic beans?

[MrGman]

Headstock, if you confident pull the front wheel off the ground using the side stand and see if it flips from side to side.

[Steve Bass]

HairyMaclary said:

It's a well known complaint on the super adventure. Try your tire pressures first and get the headstock bearings checked.

Def can confirm the headstock bearings might be an issue.

My earlier 1190 Adv had shocking headshakes but only when slowing down. Upon investigation the head race nut was as loose as anything. A quick tighten up sorted the issue for good.

[MOBB]

Quick update, I added +3 to the rear preload (3 seemed like a good number lol) to see what effect it would have, and its much much better, I think it all needs some tweaking and I'm not an expert so I've approached a couple of bike suspension specialists that can set it up properly for a small fee.

Thanks all :-)