2021 KTM 1290 Super Duke RR Unveiled

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is an absolutely banging bike. Super Dukes have always been pretty good, and the last one took a big step forward. But that’s not enough for KTM. They wanted to demonstrate exactly what happens when you give your design team free reign. And they wanted a ‘true definition of Ready to Race’. So they’ve built this, the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR…

KTM’s press release talks about how their new ’no-compromise Hyper Naked’ is going to ‘decimate lap records’ with its ‘track-ripping performance’. And when you look at the numbers, you discover that they might be onto something. Ok, it’s still not an actual superbike (we’re all still waiting for a new RC8, KTM) so it might be a little ambitious to expect it to break ‘actual’ lap records, but the RR looks set to make light work of anything set by a Super Duke to date. You don’t get any more power or torque from the 1301cc LC8 engine, but thanks to the RR being 9kg lighter than the R, you do get a 1:1 power to weight ratio. That’s 180hp and 180kg. With the same 140Nm of torque. Enough, KTM say, to ‘tear open the bitumen’. Try not to do that, though; we’ve got enough potholes to deal with already.

Where has all the weight gone? Well new ‘ultra-light’ forged wheels equate to a 1.5kg saving, but there’s a load of carbon fibre too. The bodywork, as well as the seat unit, has all had the carbon fibre treatment. And the cherry on the top is possibly the titanium Akrapovič end can, saving even more weight.

To help you decimate those lap records, WP have custom-made a new Apex Pro 7746 shocker especially for the RR. At the front end you get fully adjustable Apex Pro 7548 Close Cartridge forks, and they’ve even thrown a WP steering damper in too.

There’s a new quick-action throttle, and to help you control all the power on track, you get top-spec track electronics. In fact it’s ‘the most complete track orientated package ever seen on a KTM’. The system has more advanced Track Modes and brand new Performance Modes. It lets you faff with the traction, throttle, launch and engine breaking maps with ‘near unlimited adjustability’. Just imagine how much fun you could have with that.

If you want one, I wouldn’t blame you because these sound cool as fuck. They’re not giving them away, though. You’ll have to part with £21,499 if you want to add one of these to your fleet. And you’ll also have to be pretty sharpish, because there’ll only be 500 of them. You can pre-order them online from 8am (UK time) on the 8^th April 2021. All you need to do is click this link…