Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1058408
2019 K TM SUPER DUKE GT FIRST IMPRESSION P50 and forth between the outgoing GT and the new one. Eisele's engine experts have in fact handed back two horsepower from the 177 horse- power spec of the 2019 R-version in order to deliver a greater spread of grunt all through the rev range on the new GT, with torque peaking at 7000 rpm with 104 lb-ft on tap. "Basically, we took the engine from the Super Duke R, and refined it a little bit for the GT," says Tobias Eisele. "We changed the intake snorkel where it enters the airbox, all the ducting and the ignition map, and in respecting the needs of a touring bike, we slightly reduced the maximum horsepower, but worked on the way the power is delivered. "The torque curve is flatter and broader, and that's what you actu- ally feel on the road. On this bike, you have more than enough power everywhere, so what's most impor- tant is the way it's delivered." When the super strong accelera- tion is delivered to the grippy Pirelli Angel GT rubber, and metered by the nine-stage TC dialed down to level one or two, the ride is literally awesome. This is a sports tourer with serious attitude, and a much fatter hit of midrange torque than before from 4000 rpm upwards. An- other key element is that the crank- shaft is now 1.1 pound heavier, so there's a bigger rotating mass which helps retain momentum and adds to the sense of torquiness, as well as helping the engine run smoother. The gear-driven counterbalancer is unchanged, and does a good job of eliminating the vibes inherent in the 75° V-twin engine's layout. A new subframe and seat offer greater comfort for passengers over long rides. A new face The facelift features a new and quite distinctive looking LED headlight, comprising six forward-facing ultra-bright LEDs within the central aluminum housing. Further LEDs deliver the DRL (daytime running lights) incorporating self-cancelling indicators, and the three-stage lean-angle-specific LED corner- ing lights mounted within the fuel tank spoiler. These are linked to the Keihin ECU's lean angle sen- sor, and increase in intensity as you lean the bike over, directing light into the apex of a turn in a way that's even helpful in day- time, as when for example you negotiate darkly forested sec- tions of road. The TFT dash also switches into its very distinctive Night mode in such conditions. Same, but different As before, the GT shares the same orange painted tubular steel trellis frame as the 1290 Super Duke R—there's a choice of just two bodywork colors, the white/orange livery of the test bike, and a black/orange variant—and while retaining the same geometry with a 24.9° head angle and 4.2 inches of trail matched to a 58.3-in wheelbase, there's a longer, stronger subframe than the R-version to give the passenger extra space and thus greater long-distance comfort via lower footrests. This also facilitates fitting the specially- designed hard panniers that'll come as standard in the USA, but are an option everywhere else. The 2-1 exhaust's right-side silencer is also mounted lower down to make room for these.