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FIRST RIDE P48 2014 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R good in stock forum, but the Akrapovic exhaust was music to my ears. McWilliams had set the bikes up for the track and they were spot on. Granted he is an extremely talented motorbike racer, but the fact is anybody can take the tools KTM has built into the 1290 Super Duke R and adjust them to the proper setting for track, street or even touring. I was excited about the Dunlop slicks that were fitted to the bikes because I knew I could really test the chassis, brakes and traction control without a worry. Once I figured out my way around the track, I was able to put the hammer down. I tried the ABS at first and it was very well sorted for the track. As long as you fit similar size tires to the standard Dunlop sizes (120/70ZR 17 front and 190/55ZR 17 rear) of any different brand, the ABS and traction control will adjust automatically and work. The chassis is also made for track riding, with no noticeable squatting from the rear under heavy acceleration or folding of the front while on the brakes. Even through the ultra fast sections the 1290 R was stable and composed. Granted the motocross-style handlebars will help you with added leverage, but the whole package is very well balanced and it holds its line just fine with minimal effort. Corner entry was precise with just a tad difficulty when trying to get the bike turned into some of the slower corners after hard braking. KTM's slipper clutch was another plus in the overall equation, allowing for smooth corner entry with minimal disruption to the chassis. I turned off the ABS for the rest of the sessions and found the brakes just as capable (being old school, I prefer a bike without ABS). The new traction control, on the other hand, was something that I could get used to. The way " So you have a bigger motor with less weight. All very cool, but that's not all there is to the new Super Duke. " they had it set-up was great - the rear would step out just enough to make you feel like a pro, but the bike would keep driving forward all the time. It took a few tries before I figured out what was going on, but you will soon enough become comfortable with the system and will never want to leave home without it. All and all the track portion of our intro was great. The 1290 R is just as comfortable on the track as it is on the street. A big plus in the ergonomic depart- ment with all the controls easily accessed even at the increased speeds of track riding. When the track flogging was finished we rode back to the hotel and again I found myself enjoying the beautiful Spanish countryside. And I could have been on a two-week touring expedition with all the touring goodies that are available from the KTM Power Parts collection. For instance there are rear side bags with mounting brackets, a rear seat bag, heated grips, a tank pad, GPS mounting bracket, special ergonomic pilot and passenger seats, and even an alarm system. And I'm sure the added weight of the touring package will hardly make a difference in overall performance. As far as the styling goes, I wasn't so keen on the KTM's looks at first but it did grow on me after awhile. The new 1290 is available in the classic KTM Orange or a blacked-out version. Style aside, the functionality of the Super Duke was very impressive. As mentioned earlier, the bike fit me well, but in talking with some of the taller individuals on the trip, they were equally impressed with the seating and riding position. Yes, the new 1290 Super Duke is a versatile motorcycle that performs brilliantly on the roads, in town and on the track. This is an all-in-one motorcycle that really covers all the bases. And it's a motorcycle that truly lives up to the Super moniker. CN

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