VOL. 52 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 6, 2015 P75
lights incorporating self-cancel-
ling indicators and, although not
fitted to the prototype test mule I
was riding, with the three-stage
lean angle specific LED corner-
ing lights first fitted to the 1290
Super Adventure. These are
linked to the ECU's lean angle
sensor, and increase in intensity
as you lean the bike over, direct-
ing light into the apex of a turn.
Also borrowed from the 1290
Super Adventure is WP's semi-ac-
tive suspension with four different
riding modes available for selec-
tion by the rider—Soft, Street,
Sport and Touring—obtained via
an SCU/Suspension Control Unit
which according to feedback
from accelerometers and stroke
sensors front and rear, adapts
the damping rates of WP's 48mm
upside down fork and rear mono-
shock to best suit the properties
of the road surface as well as the
rider's style. Also, with the semi-
active suspension customers will
be able to electronically choose
via the dash the appropriate rear
pre-load adjustment. Conversely,
the Brembo brake package
and cast aluminum wheels are
sourced from the Super Duke
R, with twin radially-mounted
four-piston Monoblock calipers
gripping 320mm front discs with a
large 240mm rear, incorporating
switchable Bosch ABS with four
modes: Street, Sport, Rain and
Supermoto. On a tourer? "No—
it's a GT bike," says Sekira. "This
is made for touring the KTM way!"
That means class-leading
performance from a motorcycle
equally at home on a race track
or, in my case, riding through
the hills and valleys of the Upper
Austrian countryside around the
KTM factory. This is obtained via
an upgrade to the already impres-
sive engine stats of the Super
Duke R's liquid-cooled DOHC
75º V-twin eight-valve LC8 motor
with chain camshaft drive mea-
suring 108 x 71mm for a capacity
of 1301cc. In addition, by remap-
ping the Keihin ECU for 2016 to
incorporate further development
of the ignition timing to deliver a
smoother, stronger pickup from
low revs, KTM's engineers have
produced improved performance
that's nevertheless obtained via
an exhaust system meeting the
forthcoming new Euro 4 noise
and emissions requirements,
which are generally understood
to present manufacturers with
a steep hill to climb in terms of
compliance. Yet this has been
achieved while at the same
time delivering added perfor-
mance over and above the 180
bhp/131.4 kW at 8,870 rpm deliv-
ered by the 1290 Super Duke R.
And in doing so very definitely
Suspension is also borrowed
from the 1290 Super Adventure,
featuring WP's semi-active system.
