IN
THE
WIND
P34
HUSQVARNA POWER
CRUISER SPIED!
H
usqvarna is about to get serious in the big-
bore roadbike department, with the release of
these spy photos coming out of Europe this week.
Aimed at the king of the power cruiser seg-
ment, the Ducati XDiavel, this new Husqvarna is
using the all-conquering KTM 1290 Super Duke R
chassis and engine as its base (along with wheels,
radiator and brakes) but there are serious aesthet-
ic and ergonomic changes afoot to turn it into a
power cruiser. The ultra short single seat, wheel-
covering rear number plate and side shrouds
reminiscent of the 401 and 701 Vitpilen make this
machine a definite departure from the base KTM
model, and you can expect a few ECU and engine
changes to go with the Husqvarna's power cruiser
nature.
This new machine, likely to be dubbed a 1301,
is the latest to benefit from the gravy train of parts
that have flowed since Husqvarna was bought by
KTM in 2013.
The new 701 Vitpilen will be released later this
year, so expect this new 1301 to be at least a 2018
model release. CN
Husqvarna's new
1301 has the
Ducati XDiavel
firmly in its sights.
KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R GETTING REVAMPED FOR 2017
A
fter three years in produc-
tion, the KTM 1290 Super
Duke R will be worked over for
the 2017 model year.
As you can see from the
spy shot of the machine being
tested in Spain, the engine and
main chassis are expected to
remain from the 2013-'16 model,
but the headlight has been dra-
matically shortened, side-panels
are narrower, and the exhaust is
larger with the catalytic conver-
tor now closer to the rear wheel.
The original Super Duke
engine was not Euro4 compli-
ant, however the Super Duke
GT engine is, so you can expect
that engine to be transplanted
into this 2017 Super Duke
chassis. The new bike is also
expected to receive the Bosch
Cornering ABS system and with
it an upgrade in the ABS and
traction control maps, as well as
the latest WP electronic suspen-
sion. CN
New electronics, new suspension
and a new face. The 2017 Super
Duke looks pretty special already.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
BMH-IMAGES
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
BMH-IMAGES
