Prepping And Priming A KTM 1290 Super Duke R Fro Life On Track Could Be The Cure For All Ills!
Just when we thought that the subtle styling changes, plumping of power, evolution of electronics and setting up of the suspension was all the new KTM 1290 Super Duke R needed to rule the naked world in 2017, the Austrian firm treated us to a session on a race-kitted bike around the Losail circuit in Qatar during last month’s launch of the road bike.
In the process KTM opened Pandora’s box, showing us the true potential of the Beast – but Pandora didn’t seem to mind this invasion of her privacy at all. Initially, I loved the Austro-naked-nutters for allowing us the opportunity to sample this, but then after my savage sampling of the bike on track I hated them for giving us only a fleeting experience of the machine...
Unleashing a Beast
Ready To Race is KTM’s motto, but there’s not much in the way of easy avenues to explore this option when you’re trying to muscle a 1,301cc v-twin naked bike on to a grid. Ever the innovators, the firm found a series in Italy that would fit the bill – the French-based Protwin race challenge that had an event on in Mugello in November – you know, the exquisite Italian track with the longest straight in the calendar. Exposed to the elements and up against a grid full of faired Panigales, KTM had a few tricks up its sleeves – namely Jeremy McWilliams, Chris Fillmore, Hannes Maier and three 2017 race-prepped 1290 Super Duke Rs.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Sensational Suzuki Live - Blending decades of motorcycles, racing legends, track time and a beer tent with a cracking band, Suzuki Live's formula proved a winner for the thousands there.
Blending decades of motorcycles, racing legends, track time and a beer tent with a cracking band, Suzuki Live’s formula proved a winner for the thousands there. As motorcycling events go, Suzuki Live's 2024 effort is surely set to take some topping. Held over two days at the iconic Cadwell Park circuit, the event played host to a list of two-wheeled legends and a mixed bag of iconic Suzuki machinery spanning five decades.
Steve Parrish
It's been a busy old month but so good being back in the thick of it. Despite the great British weather, it finally feels like summer is here, and I've been all over the place with some really great events since we spoke last month.
Christian Iddon
It's a long time since I had that feeling... 1057 days, to be precise, and if you were to ask if 'that day' was the day it would happen again, then I would have bet all my worldly belongings against it.
BOTH A CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASE
There’s a time and place to lawyer up to the hills, and this is one them...
LONGTERMER KAWASAKI ZX-6R
Last month, I was gearing up to consign my ZX-6R to the back of my garage while I disappeared for the best part of three weeks to work at the TT with Batham's Racing.
YAMAHA WABASH RT
When you live a life of wheelies, burnouts and fast laps on race tracks, it's hard to spot a midlife crisis... but six months on in the saddle of Yamaha's Wabash e-bike, I daresay that's exactly where I'm at. I'll be honest, cycling isn't for everyone, and quite frankly, Lycra is even more polarising, but for me, life on two wheels, be it powered or pedalled, has formed my staple diet for as long as I can remember.
24 HOURS FLAT-OUT!
Ever fancied a crack at 24-hour endurance racing? You might think again after reading this...
PROJECT 37 A TEST OF TIME
Having got his head around the standard bike at Cadwell, Timmy heads to Powerslide Motorcycles with a wish list of improvements for the Suzuki GSX-8R...
'WHY WE GO RACING...5
Ever wondered why big brands spend big money and put in huge amounts of effort to go racing? Well, we did too, so we didn’t hesitate to ask the man who makes that call for Honda Racing UK...
9 BIKES WE WISH WERE STILL HERE...
No one’s worked out how to bring things back from the dead, but if we had our way, these are the bikes we’d oe see makingareturn.
