KTM's 1290GT - Redefining The Sports Bike

Leaned over braking or accelerating on wet pavement or dry pavement are managed alike for maximum safety and performance.

- Dan McGrane

Tell me what a sports bike is again?

There is a certain segment of the motorcycle marketplace that wants to have its cake - and eat it. Instead of a hyper focused high-speed machine, a rider of this sort wants a fast bike, great handling, and to carry everything, including the kitchen sink.

We are, of course, referring to the sports touring motorcycle, where versatility and the ability to munch the highway miles in comfort are the prime criteria. Aside from the Starship Enterprise - which can carry the kitchen sink at warp speeds - the KTM 1290GT comes in a close second.

So what is it?

The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is a slightly updated 1290 Super Duke R with changes to the fairings and engine, the latter having a new head design with intake port slit further upstream from the valves and modified combustion chambers for improved combustion. New mapping, plain bearings, and timing for the 75-degree V-twin engine go a step further and are intended to reduce vibration and engine noise, thus allowing KTM to meet ever-restricting vehicle emissions standards, while at the same time helping the bike maintain huge horsepower numbers and a wider torque curve.