SLIGHTLY UNUSUALLY FOR A TRACK-ONLY launch of power-mad hyper-naked, KTM opted to run standard Michelin Power GP rubber (without tyre warmers) and not slick tyres, which would be the norm.
This meant I took the first few laps a little gingerly, which gave the 1390 R the chance to demonstrate that, despite the immense hype surrounding its performance (190 hp at 10,000 rpm), it can be ridden sensibly. The throttle connection and power delivery have been much improved.
In the standard Street mode, you could almost describe the KTM as mild. I also rode as gently as possible in an attempt to feel or hear the new shift-cam system working, but it is not obvious as in an old Honda. It is a smooth system for KTM first time out.
Of course, the big Duke has always been the king of the torque figures, churning out more grunt than the larger capacity V4 Ducati Streetfighter and even Kawasaki's Supercharged Z H2. Now KTM have given their flagship hyper-naked even more of the stuff (145 Nm at 8,000 rpm) and, as the tyres came up to temperature, I began to use the bike's ace card: its mind-twisting, tyre-torturing stomp.
Almeria is a track I know well but I do not think I have ever ridden it at a quickish pace with so few gear-changes. For a fast lap, the 1390 only needs third and fourth gears (plus a couple more for the long back straight). In fact, it could easily do a decent lap-time using fourth gear only. Second-gear corners became third-gear corners and still the bike drove like crazy from the exit, still punishing its long-suffering Michelins.
Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Bike India.
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Denne historien er fra May 2024-utgaven av Bike India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Tussle for Supremacy
Having watched the racing action from afar during the first two rounds of the Honda Idemitsu Talent Cup (HITC), we got a chance to take a closer look at the proceedings in round three. Here is how the weekend zoomed past
Multiple Winners
The third round of the TVS One-make Championship saw the emergence of multiple winners as the favourites struggled to do the double-race win
The Title Fight Becomes More Intense
The weekend at Mandalika turned out to be a spectacular display where the title contenders, Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, locked horns while Marc Márquez's and Enea Bastianini's chances at the title diminished
Andrea lannone is a WSBK Winner
Nicolo Bulega, Andrea Iannone, and Alvaro Bautista headlined the weekend for their respective Ducati teams as they blew past the competition on their Ducati Panigale V4 R motorcycles
Italian Domination
The weekend at Cremona saw the Italian, Danilo Petrucci, dominate his home race astride his Ducati
Bastianini Shines in Final-lap Thriller
Just like the previous race at Misano, this one also served up a thriller but for very different reasons. Here is how it unfolded
No Dearth of Drama
Marc Márquez had to wait for 1,043 days for his 60th MotoGP race victory, but his 61st race win only took another seven days
Kolli Hills on an NX 500
We rode from Bengaluru to Kolli Hills astride a Honda NX500 and it was a memorable ride for many reasons
For the Easy Life
Triumph India believe there is a market for a friendlier version of the Speed 400. Here is what you should know about that version, called the Speed T4
The Star Reborn
We finally got our hands on the new BSA Gold Star 650 and took it for a long spin. Here is our first impression