Watch the full episode here: • The Moto News: Future ... Rob / @motobob and Tim / @rarefiedroad discuss the new KTM 1390 Super Duke R and how much horsepower is too much…
The problem isn't the law. Its flow of traffic. It's always about managing the flow of traffic. We on the bikes can easily go at 200kmh, but what about all the other people who can't drive their cars past 140???
I'll bet 10 to 1 odds, you can't ride one to its potential without rider aids. And if you can, you should join the racing circuit instead of street riding.
Two things to keep in mind: 1) When KTM said that, we didn’t have the electronic rider aids that we do now 2) Overall power delivery matters hugely in whether a bike is ‘safe’ or not. My R1M has some work done to it and is very near 200 at the tire, but my k5 GSXR1000 is faster almost everywhere on the road because the Yamaha makes no power down low or in the midrange where you use it most. My EBR1190RS Carbon Edition (humble brag) absolutely kicks the shit out of both of them under 130mph and makes less peak power than both. If I had to pick an engine to live with as an only bike, the K5 would be an easy choice, but to be honest I can go as fast as I want on my wife’s Street Triple 765RS and it doesn’t destroy tires or drink gas. Just give me a bike that’s easy to ride without beating on it and I’m happy. I’m betting that this 1390 SuperDuke probably has all the midrange a rider could want and top end power that means little because it has the aero of a rolling toolbox.
all depends on ur skill. who needs rider "AIDS" , since u got k5, then u should know why ghostrider only use suzuki and all of it ISR brake, his k3 k5 & naked 500hp busa, he said in interview thats the only brand that can wheelie for 5km straight w/o breakingdown. as for the 500hp busa with aero of rolling toolbox, he can pop and holds a wheelie at over 350km
Because rider aids help you go faster today, they aren’t just there for safety anymore… And you and me are not ghost rider. Have you ever hustled a fast liter bike down a twisty road?
I like big power mostly for the ego massage. Common sense keeps you alive and out of crazy speeds. The bike should accelerate ultra fast tho for clean overtakes. There is that.
I had to laugh my ass off when I saw the "Too Much Power". 😂😂😂. If your balls are too small and you only want to go 70 when the wife pulls your balls out of her purse and lends them to you, you can go break 70mph speed records on your Duke 390!! YA!!! 😮😮😮😮
In the uk you don't need 200hp ffs 100 is more than enough for our roads .. pot holes, shit drivers, filth, everyone has a dashcam , if i lived in a country where fun was ok yes give me 200 hp 😂
Same for most of the USA. There are some areas in the mid west where you can push it to the limit but even then its gambling that you won't hit some debris or an animal.
For street and track 120-140hp is like perfect! My z900rs Cafe at 110hp is plenty right now! But with a tune, ECU flash, and new headers… I’m looking to bring it closer to 120hp.
I think 190hp makes the least amount of sense on naked bikes. Over 130hp on a naked and you're straight up not going to enjoy going top speed where's on a sport bike you could comfortably do high speeds without being blown off of your bike
There are those of us who do enjoy the experience of trying to be ripped off the bike at 150mph. I never expect everyone to agree, but I think the sheer stupidity of a hypernaked is a large part of the allure.
Of course nobody "needs" a high H.P. Litre bike, for the public roads, just like nobody "needs" a bottle of Louis XII Cognac. A Lamborgini, Ferrari, G- Wagon...whatever. But if you have the means, the desire, and for these bikes - the skills, blessed by the Moto gods....Why not...?
Had a KTM RC8RR which was around 170bhp and super light, it was great for around 6 months and then I felt it needed a bit more, so with a bit of work injectors, exhaust and mapping on a rolling road it got to 200bhp which was blindingly quick and more than needed. When KTM announced they were not going to produce another version due to power being to high, then they threw out the DUKES!!!!! a naked bike with more power than than a race replica, that made sense!!! NOT....
This is a ego product for an ego buyer, of course more power is more marketable and more better. Usability is so far down the list, bordering irrelevant. Looks...Power....Brand, thats what sells
I love my gen 1 rsv Millie r but I probably am faster on the twisties on my 43hp Gilera saturno bialbero 500. I have shamed much bigger bikes on that wee thing.
Having owned a gen 2, as brilliant as they are, I think they're a bit overkill for the road, but there's always some freak who thinks a stock one is boring and proceeds to strap a turbo to it.😂
people who have money for those bikes are just only obsessed about power figures, in the real every day world on public roads it doesn't matter that much
KTM had always scaled up their power output and later on the dyno the Super Dukes all hat 10-15 hp less than toutet. Had one my self (‘18 model) with Rottweiler tune. After all these mods it had real 190hp and 150Nm an it still wasn’t enough on the track. Above 180 km/h the SD has no chance against a S1000RR for example. Sooooo…. It is not too fast 😅
Actually, it’s that and the fact that the 4 cylinder gives it’s best at high RPM when the twin has already shot it’s wad.. Almost all twins are soft on top-they can’t fill the cylinders fast enough at high RPM because valve area doesn’t scale up with cylinder size.@@God_Bolt
right now i have 2013 RC8R (full akrapovic), 690 Duke R 2017 (akrapovic tuning kit evo 1), and 1290 SD 2022 (stock), and honestly i have fun on all three of those but the 690 is the most enjoyable bike i have ever sit on - it is super rewarding and kinda safe at the same moment...
Had a 290hp Turbo Blackbird for a couple of years👍 that was the funniest bike i ever had. Smacked all other bikes with ease, and also very nice on curvy roads, way better cornering than the busa. Geared it for very high topspeed aswell. Stock is 17*45 sprocket and i put 18*38 on it. Did go past 220mph easy.
my bikes do 150hp and 160hp. Is it fun to use? of course. Is it necessary? I don't think so. Most of the time I ride in urban mode which gives 100hp, and truth be told that is actually enough. More important really is the torque at moderate rpm. My older bike does 130 Nm with much more torque at 3000 rpm, and that actually is far more appealing (most of the time) than the 160 hp at 8000 rpm with noticeably less torque at 3000. Given a choice I pick the torque almost every time. Every time? not quite. But almost every time.
Every brand has been adding displacement for years just because they can, bragging rights. I once heard this, "You can really never use the full displacement but it is nice to know you have it."
l remember CEO of KTM said that nomore Superbike we will produce because too fast for road ise🥳🤡 now Duke 1390 is faster more torquie bike than any other SBK models😂
I have a Gen 2 1290 R, owned it since 2018. I love that it is so silly easy to ride at low speeds. Extremely user friendly. Put it in track mode, be rude on the throttle and it blasts your eyeballs back in their sockets. Just the way I like it. Absolutely hilarious on a racetrack too even if it isn't a laptime hunter.
Acceleration, character, and ease of use define how fun a motorcycle is. Comfort is another important factor, especially if the bike will be used daily, but these 3 are definitely the hallmarks of a great riding experience.
I have been lucky enough to hold onto a few of my favorite bikes I’ve owned over the years. My 1995 Harley springer softail has just 55hp but is very comfortable to ride. My 2004 GSXR750 has 145hp and is enough to satisfy my need for speed but my 2017 Ktm 690 enduro r with 67hp has quickly become my go to bike. It’s comfortable and fun. I use it for everything except the longer rides. With the power manufacturers are getting out of bikes in the 700 to 800cc range I think these are kinda the sweet spot for me
Im in NC and have a Z900 with 120hp. There are just few places I can use the power other than interstates which even speeding are not fun to ride. I have to baby it everywhere else and it takes away the fun of the ride.
It's all about torque and usable power. The Super Duke is fun from 0 to any speed. I love it at any mph, you absolutely do not need to rev it to the moon to have fun. KTM has it down.
Stupid comment from someone who doesn't know what he's talking about and just regurgitates stuff to justify his opinion. There is no "usable" power in any liter bike on the street. If you can twist the throttle and exceed highway speeds in 1st gear that's not usable. Also as the other reply says, if you need ride aids, by definition you aren't using an or even near all is power. Anyone can twist the throttle and go straight.
@@superduperkid3143 You are partially right. The 200hp bikes are just too fast, blink and you are over 100mph. But torque is acceleration which is where the fun is at. Also, fun fact- the best riders in the world (moto gp) riding the most powerful bikes have their power modulated for the track at every...single....turn. So yes douche canoe, raw power is for straight lines but even the best DO NOT WANT full power 100% of the time. Get a clue before you run your mouth.
@superduperkid3143 I only turn on rider aids on my V4 on the street if I get caught in the wet as a safety net. You can do everything right in the wet and still lose traction because the surface is unpredictable and you could hit oil or whatever.
It's not too much power, the traffic laws just need to catch up.
The problem isn't the law. Its flow of traffic. It's always about managing the flow of traffic. We on the bikes can easily go at 200kmh, but what about all the other people who can't drive their cars past 140???
I'll bet 10 to 1 odds, you can't ride one to its potential without rider aids. And if you can, you should join the racing circuit instead of street riding.
I’ve never sat on a bike and not wanted more power, and that’s with bikes with over 200hp. It’s never enough.
True, it's never enough!!!
You'd be crazy to believe KTM marketing spin. As soon as I turn my bike on...
Ready to race.
The Super Duke is basically a Super Moto on steroids, but even comfier! KTM just doesn‘t want you to hurt your back on an homologated RC 8C 😂
it's needed.... more power baby....
The power of power.
There is never too much power
I owned a 250 hp Ninja H2 for 2 years
My Pani V4s with Akra full system is most fun bike I have ever had. More power always more fun
Ha, ha, you can never have too much horsepower 😂
I don't think there's any such thing as too much power. But it has to be controllable and you have to have discipline.
Two things to keep in mind:
1) When KTM said that, we didn’t have the electronic rider aids that we do now
2) Overall power delivery matters hugely in whether a bike is ‘safe’ or not. My R1M has some work done to it and is very near 200 at the tire, but my k5 GSXR1000 is faster almost everywhere on the road because the Yamaha makes no power down low or in the midrange where you use it most. My EBR1190RS Carbon Edition (humble brag) absolutely kicks the shit out of both of them under 130mph and makes less peak power than both. If I had to pick an engine to live with as an only bike, the K5 would be an easy choice, but to be honest I can go as fast as I want on my wife’s Street Triple 765RS and it doesn’t destroy tires or drink gas.
Just give me a bike that’s easy to ride without beating on it and I’m happy. I’m betting that this 1390 SuperDuke probably has all the midrange a rider could want and top end power that means little because it has the aero of a rolling toolbox.
all depends on ur skill. who needs rider "AIDS" , since u got k5, then u should know why ghostrider only use suzuki and all of it ISR brake, his k3 k5 & naked 500hp busa, he said in interview thats the only brand that can wheelie for 5km straight w/o breakingdown. as for the 500hp busa with aero of rolling toolbox, he can pop and holds a wheelie at over 350km
Because rider aids help you go faster today, they aren’t just there for safety anymore…
And you and me are not ghost rider. Have you ever hustled a fast liter bike down a twisty road?
I like big power mostly for the ego massage.
Common sense keeps you alive and out of crazy speeds.
The bike should accelerate ultra fast tho for clean overtakes. There is that.
I had to laugh my ass off when I saw the "Too Much Power". 😂😂😂. If your balls are too small and you only want to go 70 when the wife pulls your balls out of her purse and lends them to you, you can go break 70mph speed records on your Duke 390!! YA!!! 😮😮😮😮
In the uk you don't need 200hp ffs 100 is more than enough for our roads .. pot holes, shit drivers, filth, everyone has a dashcam , if i lived in a country where fun was ok yes give me 200 hp 😂
Same for most of the USA. There are some areas in the mid west where you can push it to the limit but even then its gambling that you won't hit some debris or an animal.
You can never have too much power
Never once I was riding my monster 1200s and thought: I wish I had 40 more hp😂😂
I used to have bigger bikes but now have a z650 and have never thought I needed any more power for road use even on that.
For street and track 120-140hp is like perfect! My z900rs Cafe at 110hp is plenty right now! But with a tune, ECU flash, and new headers… I’m looking to bring it closer to 120hp.
What sort of torque figures?
I think 190hp makes the least amount of sense on naked bikes. Over 130hp on a naked and you're straight up not going to enjoy going top speed where's on a sport bike you could comfortably do high speeds without being blown off of your bike
There are those of us who do enjoy the experience of trying to be ripped off the bike at 150mph. I never expect everyone to agree, but I think the sheer stupidity of a hypernaked is a large part of the allure.
If she's to strong...
U R to weak 😂
on a 130bhp bike what speed are you doing at that peak power, even in first gear?
200HP is more than enough for any street bike. The more important part is the mid range and the torque. That's what makes the over all ride exciting.
100bhp is more than enough for any street bike.
I tested the. 1290 a few years ago and too my taste it was too much power, i couldnt really use it
Too much power? There is nooooo such thing dude!😂
Of course nobody "needs" a high H.P. Litre bike, for the public roads, just like nobody "needs" a bottle of Louis XII Cognac. A Lamborgini, Ferrari, G- Wagon...whatever. But if you have the means, the desire, and for these bikes - the skills, blessed by the Moto gods....Why not...?
Had a KTM RC8RR which was around 170bhp and super light, it was great for around 6 months and then I felt it needed a bit more, so with a bit of work injectors, exhaust and mapping on a rolling road it got to 200bhp which was blindingly quick and more than needed. When KTM announced they were not going to produce another version due to power being to high, then they threw out the DUKES!!!!! a naked bike with more power than than a race replica, that made sense!!! NOT....
This is a ego product for an ego buyer, of course more power is more marketable and more better. Usability is so far down the list, bordering irrelevant. Looks...Power....Brand, thats what sells
I love my gen 1 rsv Millie r but I probably am faster on the twisties on my 43hp Gilera saturno bialbero 500. I have shamed much bigger bikes on that wee thing.
I have a mt09 sp and it’s realistically more than I need but I still want more under 5000 rev power. Yes it’s stupidly fast for the road still
Having owned a gen 2, as brilliant as they are, I think they're a bit overkill for the road, but there's always some freak who thinks a stock one is boring and proceeds to strap a turbo to it.😂
BFD.... My turbo busa makes 450 whp on 93 octane this thing is like a little kids bike smfh
I've said very, very few people can handle over 130hp, which I think is the limit, on the road.
My 2012 Hayabusa was scary fast and if I could buy a more powerful one I would buy it.
There's never enough power.
Exactly 👍
all my friends ride ducatie 1000cc or 4cylinder 1000cc i have a mt 07 on the road i have no problem following them
people who have money for those bikes are just only obsessed about power figures, in the real every day world on public roads it doesn't matter that much
Novelty bike, have fun idleing around in practical situations.
190bhp - to much power? Most superbikes are over 200bhp!!
The thing looks like you're riding a Super Predator. Its nuts.
Its not to much if your responsible and not try to act like your Rossi on public roads.. and god is there a bunch of Rossi wannabe noobs out there
Are these are unreliable as I am being led to believe . 12 months warranty tells me KTM have no faith in their engines
my 675 street triple with 100 hp is fine, thankyou
Vstrom 250
Great little bike on twistys 26 powerful horses
It’s bragging rights for the vast majority of us.
If only they had it in a fared version like the RC8
Putting a 190HP, 450 pound vehicle on the street is downright criminal.
Welcome to a 2012 panigale
Never forget advertising is bullshit.
KTM had always scaled up their power output and later on the dyno the Super Dukes all hat 10-15 hp less than toutet.
Had one my self (‘18 model) with Rottweiler tune. After all these mods it had real 190hp and 150Nm an it still wasn’t enough on the track. Above 180 km/h the SD has no chance against a S1000RR for example. Sooooo…. It is not too fast 😅
Except for the Power it's also the aeordynamics
Actually, it’s that and the fact that the 4 cylinder gives it’s best at high RPM when the twin has already shot it’s wad.. Almost all twins are soft on top-they can’t fill the cylinders fast enough at high RPM because valve area doesn’t scale up with cylinder size.@@God_Bolt
690 Duke R suits me on the road just nice :)
Yeah, 200 on track - this is 190 - so consistent 😂
right now i have 2013 RC8R (full akrapovic), 690 Duke R 2017 (akrapovic tuning kit evo 1), and 1290 SD 2022 (stock), and honestly i have fun on all three of those but the 690 is the most enjoyable bike i have ever sit on - it is super rewarding and kinda safe at the same moment...
Had a 290hp Turbo Blackbird for a couple of years👍 that was the funniest bike i ever had.
Smacked all other bikes with ease, and also very nice on curvy roads, way better cornering than the busa.
Geared it for very high topspeed aswell.
Stock is 17*45 sprocket and i put 18*38 on it.
Did go past 220mph easy.
my bikes do 150hp and 160hp. Is it fun to use? of course. Is it necessary? I don't think so. Most of the time I ride in urban mode which gives 100hp, and truth be told that is actually enough.
More important really is the torque at moderate rpm. My older bike does 130 Nm with much more torque at 3000 rpm, and that actually is far more appealing (most of the time) than the 160 hp at 8000 rpm with noticeably less torque at 3000.
Given a choice I pick the torque almost every time. Every time? not quite. But almost every time.
210 hp more than enough 😂😂
Every brand has been adding displacement for years just because they can, bragging rights. I once heard this, "You can really never use the full displacement but it is nice to know you have it."
l remember CEO of KTM said that nomore Superbike we will produce because too fast for road ise🥳🤡 now Duke 1390 is faster more torquie bike than any other SBK models😂
I have a Gen 2 1290 R, owned it since 2018. I love that it is so silly easy to ride at low speeds. Extremely user friendly. Put it in track mode, be rude on the throttle and it blasts your eyeballs back in their sockets. Just the way I like it. Absolutely hilarious on a racetrack too even if it isn't a laptime hunter.
Acceleration, character, and ease of use define how fun a motorcycle is. Comfort is another important factor, especially if the bike will be used daily, but these 3 are definitely the hallmarks of a great riding experience.
Yes.. and Ducati once said they would never make an electric bike…have a racing series now… the HP is right on pair with the competition. 👌👌👌👌👌
I have a Thruxton R and have more fun on it than I have on much faster bikes. I've come to appreciate torque more than HP.
Do it. Just do it😂😂
In the 90's I was reading ...who needs more then a 600cc, 100 hp is all that you can use on the road.
😂😂😂
You hit the nail on the head with MT-10! I love mine. Been riding for 46 years on the street.
Wouldn't mind the VVR for the traction, not the ponies.
I have been lucky enough to hold onto a few of my favorite bikes I’ve owned over the years. My 1995 Harley springer softail has just 55hp but is very comfortable to ride. My 2004 GSXR750 has 145hp and is enough to satisfy my need for speed but my 2017 Ktm 690 enduro r with 67hp has quickly become my go to bike. It’s comfortable and fun. I use it for everything except the longer rides. With the power manufacturers are getting out of bikes in the 700 to 800cc range I think these are kinda the sweet spot for me
Im in NC and have a Z900 with 120hp. There are just few places I can use the power other than interstates which even speeding are not fun to ride. I have to baby it everywhere else and it takes away the fun of the ride.
What about the Aprilia ?
500cc two stroke single..... 😊
it actually only makes 8 more HP.
Best looking naked bike in my opinion.
Come on Motobob this is a beginner bike.
All we need is 15hp
Z H2🥰🤣🤣
How's the reliability on a KTM. Premium price tag for a garbage product.
It’s pointless with all the rider aids you never use it. Real men ride analog bikes …..
It's all about torque and usable power. The Super Duke is fun from 0 to any speed. I love it at any mph, you absolutely do not need to rev it to the moon to have fun. KTM has it down.
If rider aids are constantly kicking in you are not using all the power.
Stupid comment from someone who doesn't know what he's talking about and just regurgitates stuff to justify his opinion.
There is no "usable" power in any liter bike on the street. If you can twist the throttle and exceed highway speeds in 1st gear that's not usable.
Also as the other reply says, if you need ride aids, by definition you aren't using an or even near all is power.
Anyone can twist the throttle and go straight.
@@superduperkid3143 You are partially right. The 200hp bikes are just too fast, blink and you are over 100mph. But torque is acceleration which is where the fun is at. Also, fun fact- the best riders in the world (moto gp) riding the most powerful bikes have their power modulated for the track at every...single....turn. So yes douche canoe, raw power is for straight lines but even the best DO NOT WANT full power 100% of the time. Get a clue before you run your mouth.
@superduperkid3143 I only turn on rider aids on my V4 on the street if I get caught in the wet as a safety net. You can do everything right in the wet and still lose traction because the surface is unpredictable and you could hit oil or whatever.