KTM has launched a series of big bikes in India which includes its flagship model— the Duke 1390 R. Priced at Rs 22.96 lakh (ex-showroom), the street naked superbike comes to India as a fully-imported CBU model. However, the bike is different from the 1390 Super Duke GT which recently broke cover at EICMA 2024 last week.
KTM 1390 Super Duke R: Why’s it called a beast”
KTM calls it the “Beast” and it justifies this tag in every sense both visually and performance wise. It gets a super aggressive design with the vertically-stacked twin LED headlights cascaded by KTM’s signature boomerang-shaped LED DRL setup. The extended fairings, a muscular tank, an exposed frame, a narrow floating tail section, and funky graphics enhance the bike’s beastly appearance.
The looks of the Super Duke R are complemented by its extreme performance. Powering the super naked streetfighter is a 1,350cc, LC8, V-twin engine that produces a massive 187 bhp and 145 Nm of peak torque. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a 6-speed gearbox with the help of a slip and assist clutch. However, the ice in the pudding is an unbelievable power to weight ratio of almost 1:1.
KTM 1390 Super Duke R: Specs & Features
The engine received a host of mechanical updates including a new camshaft, a redesigned airbox, and new throttle bodies with increased inlet diameter. The bike is underpinned by the same tubular steel frame but the rear-frame was altered and made smaller last year. The chassis rests on WP semi-active suspension with as many as five modes. Braking is carried out by twin 320mm disc brakes and a single 240mm disc paired with Brembo callipers.
In terms of features, the 1390 Super Duke R gets a USB C-type charging port, full LED lighting, 5-inch TFT instrument panel which comes with Bluetooth connectivity along with the optional KTM connect that provides access to navigation. Other highlights include a 17.5-litre fuek tank, a seat height of 834mm, and a kerb weight of 200.5 kg.
Being the flagship KTM, it comes with a full gamut of electronic rider aids such as riding modes, a lean-sensitive traction control system, tyre pressure monitoring system, and slide control, cruise control, riding modes, an optional Rally mode, a quickshifter, and cruise control to name a few. It also gets an anti-wheelie feature which can be switched off completely.
