The KTM 1290 Super Duke R is an absolutely banging bike. Super Dukes have always been pretty good, and the last one took a big step forward. But that?s not enough for KTM. They wanted to demonstrate exactly what happens when you give your design team free reign. And they wanted a ?true definition of Ready to Race?. So they?ve built this, the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR?

KTM?s press release talks about how their new ?no-compromise Hyper Naked? is going to ?decimate lap records? with its ?track-ripping performance?. And when you look at the numbers, you discover that they might be onto something. Ok, it?s still not an actual superbike (we?re all still waiting for a new RC8, KTM) so it might be a little ambitious to expect it to break ?actual? lap records, but the RR looks set to make light work of anything set by a Super Duke to date. You don?t get any more power or torque from the 1301cc LC8 engine, but thanks to the RR being 9kg lighter than the R, you do get a 1:1 power to weight ratio. That?s 180hp and 180kg. With the same 140Nm of torque. Enough, KTM say, to ?tear open the bitumen?. Try not to do that, though; we?ve got enough potholes to deal with already.
Where has all the weight gone" Well new ?ultra-light? forged wheels equate to a 1.5kg saving, but there?s a load of carbon fibre too. The bodywork, as well as the seat unit, has all had the carbon fibre treatment. And the cherry on the top is possibly the titanium Akrapovi? end can, saving even more weig...