With just over 2,000km on the clock it was time to fit the most delicious/sexy and desirable part from the official KTM PowerParts drool book (www.ktm.com) – the Akrapovic titanium full-system. Expensive, yes, necessary, not really for road use, but if you have the cash does it really matter? You see a lot of people who own the 2017 Super Duke just fit a loud silencer, which is great to raise the volume but nothing looks better than this pipe designed specifically for my bike by Akrapovic, right?When I went to the World Launch last year in Qatar, held at the Losail GP track, I had the pleasure of riding the KTM Factory race bike using this pipe (pictured here) and, yes, that is me riding, honest. What dropped my jaw was this mesmerising rainbow blue/purple colour that only titanium goes. The beauty of the Super Duke, unlike a superbike where the fairing hides it all, is that it’s there and in your face for all to see – tremendous!

Obviously this ‘big bit’ isn’t cheap, R35,800 to be exact plus fitting, which was again expertly installed by www.radmoto.co.za. I wouldn’t attempt it myself though because the ‘Evolution Line’ kit comes with a replacement K&N genuine air filter, blanking plates and other bits to remove the Euro 4 secondary air system anti- pollution garbage and the power-valve goes into the bin as well. Check out the image of all this excess stuff taken off. Now wait for this, after weighing the new kit before installation and then the bits taken off, the bike has now a considerable 9kg of unwanted mass removed! If you don’t think that’s much pick up 9kg of anything and swing it around your head, preferably not after a few drinks though.

Radmoto also pulled out the suppressor plug thing inside the pipe and now my bike is as loud as the race bike – hurrah! The initial under-steer the stock bike tends to have has now totally disappeared, due to weight saving, and now handles more like a 690. So is it worth it you ask? Oh yes! Who wouldn’t want a pipe that changes colour like this?

Next time we’ll run the bike on the dyno and fiddle with the fuelling, can’t wait for that! And anything else I can find to bolt on…..

Go to www.ktm.co.za to find your local dealer and order these parts right now.

Total parts to date:

Carbon Akrapovic front mudguard: R4,290

Carbon/Kevlar clutch cover: R1,995

Carbon/Kevlar ignition cover: R2,135

Posh seat (highly recommended): R2,280

Seat cowl: R2,280

Akrapovic ‘Evolution Line’ Race Kit: R35,800

Total: R48,790

The race for a spot on the MX National podium is on! Tensions are running high as Red Bull KTM riders prepare for the season finale at Terra Topia on 14 October.

It has been a mixed season for the Red Bull KTM family. Pro rider Kerim Fitz-Gerald was off to a rough start this year when he broke his wrist at the series opener in Port Elizabeth.

By the third round of the series he returned with a true ‘never-say-die’ attitude and managed to work his way back up the MX1 ranks. Some dramatic mishaps in round five resulted in a serious loss of points for the rider, but his solid fourth place on the leader board has kept him in the race for the podium.

He has had a stronger MX2 season. Some of Fitz-Gerald’s best racing this year took place at the penultimate round in Harrismith recently. He went to battle with a group of four riders within a bike length of each other, and managed to end the day in third despite going down in Moto one.As the season finale approaches, Kerim is itching for a victory. He is currently ranked third in MX2, and has made his intent clear: “I want to win the final round, that’s that. I haven’t won much this year and I miss the feeling.”

From the first round in Port Elizabeth, the man who has raised his hand for a national title is Pro Mini rider Camden Mc Lellan.

It has been victory after victory for the rising star, and he walked away with yet another first place in his pocket at the penultimate round of the series in Harrismith.

When asked about the key to his successful season, Mc Lellan summed it up quite simply: “It all comes down to dedication. I’ve been training in the gym and getting stronger, spending a lot more time on the bike with my trainer Darrel, and also had some overseas experience this year.”

He is determined to keep the winning momentum going and plans to end the season on a high. “This last race is going to be tight because people are going to want to prove themselves. I’m extremely excited for that! And obviously hope to come out on top,” said Mc Lellan.

The Pro Mini pairing of Mc Lellan and Jono Mlimi was always going to be good. Mlimi is another favourite that’s set soar the orange flag high next month. Despite round six not going as well as he had hoped, the youngster is still sitting in second on the season’s point standings.The Mc Lellan and Mlimi brothers are another two riders that need to be kept on the radar. Joshua Mlimi is currently sixth in the MX2 class. Nate McLellan is ranked fourth in 85cc as he heads into the season finale, and stands a good chance of finishing on the podium.

New to the Red Bull KTM MX team this year is Ross Branch. It has been a disappointing season for the Red Bull KTM rider, but things have started looking up. He led some of the race in Harrismith recently, and plans to bring his best to Terra Topia: “I had the speed to run up front, but I let myself down by not spending enough time on the bike. So I’m really excited to step it up a notch at this last race.”

Although he has had a season of ups and downs, he’s still sitting in a comfortable sixth place for the season. There’s also a much bigger Dakar picture that the rider has set his focus on: “Racing has really helped me for Offroad Nationals and has also been a pretty good step in the right direction for the 15 month plan for Dakar 2019,” said Ross.

‘Fist full of bits!’

Well I’ve had 1,500km of pleasure and madness with my Super Duke now and things just get better all the time. The quick-shifter is becoming smoother in its operation and I’m enjoying how refined and civilized this bike can be whilst cruising around town. Sure it’s mind blowing when let loose but the ’gentle’ nature of this monster engine makes it a very practical commuter, until someone comes alongside and then the ‘devil’ returns! I can’t tell you how many expensive fast cars with loud exhausts I’ve passed on the back wheel – so I won’t! Tremendous, childish and unsurpassed arrogant fun though and worth every bit of the R215,000 the bike costs.

So the bike isn’t cheap and it certainly isn’t now, even more so. Riaan Neveling (marketing boss and madman himself from KTMSA), has let me loose with the official KTM PowerParts catalogue and here’s some of the delicious parts we’ve fitted with the assistance of www.radmoto.co.za. All of these parts can be ordered from any KTM dealer throughout South Africa so get spending.

So what have you ‘lobbed’ on you ask and are they really necessary? Well they’re not really, besides the new gorgeous seat, but do they look cool or what? The seat is definitely more comfortable with special and posh internal foam/gel and a grippy cover, which is needed with this type of dramatic acceleration. Highly recommended and not too expensive, but then you’ll need the matching seat cowl to improve the rear lines of the bike won’t you?

Two carbon/Kevlar engine covers are now on each side (clutch and ignition) and finally, for now, check out the genuine Akrapovic front mudguard (yes, it is made by them). Yes I know it’s not needed but I just love telling people who made it and the quality is like something Bentley would use, so there.

Next time around the full Akrapovic exhaust will be here, like the one on the race bike I rode in Qatar – so excited about that. I’ll dyno the bike as well, before and after. But for now here’s the pricing of the parts we’ve just fitted.

Sir William.

Carbon Akrapovic front mudguard: R4,290

Carbon/Kevlar clutch cover: R1,995

Carbon/Kevlar ignition cover R2,135

Posh seat: R2,280

Seat cowl: R2,280

Go to www.ktm.co.za to locate your closest dealer for a test ride and parts ordering.