Farewell my friend!
By the time you’re reading this you’ll probably be looking forward to many gifts and, stuffing your face in a festive frenzy of drinking and gorging. All well and good and enjoy yourselves but my Christmas will be a little sad, why?
Well my Super Duke 1290R has been returned to KTMSA because they have a new owner for it after five months of ‘ownership’ my side. All good things come to an end, right?
KTMSA used the bike for spares during the recent 24-hour race in which their team came second. Only because some knob went too fast and broke out of the allocated time bracket and received a two-lap penalty, otherwise they’d have won. Showing the 160hp (rear wheel dyno hp), Beast can always brighten your day on the road then easily be ridden to any racetrack and win races, what a machine!
Sure it’s not for all riders but if you are a person who wants the ultimate in insanity with a touch of civility there’s only one choice of motorcycle and this is it. So if you’re thinking of buying one and, more importantly, know what you’re buying, you’ll never be disappointed believe me.
I’ll always remember the noise from the exhaust, mental styling and of course the unnecessary and totally necessary wheelie fests (sob). Anyway this bike just makes you feel mean, if you know what I mean?
So now what you ask? Well it looks like a few weeks of Monopoly board games and mince pies instead, as I look forward to the all- new 790 Duke for 2018. I’ll be hoping to resume my pleasurable experiences with KTM’s naked bikes on one of those next year, so all isn’t so bad after all.
Cheers folks, Sir William of Nottingham (www.billysbikes.co.za).
Go to www.ktm.co.za to find your local dealer and stuff your bike, or a new one, with all these tasty parts.
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
Galfer/KTM wave discs: R7,424 (for a pair)
Brake/clutch protectors: R1,978 (for both)
Total: R58,192
