Captain Bill here, aboard KTM’s mental space ship that’s supposedly designed to be their ultimate touring bike, yeah right! I don’t mean that horribly though, far from it, but if I was in some sort of perverted sci-fi blockbuster tripping (?) between solar systems on a motorcycle then the 1290 Super Duke GT is the only choice. One problem I can foresee is appropriate space clothing to isolate me from the elements, or the lack of them to be precise – so KTM over to you regarding that one.
Space travel fantasies aside the reason for my Interstellar relationship with the 1290 Super Duke GT is it’s so damn fast that I can’t believe KTM call this a ‘touring’ motorcycle. Isn’t the touring aspect of motorcycling supposed to be chilled and laid-back as you absorb the beautiful scenery on your chosen route, perhaps with a companion sitting behind to reminisce with afterwards over a glass of Romulan ale (Star Trek fans will know what that is?). Don’t get me wrong, we all know that a motorbike goes only as fast as the throttle goes around but when the throttle ‘goes around’ on this space monster, warp speeds and the next planet become an addictive reality.
So why is a touring bike this fast you ask? Well, quite simply it’s this startling LC-8, 75-degree, V-twin found inside their awesome 1290 Super Duke, with a few changes as it was transported into the GT option, as if it needed that! It’s still has the same capacity, 1301cc, but the cylinder heads are revised for better combustion and, the valve-timing is changed for better mid-range plus the fuel mapping is modified for smoother power delivery. The end result is a claimed 173hp and 144Nm @ 6,750rpm with a healthy 114Nm@3,250rpm, er, powerful then or what? That giant motor will then propel the rider to a claimed 280km/h (warp factor two) and a low 11-second quarter-mile time; see where I’m coming from now regarding interplanetary travel times.
Now all decent space ships have to have a flashing control panel with many electronic gadgets to stop you getting bored as the light years flash by and the 1290 Super Duke GT has possibly the biggest bag of electronics in the business, so if you like ‘fiddling’ you’ll love this. By using the very interactive instrument panel and big switchgear units you’ll discover a multitude of things like – traction control, Bosch cornering ABS, tyre pressure monitors, cruise control, heated grips, MSC (motorcycle stability control), which is ‘lean angle sensitive’ to hopefully stop you crashing after a big handful at the wrong time, LED cornering lights and of course the revised WP suspension semi-active suspension modes and probably more but I stopped reading after my brain overloaded with all this input. There’s also an optional ‘Hill-hold’ that stops you rolling back down a hill if you have no idea how to control the throttle and brake in such a situation, which is a bit silly if you ask me, but 2016 riders seem to adore more and more in sometimes unnecessary rider aides, so who am I to flick a finger. 
I don’t really want to waffle on about my preferred chosen settings because I just left the bike in full power mode with sporty suspension settings and left it at that but as you can see there’s a lot to play with and then some. One thing that most certainly didn’t need to be played with are those dramatic Brembo Monoloc calipers and matching 320mm discs. Basically, if you’re being pulled towards the intimidating and frightening gravitational forces of a black hole these will prevent you entering, enough said there.
Seeing as the 1290 GT is a tourer it obviously has to be more comfortable than the naked Super Duke it was spawned from. So, it has an adjustable new windscreen, wider and softer seat for both rider and pillion and higher ‘bars (5mm), which could be a bit higher in my mind because the GT does throw you forward onto the front end at low speeds but once you’re above legal speeds they work fine. Also, due to the nature of this engine, at the legal highway limit, it did feel that the gearing was a bit too tall and I found that fifth gear suited the bike better around the 120km/h mark so the faster I went the better it felt, in fact the whole bike gelled more as the speeds increased, which is a good or bad thing depending on how you like your adrenalin severed, personally I like it GT style.
To also expand on the touring theme KTM have fitted a bigger 23-litre tank that hangs down in front of you and curves over your legs in a secure manner. If you’re going to ask me about fuel consumption, don’t! 173hp, 228kg fully fueled and ‘Ready to Tour’, 280km/h top speed and one of the most shocking mid-range power deliveries you’ll ever experience – need you ask, or more importantly I didn’t care, but apparently KTM says it’s very good for a bike like this, er, OK dudes in orange, whatever.
So the Austrian orange guys have made one mental tourer here, without doubt the most exciting and intense bike in this class and if you enjoy traveling quickly, very, you’ll appreciate what KTM has achieved, I used to have a 990 SMT, which was also a wild thing in a ‘mere’ 115hp package. Interestingly KTM say there’s no connection between the two but I disagree, this is the ‘Star Ship’ version of that no matter what they say. I do think the SMT was a more attractive machine and the GT is open to discussion on its looks, some love it, some hate, I’m stuck in the middle here depending what angle I’m looking from, and you?
At R230,000 you get one of the most advanced and technologically brilliant motorcycles built to date but if you enjoy touring Harley-Davidson style, stay away from this bike. However, if you want to blast around the Universe evading evil beings and visiting unknown planets, very quickly, the 1290 Super Duke GT is the ultimate choice Captain.
Go to www.ktm.com for more technical information and to locate your closest dealer.
Also go to www.radmoto.co.za to book a test ride.
