KTM 1290 Super Duke Evo

[@ErikEmstad]

I've never thought I'd enjoy listening to a full grown man grunt with pleasure for fifteen full minutes

[@leanit5756]

I love the EVO version. Using the "C" switch on there right handlebar (preset to Damping), I constantly toggle back and forth from "Comfort", "Street", and "Sport" as I ride through town with bumpy roads, on the highway, and on twisty backroads. It is terrific. After I am broken in and can use all the engine, I will get my track and performance settings dialed.

[@davesnowpros6785]

You ride with a lot of style Mat. I love watching you throw that ktm about, leaving black lines on those French roads. We ride a lot of similar roads around here, no-one around, lots of space to play.

[@paulantonio740]

Looks cool but have to wonder about long-term reliability.

[@roseysnapper]

Peerless motorcycling journalism once again; you always manage to convey such enthusiasm, wit and charm. Mega!

[@otlndsh]

Fun as the bikes are, KTM as a company is a challenge to deal with long-term - on any continent. Even my dealer constantly shakes their heads when it comes to dealing with corporate.

[@sgtjarrodrayner]

This is the only reason I haven’t bought one in the last decade

[@stewiemac4017]

I've had 6x 1290's and agree completely! they also lie, quite blatantly.

[@maikeldemeyer6894]

@@stewiemac4017 what do you mean with a challenge dealing with them? And lie?

[@alexv5581]

Can you add more context please, this sounds very anecdotal and would like some context. I want to buy a ktm bike.

[@stewiemac4017]

@@maikeldemeyer6894 in the UK they do not want to interface directly with owners who have a challenge, they dump on the dealer, they resist admitting to product weaknesses, again dumping on dealers, in fact blatantly denying there is a weakness. Which is then debunked in online forums, when you find other people experiencing same and having complained to KTM. SDR radiators. 1290 single sided hub bearings. Super Adventure pannier locking mechanism. Gen 2 CanBus/Keyless problems. I have around 90,000 miles experience of them.

[@marksmith8663]

I hope the Evo is that good I’m collecting mine in a couple of days . Only thing worrying it’s something else to go wrong when warranty ends I don’t change my bikes often .

[@regislacomme5238]

Thanx Matt, superb test review , superb machine!!👌

[@drshoots101]

Here in the US the price for the evo is the same as the previous model. $19,599 USD

[@arrow0872]

Great test, beautiful roads, very jealous 😊!

[@markgilgorobat5296]

I really love the way how you review this dream beast of mine. Thanks!

[@mtkoslowski]

This guy couldn’t be bothered to answer or react to anyone’s comments which is why I’m unsubscribing. By the way I also have this exact same bike. I’m happy with it.

[@MC-Racing]

I love your show, but i often find myself watching the two videos the wrong way round.. maybe you guys cold write part one and two in the titles? cheers from Denmark

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

We will keep that in mind Ernst. Thank you for the feedback.

[@howardfreedman4289]

Great review as always. Thanks. I'm about to purchase my last bike. I'm older and will only use 25% of whatever bike I purchase is capable of. I love all the reviews of the superduke, I've watched and viewed all of them. But not a single review has comments that don't dwell on reliability issues and lack of support. With that, I'm going to pass on KTM and "settle" for a Suzuki GSX S1000 which EVERYBODY agrees is a great street naked. I may even be able to tap 30% of it's capabilities. K5 engine reliability speaks tons.

[@hossman8499]

Really the only way to tell the EVO from the R is the plugs on top of the forks, and the EVO has a blue band around the bottom of the fork while the R has a red band.

[@majidalborz8993]

Matt, just love your reviews. Especially when it's of the bike I simply adore and have as my.............. desktop 😢😢. Keep up the great work.

[@peterkoning21]

Knee sliders on your jeans, on the road....optimistic !!

[@villeayras5371]

The SDR is avesome. I do want one. But... Is there any bit on that road where you would be faster on that than on the Duke 890R ? That's the question I'm pondering.

[@fabiena1787]

Is it the point? I ended up thinking that you don’t buy a 1290 because it’s faster than bike x or y. The 890R is very tempting, easier to manage and to exploit… in a word, it’s more… sensible. But you don’t buy a 1290 because it’s sensible. You buy it… just because. It is the opposite of sensible (except maybe for the fuel consumption !) which is the point of motorcycles. Just to be clear: I don’t own one. I went twice for the Super Adventure, just because… actually, I wanted a bigger SMT the first time, and I wanted to ride with my son as a pillion in better conditions the second time (he was 11). Each time, I almost pulled the trigger on the SDR. But the temptation is back, these days. Just because.

[@gjkMN]

Mat, I have an episode idea for you: go into detail on how you find the best driving roads. I feel like its a never ending search for the best driving roads. I use a lot of google maps, curious what your process is. Thanks!

[@dukie1616]

The practice of charging more on top of the overall price tag for unlocking those extra functions is annoying and quite sideways. When I bought my bike it felt like each extra being another bite from a hungry pack of KTM piranhas.

[@Brenton656]

Sneakers and Velcro knee sliders. Right...

[@Dan-56]

Having owned a Gen-1 Super Duke, I “drank the Koolaide” and purchased the new SD-R EVO, (The only version available in the US). When I picked it up and proceeded to set the rear preload for the ride home….the rear suspension controller failed 😳. A week or so later my dealer, who has always been excellent to work with, had the bike delivered to me. 500+ miles later it “threw a code” and went into “limp home mode”🙁, back to the shop it went. Readout was a collection of codes, none making much sense, they were “cleared” and the test ride showed no problems. The bike was once again delivered to me. Exactly 62 miles later, it “threw a code” and went into “limp home” mode.🤨. Sadly to say I decided to “cut my losses” while I still had my sanity, and the dealer worked me an equatable trade on an 890 Duke-R, which I’m glad to say has been trouble free 🤞 and an absolute blast to ride. (Just should have started there I guess😉.)

[@Glorious117]

Do you think this was due to the electronic suspension?

[@nero91]

I wonder if there is something different about the US versions, I hear a lot more bad things about it from the US. And considering there are probably less machines around its quite weird. In Europe she is known as a bit of a diva, but overall quite reliable

[@SteveC-Shaman]

I rode my bike 1000km the first week and then another 1500km in the twistiest roads on the East coast of North America. No issues to report. I'm sorry it worked out for you that way.

[@jonomasonILoveU]

And I thought I was pretty slick with my new Duke390, but this Duke R is a pure beast.

[@ILCapo-mo5jj]

Please, why must you shout whenever the helmet is on? Otherwise, great moto journalism, as always.

[@robertdavis4761]

Love your reviews, Matt!! Question - if you were offered the keys to the Super Duke Evo or the new Speed Triple 1200 RS, which would you take and why??

[@mar-b9e]

It depends on your riding style and your use. The 1290 has more torque and is more brutal. The 1200 RS is softer and sober.

[@KTMoto_pher]

This man its like riding in a rollercoaster 😂

[@Gmac237]

Hi Matt, mega bike and what a beast ! Are tempted to sell the MT09 and trade up ?

[@smgeraldo]

MT09 is such a GREAT bike, not it sure it would be a massive improvement, faster yes, but the MT is so well balanced and capable. Just my 2 pennies worth.

[@paulpartridge2674]

Thanks Matt, a great vlog about a super bike 👍

[@Fastade80]

Top stuff, I’m looking strongly at getting a ktm1290 superduke so all your test information is greatly appreciated 👌🏻

[@kirk9899]

Do you think it is better than the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S?

[@Sanisani9]

It's not

[@corentinalpha4784]

Thank you Matt, great review... or dare I say"mega"? 😊

[@luclemoine5668]

having fun are we... looking at the tires after your ride you hade some impressive lean angles 🤣

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Amazing motorcycle. Definitely the perfect steed for those very, very, long, long rides on unrestricted twisties or at the track (otherwise they're a complete waste of money). Could somebody please explain to me the purpose of having a fairing on a road legal, road biased hyper sports bike? Surely mega bikes like the SD prove you don't actually need one...

[@flatcapcaferacer]

Warp speed nine on the street doesn't seem to be healthy proposition.

[@alfiethefeline3311]

ktm's are always a little bit tiring to ride, they are so fast and so much torque that you try to tame them to get to behave better. my first ktm was 1190 Adveture and then went for gen 1 gt then gen 2 gt they are always a little bit handfull to ride even for the most experince riders.

[@b1gd312]

Had my Gen2 GT two weeks, been out for three rides, I like an engaging ride, third time out wasn't in a great mood and found it very easy to sit and chill on it, not tiring at all

[@mtkoslowski]

Imagine if you could open this machine up on US freeways?

[@GLOBUS_25RU]

👍👍👍

[@jcpr6542]

Best road bike ever ride

[@miguelcosta530]

No weelies?

[@rockyp3917]

117 units on mountain road 😂

[@user-hf8ie8mf3n]

I used to own a couple ktm bikes. I’ve moved on. Nice looking though. 👍🇨🇦🤪

[@dannygernaat9961]

No matter how good it is, i will never buy it. More change things will break down🤣

[@mrkang4080]

Dumb comment. Let me guess, you prefer carbureted bikes?

[@dannygernaat9961]

@@mrkang4080 you have any experience with KTM? It are great bikes, but the electronics aren't the best

[@RobertKehl]

Apparently you haven’t road one. I had four of the SDR. Great bikes to own. Any issues are the same issues you would have with any other manufacture. And I’ve had very few. And they we’re all taking care of by the dealers. Btw I’m also a Chevy guy. Lol

[@dannygernaat9961]

@@RobertKehl i still ride KTM, but the Japanese bikes are just better when it comes to reliability. The only thing KTM really rocks is the feeling they give the rider

[@mynameisfrank6519]

I have the same bike in the other color. Front wheel wobbles between 90-115 mph no matter how I set the suspension. I have been told by many people to get an aftermarket steering stabilizer. At this price point that’s ridiculous. Dealer support in the USA sucks. They blame it on ktm. If the tuono wasn’t so dated I would buy another one of those. My wife has the 16 factory and I think it still looks better than the new tuonos. Buy a jap bike! Ktm America get your head out of your a$$.

[@Brenton656]

What an odd combination. Sneakers, jeans and untouched strap on knee sliders. I think it's fair to say they were never touching the bitumen with those and you need to prep less like your going you're going for a run and be more realistic and sensible

[@neilallen460]

Such an unreliable machine. I own a 1290r and the faults are just too many to list. Do not buy!

[@Sanisani9]

1290 is great, buy it 👍🏻

[@stzw613]

blabla,bla

[@hagestad]

Lol just no- not this bike is not faster than racing bikes. Not only its porky in that company its also low on power

[@markjurczyk]

Nicely done my man