2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT | First Ride | Review

To enable German Subtitles, click "settings" then click "Subtitles/CC" then click "German". Enjoy.
If you would like to take this specific bike for a test ride, contact:
Motorrad Huneke: ktm.motorrad-huneke.de/

[@olafrostvei]

Two tumbles up for your reviews in total .👍👍Love when you describing the personality of the bikes.

[@NothingToProve]

Thanks Kjetil, yea, some brands have a personality and when they do I try to listen to what they say. :)

[@rdrg7362]

This is the best detailed review and shots on the 1290 SD GT made. Thanks!

[@nolanstokes632]

Terrific review. Thanks for taking the time to time to post this. You answered ALL my questions - even ones I didn't know I had. Love the beer analogy; really resonates with me. Very nice comparison with the R. GT is "older, more mature, more refined". Excellent review.

[@kesslersto.domingo4762]

I'm from Philippines and I really like your review! Very simple yet handful. God Bless!

[@t595nige]

Superb in depth review and that scenery is fantastic,thanks.

[@Ctaff63]

Excellent review. Being from uk and after living in Germany for 12 years ,your video brought back lot great memories ,especially out riding on wknds , great country. I’m looking at possibly buying 1290GT, your video has been very helpful and being over 50 I like refined ,even better when it’s a refined part time hooligan 👍 and long distance blaster. Great vid, take care 👍😊🇬🇧

[@troppo4872]

Great review, thanks. I have a 19 SD GT, after 5 Beemers. Fantastic!

[@ferociousfrankie]

Curious how your GT is going? Any issues? I'm looking at a 2020 for around $18K.

[@rogerwilliams2902]

Excellent review, many thanks.

[@michaelcohen6272]

Really like your reviews! you may of just convinced me to buy the GT over the R

[@noizychild]

Test rode the super adventure s. very nice. I think I'm going to test this one next.

[@Brad-RB]

If KTM upgrades the display and adds a GPS I’m going to buy one of these. Nice review btw.

[@NothingToProve]

Yea, I already told my wife that. I will trade in my 2015 Super Duke R for this. All she said was...hmmm...btw, KTM will put a TFT on this for 2019. GPS, don't think so. But that is enough for me to say, "bye bye Super Duke R and hello GT"

[@srtspeedy4983]

Great Review.

[@Richard1976]

How is legroom and comfort when you're 2 meters?

[@Aro46]

Hi How about comparing the SD GT 18 and the Yamaha MT10. Which one will be better for fast tourism? I'm looking for a gt and mt10 touring and I don't know which will be better. Please give me a hint. Regards

[@DrStephenVerdon]

Best 'R vs GT' Video out there . Thank you... Q. How did you Shield the Seat from the Heat of the Engine.? It's a Pain in the Arrs after about an hour. Tried the Aluminum Heat 'Roofing' Insulation but that didn't work. Love the Bike but definitely not the Engine Heating up the Seat...

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you Stephen, I live in northern Germany and the climate is not hot enough to have an affect like that for me on my SDR. So I have not had to do any thing like that...yet. Thanks again, take care, Scott

[@DrStephenVerdon]

@@NothingToProve Thoroughly Enjoy your Videos. Best perspective out there. You're missing your Calling my Friend. BiG Kudos!

[@STF_YVR]

Have you a solution to the heat issue ? I live in a tropical country and the only thing stopping me from getting this bike is this.

[@nicolarious]

Hi! How is the leg room/ knee bend for a person at 190 cm on this bike? Would it be to cramped for long trips? By the way, you have one of the best motorcycle channel out there! Keep up the good work! Love your reviews 👍👍👍

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you! Well, I am 176 cm tall and have an inseam of 32 inch. It fits me perfect. But I have talked to taller guys, more like your height, and they say it's still ok for them but it really depends on the length of your legs. Ride safe, Scott

[@nicolarious]

thanks for your reply 👍👌

[@stephenpatton8690]

Awesome video, sir! What kind of helmet is that?

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you Stephen, the helmet is a Schubert R2. I picked it up this last spring because this is one of the two helmets that Schubert has pre-installed mics (2 of them) and speakers and all one has to do is buy the communication system, SC1. I also got it cause it is one of the quietest full face helmets on the market, well the Schubert C4 is number 1 but this is close behind it. I like my hearing just the way it is and I don't like ear plugs. Well on trips/long rides I still wear ear plugs but for every day (short) riding and reviews no ear plugs.

[@mickshere9642]

I loved your review.. and I have a 2017! Im currently thinking of replacing it with a 2019 GT although Im not sure why bother with the upgrade, the 19 has up and down quickshifter which Im not really bothered about to be honest, Im told the pockets in the fairing are not much use apparently and the extra couple of bhp frankly is probably not noticeable and since the free flash update it is a lot more manageable, my other option is the kawasaki 1000H2SX SE (for the touring ability) So I could keep mine and spend the money saved on a small runaround, stay with mine, upgrade to the 2019 or spend on the kwak 1000H2SX SE, could I ask your opinion?

[@NothingToProve]

Agreed, it is not worth trading up yet. The lower down torque is noticeable though but again not enough to warrant a trade. Also the electronic suspension was updated on the 2019 but that you can fix with an update from the dealer (just makes the damping adjustments 3x faster, hence better). On a side note: the 2018 GT that I rode last year is the only bike that I'd trade my 2015 Super Duke R for and I've ridden over 70 different bikes in the last year and a half for my channel. Now that's saying something about how good the GT is, now don't get me wrong I can nitpick it but it does everything well and does it with a smile and makes you smile too. Keep your 2017! It's a great bike. If I had a 2017 GT I'd just do the suspension update and keep the bike for a long time. :) I have over 22k on my SDR and it still brings a smile to my face every time I ride it.AND that is the point. AND KTM gets it. Ride safe, Scott P.S. This is the edit part: I can't give you advice on the H2SX, since I've not ridden one, not even the plain SX so sorry :(

[@mickshere9642]

@@NothingToProve many thanks for the words of reason, Im sure the itchy wheels feeling will pass every time I ride it ;-)

[@mkmahooo9722]

micks here have you traded it in with a H2SX SE. I am torn between them both and would really like to know.

[@Jambome]

@@mkmahooo9722 If you're still looking for answer you might want to join the FB page for the superduke GT if you're not there yet. There was such discussion and the majority we're in favor of the H2sx for your kind of touring

[@colinbell6461]

Those lean angle side lights; can you wire them up to stay on fully with the head light?

[@NothingToProve]

Umm...I have no clue.

[@jakeizlove]

Did you trade up to the 2019 with TFT screen? I don't know if they made enough changes to justify the price difference between a 2019 and NOS 2018 or 2017.

[@NothingToProve]

I have not even seen the 2019 GT in person yet, as soon as a demo get's to the dealership I'll be on one doing a video...hopefully soon.

[@jakeizlove]

@@NothingToProve I can't find either year locally for a test ride. My last bike was an R9T, which looked a undersized for a 6'2" rider and ridiculous (5'10" passenger) two-up. Footpeg position is different, also. The bikes within 150 miles (NOS 2017/2018 and new 2019) have zero miles and aren't being made available for test rides.

[@annthomas4889]

I live in South Texas and I've found the bike to run very hot. Almost to the comparison of a Ducati. Have you heard of modifications that have been successful in removing and or decreasing the engine heat felt by the rider? I love the ergos especially the bars...great bend, height, and width vs my bike. The complaints I had were- 1, Strong throttle return spring; 2, vibrating mirrors-difficult to use below 5500 rpm; 3, engine heat; 4, engine much smoother above 6000 rpm, generally not happy below 3000 rpm. The power and ergos are the best!! Current bike-2016 R1200R, remus can. Very well organized, executed vid!

[@NothingToProve]

Hi Ann, thanks for the compliment! South Texas, hmm....heat will always be an issue there :) You need to move to a cooler climate...LOL! Although, you can ride year round, I can here in Germany, wellI have to bundle up like the Michelin man in the winter, which then it's just not as fun riding. You are currently riding the R1200R, that motor is one of the most refined/developed/smooth...etc. motors in a motorcycle today, it is very very hard to beat. Now KTM's 1301cc motor came out in 2014 and some smaller iterations for a few years before, whereas the Boxer 1200, well let's just say has been around in one form or another for several decades. So it's like comparing an old leather glove that fits like a dream to a new stiff one that is not broken in yet. So, yes I agree with all your comments above, if you want a new glove you have to accept the "newness" of it so to speak. Just fyi, I will most likely trade in my 2015 KTM 1290 Super Duke R for this next year (2019 model) cause it will get the TFT display that the 390, 790, 1290's already have. So wait for the 2019 GT if you can.

[@NothingToProve]

Sorry, I didn't answer your heat question. No, I have not seen or heard of any mods that one can do on an R or GT for that.

[@superduty131]

@@NothingToProve , sorry to disagree however a cat delete exhaust system plus a few frame block off plates are available that will help with the heat issue. remapping to a richer (cooler ) fuel map will also help. Rottwieler offers several kits.

[@NothingToProve]

Hi Scott, no problem cause I said that "I have not seen or heard of any mods", doesn't mean that there aren't any out there. Also, yes you can take the cat off and mess with the fueling but over here in Europe that is illegal and that would not pass annual inspection. So only the frame block off plates would work in most European countries.

[@mrtruthshallprevail]

Ann Thomas keep the Bmw if you can ??

[@masterspin7796]

Nice review..

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you MasterSpin!

[@andreipop8313]

How do you find the wind protection compared to the BMW R 1250 RS?

[@NothingToProve]

Hi Andrei, the GT has a little bit more imho. Ride safe, Scott

[@andreipop8313]

@@NothingToProve Thank you. I recently had the opportunity to ride the 1250 RS but the seat position is not as good as on my previous bike (GS). I am 1.74 cm and for the KTM I am worried about the seat height and position. What do you think? Thank you.

[@NothingToProve]

The GT fit me perfectly, I'm 1.76 cm and I can flat foot is with my knees slightly bent. Everything on that bike just fit me like a custom made suit. I will get one, it's just a matter of money and time, next year I hope. Take care, Scott

[@rosi6903]

Nice👍

[@MrTejnat57]

Between the gt and the 790 that you reviewed lately which would you pick for long distance fast pace touring?

[@NothingToProve]

The GT wins in fast pace touring. The only time the 790 beats the GT is on a track day, then I'd go for the 790.

[@MrTejnat57]

Ok thanks for the insights

[@DaRuler66]

still an ugly looking bike