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Ktm Super Duke 1290 Gt

Discussion in 'Other Bikes' started by Mac, Jun 21, 2019.

  1. Just got back from testing a 1290 GT for 4 hours. What a thing of beauty! Feels like a big V-twin version of an S1000RR but with more rider room and a not quite so aggressively sporty riding position. Goes like stink, the up and down auto blipper was great. I'd underestimated how much difference this would make to my slightly arthritic clutch hand. No pain at all after 4 hours of riding. The TFT screen was big and easy to read and use. 2 little cubby holes in the fairing with phone chargers inside. Adjustable screen (untested because of good weather, but supposed to be very good for its smallish size - I've no reason to doubt this but would want to test this in the wet before I bought one). It sounds great with the standard can. The basic seat was more comfortable than the 'comfort' seat on my 1290SA, mainly due to it being a wide sports type. The tank was nice and wide at the crotch, like an R1. I didn't go anywhere under heavy braking and could free up the weight from my arms very easily. Quality of parts looked very good, if not excellent. Pirelli Angel GT tyres which I'd not ridden on before - I was surprised how nice they felt.

    In short, I've never felt more connected to a bike in my whole biking life. It really felt like an extension of my body - it just did exactly what I expected, when I demanded it. I didn't have to separate my mind from the road to the bike - I could just focus on the road.

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    #1 Mac, Jun 21, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
    • Like Like x 2
  2. I did 6k on the original 1290 gt. Fitted comfort seats.

    Test ride of 3 hours thought it was great...

    Long term test a week away to Dolomites revealed a lot:
    Front suspension could not be set up for light rider at 13.5 stone. Hitting a bump mid corner would really push the bike off line. New version is supposed to be sorted. Nobody would touch the suspension to rebuild it, tried many supposed specialists.
    Quick shifter (up only) was very poor, several false neutrals mid flight!
    Comfort...terrible. Seat pushed you up to the tank, it dug in to back of legs. These things only show after a day or two in saddle.
    Handling on smooth roads very good but when pushed it start to chew through back tyres.
    Standard screen too small.
    Panniers stupid shape.

    S1r would run circles around it.
    GS superior on bumpy roads by a big margin.

    Not sure how improved the new version is, engine whilst powerful doesn’t match the S1 imo.
     
  3. FFS I clicked on the play tab :):) is a picture or is just my computer playing up?
    Nice review and bike
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. I traded my Multistrada in for an SDR - it was a close call, though, between it and the GT.
    I test rode the current and previous models and found the current one much better than the previous (suspension mainly).
     
  5. Sorry, I couldn't get the exhaust noise video to load.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
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