The highly anticipated KTM 1290 Super Duke R is expected to be unveiled on September 29, following which the launch is most likely to be scheduled at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy, starting from November 5. Interestingly, the Austrian manufacturer is putting in a lot of efforts in the promotion of its upcoming offering. It has launched a dedicated website of this superbike wherein a countdown metre reflects the time left for the unveiling of KTM 1290.
Bike enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for this latest KTM two wheeler since the time prototype was broadcast on the Internet. The company has also released a teaser video of this bike as a part of its pre-launch advertising campaign; however, the pictures of the exact look of KTM 1290 were leaked out in July itself. So, basically almost everyone has an idea of how the bike would look. It was later reported that the designs were leaked by Kiska Design agency, the designing company that works with KTM during a pre-launch preview.
Not much of a difference is observed between the final product and the concept shown at the 2012 EICMA Motor Show, except for the exhaust and the headlamps. It will be equipped with a 1290 cc liquid-cooled V-Twin, 8-valve, ride-by-wire powertrain which would belt out around 180 bhp of maximum power. Along with, RC8R, which is currently being showcased at KTM showrooms, is equipped with the same engine as well. It will have additional features like Anti-lock Braking System and traction control that can be deactivated. It comes with a chrome-molybdenum steel tubular frame and light-alloy single-sided swingarm and light-alloy wheels with slicks. Suspension components include WP prototypes – upside-down fork with gas pressure cartridge and directly connected shock absorber.
KTM Sport motorcycle happens to be an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer. The firm was founded in 1934 by an engineer named Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen, Austria and started out as a metal working shop. Later on, in 1954, KTM started producing motorcycles. It was mostly famous for its off road bikes, however, in the recent past it has also started coming up with street motorbike production. In 2008, KTM and Bajaj started off with a joint venture and came out with Duke 200 and Duke 390. Duke 390, that was recently launched, has been receiving positive response from the customers. However, the domestic buyers will have to probably wait for some more time before KTM 1290 gets a place in the local showrooms. It is speculated that the Super Duke R would be priced somewhere around Rs. 10 lakh.
