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xBhp was born more than 16 years ago and since then we've had a chance to ride or drive hundreds of machines running on two wheels or four wheels, and sometimes even three wheels. We are not done yet, and this list is still growing. In these pages, we take a deep dive in the treasure trove of our ride experiences and bring you all that we have ridden or driven.

KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo :: Tamest among the Angriest

1,350CC 190BHP 145NM

KTM has just launched some of its big bikes in India. The portfolio includes the KTM 1390 Super Duke R which sits at the top of the food chain in KTM’s stable. Not long before that, I rode one in Germany during the #xBhpPowerTour 2024. It may have been a coincidence but it does give me another perspective from which I can talk about this motorcycle. Also, I rode the 1390 Super Duke R Evo which gets the semi-active suspension. This is also the 30 Years of Duke Special Edition which means it has a badge denoting that. With all that out of the way, let us launch off the line! 

When KTM first came to India, the RC and Duke range revolutionised performance motorcycling. KTM makes manic motorcycles, and we loved the Duke and the RC for that. But another key factor in their success was their partnership with Bajaj. Because of that, they were able to price the motorcycles aggressively. With the performance on offer at the asking price, saying they sold well is putting it mildly! 

The Super Duke is the king of KTM Dukes. We had to wait a while for it to make it to our shores but now that it is finally here, let us see what it is all about. For context, I have ridden the 1290 Super Duke and it was something. Things have changed a little with the 1390 Super Duke R, so I will also be talking in a comparative context.

I will start with the looks and the KTM 1390 Super Duke R looks smashing. When it comes to design being influenced by the intent, the Dukes are prime examples. The 1390 Super Duke R is meant to be a hooligan and it looks the part. With every design refresh, things have been getting sharper and more in the face than ever. I used to think that the 1290 Super Duke was a radical-looking motorcycle but it does not hold a candle to the simply menacing look of the 1390 Super Duke R. 

If you are a rascal on a motorcycle and want your motorcycle to scream that through its design, the 1390 Super Duke R is the way to go. Moreover, even if you want to pretend to be a hooligan, this motorcycle will do that for you… without actually needing you to be one and that is the department where the Super Duke has grown the most. It has evolved into a more manageable motorcycle but hasn’t lost its wayward ways either… that’s a win for the ages! 

The reason why the Super Duke has always been impressive is that its blueprint is original. It is not a race bike sans the fairing. In that sense, it is a pure streetfighter. It may have lacked two cylinders when compared to other hypernakeds but that has been an advantage for the Super Duke. It means that despite a little less power, it made significantly more torque. Torque is what makes a streetfighter… fun. 

In the ‘fun’ department, the Super Duke has always been numero uno. That though, came at the cost of approachability. The hyperactive Super Duke was not everyone’s cup of tea as it was too wired all the time. This is where the Super Duke 1390 R has changed things up. With a new 1,350cc V-twin, it makes 190 horses and 145 Nm of torque. So it now has power almost on par with other hypernakeds while still retaining the torque advantage. 

Does it make it even more manic and a sensory overload? No. With revisions to electronics and power delivery along with cam-shift technology, KTM has made the 1390 Super Duke R a perfectly approachable motorcycle that you can ride easily. It does drop a hint about what it wants to do now and then but even if you don’t comply, it can live with your pace as well. Yet, wring it a little and when the higher cam profile kicks in, it is mania that surpasses even that of the 1290! 

A testament to Axor’s march forward, the X-Cross is one of the best off-roading helmets we have come across. It is just as ready for the tarmac in the dual-visor trim!

I have found the Dukes to be great handlers ever since I rode the first one and this one is no different. The KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo is sublime. The active suspension is a trickery of the highest order. The way it changes with the surface and the requirements of the riding style is seamless. On bad roads it is compliant but find a winding road and start to push a little and it provides all the support you need. 

Moreover, it weighs just 200 kilos (without fuel) which makes it a very agile motorcycle. The geometry also aids that front bias feel which ensures that the feel and feedback from the front is always there for you to read and react to. With the previous Super Dukes, you were left to the whims of the motorcycle. With the 1390 Super Duke R Evo, you choose what you want to do. That it makes you choose to do some aerial-front-wheel stuff is a different matter. 

I used to believe that the 1290 Super Duke was peak fun. For those who wanted that, it was the best weapon and for those who didn’t, it was usually a handful. The KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo surpasses the 1290 Super Duke in that regard but without being so unforgiving. It is now a benevolent demon… if there’s such a thing as one.