To the delight of the mischievous, KTM releases the new Super Duke 1390 R

The legendary KTM brand is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Naked Duke line with the all-new 1390 Super Duke R series producing 187.4 hp, powered by a furious 1350 cc engine.

The newcomer duo will be available from January in standard and Evo versions with semi-active electronic suspension. It will replace the 1301cc 1290 Super Duke selection that first appeared 11 years ago as a prototype and then as three generations of the Super Naked.

Side profile similar to the old 1290. The new motorcycles get updated LED headlight designs similar to the recently launched 990 Duke. There are also thin fenders that drop below the shoulders of the larger 17.5-litre fuel tank, and a set of new 17-inch Michelin Power GP rims that are 1.2kg lighter than previous ones.

The new engine has more power thanks to an increased bore diameter to 110 mm (from 108 mm). There's also a new “cam shift” variable valve timing system that provides a wider distribution of power and torque across the rev range.

Located in the cylinder heads, cam shift settings allow you to activate two different valve lifts depending on where you are in the rev range. This makes the 1390 more productive than its predecessor and complies with the environmental format of Euro 5+ rules.

The developers claim that, along with increased performance, they have achieved durability and better serviceability checking valve clearances is now only needed after 60,000 km of driving.

“We really focused on the usability and durability of the engine, making small changes and increasing tolerances. We have also updated the instrument panel to reduce water penetration, which will be a good addition for regions with rain activity,” said product manager Florian Braatz.

Both variants get responsive electronic aids controlled via a five-inch TFT glass unit that also contains a USB-C charging port. The full-color display provides information on speed, rpm and tire pressure, and also helps you switch between riding modes.

As standard, the bike owner will receive “Rain”, “Street” and “Sport” modes, while “Performance” and “Track” are available as additional options.. Power is rated at 128.2 hp and options are getting more and more aggressive.

Settings can be selected using the TFT panel. Five damping modes come standard, with Track and Pro options available in the optional paid Suspension Pro package.

The selection uses photos and videos of KTM