Specs & analysis
KTM 1290 Super Duke R 2021: price, specs, top speed and a rider’s verdict
KTM’s open-class naked for 2021, in MotoSutra’s own words from May 2021: the redesigned LC8 V-twin with ram air and showerhead injectors, the chassis and electronics list, and why the abandoned RC8 project is the reason this bike exists.
Editor & Publisher
This is MotoSutra’s own 2021 write-up of the KTM 1290 Super Duke R, reproduced from an archived copy of the original page. It is a specification-and-price guide written in 2021, not a current review, and it predates the testing and pricing method this site uses now: the India price below was an estimate made before launch, the mileage and weight figures are the article’s own, and the page carries no MotoSutra rating because the original never had one.
KTM 1290 Super Duke R 2021 — overview
KTM’s 2021 1290 Super Duke R is the KTM high-performance, open-class naked bike. A couple of years ago KTM used to focus on the sportbike segment with its RC8 and then the RC8R project. They abandoned that after a few years.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t close to being competitive in the superbike class, so KTM went in a different direction instead of focusing on sportbikes. They went to focus on the naked class, street-fighter sportbikes. And that brings us to the 2021 Super Duke R.
It’s crazy to think, but KTM has been making these Duke street bikes for 27 years. 2021 is the 27th anniversary of KTM’s Duke street bikes, and this 1290 Super Duke R is just an evolution of that concept.
Specification
For 2021 KTM has made a lot of changes to this motorcycle. Let’s get right into the engine.
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Power | 180hp |
| Torque | 140Nm |
| Design | 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, V 75° |
| Displacement | 1301cc |
| Bore | 108mm |
| Stroke | 71mm |
| Power in kW | 132kW |
| Starter | Electric starter |
| Lubrication | Forced oil lubrication with 3 oil pumps |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Clutch | PASC slipper clutch, hydraulically actuated |
| EMS | Keihin EMS with RBW and cruise control, double ignition |
| CO2 emissions | 130 |
| Fuel consumption | 5.57 |
KTM has been making these LC8 V-twins for over a decade, and I like how they keep evolving the engine. It now includes an all-new air intake system — the airbox has been redesigned and now incorporates ram air to keep that airbox loaded with air. It also adds a set of showerhead fuel injectors. Showerhead fuel injectors complement the primary fuel injectors and give the engine more fuel at higher rpm.
Price in India
The article stated that the KTM 1290 Super Duke R would be launching in India around June 2021 at an estimated price of ₹12–15 lakh. That was a pre-launch forecast written in May 2021, not a quotation, and it has not been updated since.
Mileage
The original gave a single figure: 12kmpl.
Chassis
| Frame and running gear | |
|---|---|
| Frame design | Chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame, powder-coated |
| Front suspension | WP USD Ø48mm |
| Rear suspension | WP mono-shock |
| Suspension travel (front) | 125mm |
| Suspension travel (rear) | 156mm |
| Front brake | 2 × Brembo monoblock four-piston radial fixed calipers, floating discs |
| Rear brake | Brembo twin-piston fixed caliper, disc |
| Front disc diameter | 320mm |
| Rear disc diameter | 240mm |
| ABS | Two-channel Bosch 9.1 MP, incl. cornering ABS and disengageable supermoto mode |
| Chain | 525 X-Ring |
| Steering head angle | 65.1° |
| Wheelbase | 1482 ± 15mm |
| Ground clearance | 141mm |
| Seat height | 835mm |
| Tank capacity (approx.) | 18l |
| Dry weight | 189kg |
Conclusion
Overall I’m pleased with what KTM has done with this 1290 Super Duke R. It is faster, it’s more fun to ride. The chassis is more compliant, in terms of not only road-holding when you’re getting after it in the corners, but also still delivering a very comfortable feel.
The seat’s wide, the ergonomics are a good balance between sport and comfort. If you’re looking for an open-class naked bike that’s exhilarating and now has the polish and pedigree, this 2021 1290 Super Duke R is something you should consider. You get a whole lot more bike and more value for your money.
A note added in 2026
The ₹12–15 lakh figure above is reproduced because the 2021 article printed it, and it printed it as an estimate made before the bike launched. It is not a price this page is quoting today, and MotoSutra has not re-verified what the Super Duke R actually costs to buy in India now. The specification tables are transcribed from the archived page as published, and carry the same limitation: they have not been checked against KTM’s current published data. The current MotoSutra KTM brand page is /brands/ktm/.
