Motorcycle Mojo – September 2019

34 MOTORCYCLE MOJO SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

A New Visual Identity

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bikes is visual. Just looking at them

both side by side as you walk toward

them, it’s evident that the new model’s

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given the 2019 GT more presence, as

well as a greater sense of substance than

before. The new, shapelier windscreen

is also quite a bit more protective at

speed than the older model’s and is

safely adjustable with one hand while

on the go and through nine positions

over a range of 50 mm. Despite the

extra protection the windscreen

gives when raised to the max on fast

stretches, it doesn’t drum at higher

speeds. Cruising at 160 km/h with the

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surprisingly relaxing for a neo-naked

sports tourer offering excellent protec-

tion, very little residual wind blast and

no excessive noise.

The 2019 GT’s redesigned front end

also features wider and more protective

side pods for the unchanged 23-litre

fuel tank. These pods contain a pair of

storage compartments to hold stuff,

such as freeway toll tickets and the

credit cards to pay them, quite apart

from the key for the bike, which for the

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remote system. You don’t even need a

key to unlock the fuel tank, so you use

the key only for the lockable panniers.

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compartment for recharging your

phone, etc. – although be warned: there

isn’t room for larger such devices.

The GT’s facelift also features a

new and quite distinctive headlight

comprising six forward-facing ultra-

bright LEDs within a central aluminum

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daytime running lights and incorporate

self-cancelling indicators. The three-

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lights are mounted within the fuel tank

spoiler; these lights are linked to the

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TEST RIDE 2019 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT

Thirty-litre side cases are large enough to hold

a full-face helmet each.

Rear subframe has been

reinforced to allow you

to haul a bigger payload

and more comfortably

carry a passenger and

optional panniers.

The powerplant, taking the

engine from Super Duke R

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Beast), produces 173 hp

and 104 ft-lb of torque.

Large 23-litre

fuel tank should

get around

400 km between

gas stations.

Handlebar is

adjustable in

four position

increments over

a range of 22 mm.

Heated grips

are standard

equipment.

Newly designed nine-position

windscreen offers added

protection and can be adjusted

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Up to three LED

cornering lights

are activated

by lean-angle

sensors. The

greater the lean

angle, the more

light you get in

the corner.

WP semi-active

suspension is

easily adjustable

via a button

on the left

switchgear, which

takes care of road

irregularities in

real time.

Dual Brembo radially mounted calipers

squeeze 320 mm discs that effectively

and quickly slow the bike when travelling

at speed. ABS settings even have a

supermoto mode for when you feel the

need to back it in.

KTM claims the Super

Duke GT’s single-sided

swingarm is the lightest

in the bike’s class and

produces less unsprung

weight than the GT’s peers.