2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT Assessment [13 Fast Facts]

The 2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT is completely different. It’s completely different in some ways, however above all else, the sport side of this sport-tourer shines brighter than most. Coming from the Prepared To Race model, that could be as stunning as a revelation as water being moist or the sky blue. As such, the Tremendous Duke GT borrows a lot from its brother, affectionately known as The Beast, in any other case often known as the 1290 Tremendous Duke R. To that finish, its mighty 1301cc V-twin and eye-opening efficiency figures propel it to heights that make supersport-touring a extra becoming title.

Let’s not get forward of ourselves and paint the 1290 Tremendous Duke GT as a one-trick pony. Nay, KTM’s machine provides highway riders the flexibility to don accent baggage, rack up the miles, or tear up canyon roads with their knee-dragging buddies all the identical—a mission assertion set in stone at its introduction in 2016. After a short hiatus, the SDGT returns to the US, bringing Euro 5 compliance updates to its LC8 V-twin, a brand new seven-inch TFT show, and lighter wheels to grab the headlines.

We bought to know the 2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT, a bike that makes commute slogs way more entertaining than regular, tackles canyon twisties, and even works as a high-powered grocery-getter—a testomony to what’s in retailer.

1. A beast at coronary heart—the 1301cc LC8 is a powerhouse from begin to end. There’s genius in taking an unhinged tremendous bare bike and making it the premise in your sport-tourer. Sportbike followers will likely be pitching tents outdoors sellers when confronted with 175 horsepower at 9750 rpm and 104 ft-lbs of torque at 7000 rpm, with the vast majority of huge low-end delivered a sniff off the road. Mighty as it’s, KTM has retrained The Beast’s sibling with model-specific tuning to make use of its crayons as an alternative of merely consuming them to paint a marble-slap-flat torque curve. Thankfully, its fangs aren’t dulled, and a great grip twist is sufficient to unleash ferocity laying beneath a sport-touring veneer, one that may simply loft the entrance wheel skyward. Vanilla, this isn’t, and the one draw back is that this creature runs hot-blooded.

2. A spacious gearbox leans into the torque curve eloquently. The R and, subsequently, the GT, function lengthy gearing, making settling right into a rhythm with the engine comparatively simple. Consequently, the well-programmed non-compulsory up/down quickshifter doesn’t get an excessive amount of of a exercise. Riders can flick their wrists, relying upon brawny low-end and large midrange to scoot them round properly. Sixth gear is so tall that the mill barely turns 4k rpm at freeway speeds, highlighting it as a real overdrive cog. There’s a flip facet to all this, as it could possibly get just a little clattery at ultra-low rpm.

3. The Tech Pack on the 2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT we examined unlocks quite a few important options. The $860 Tech Pack offers a plethora of options, which consists of the Observe Pack—superior traction management, Observe and Efficiency experience mode, ABS, wheelie management adjustment, and launch management—and provides the quickshifter, engine braking administration (Motor Slip Regulation), and touring-oriented hill maintain management. Seeing because the SDGT rests on the higher echelon of sport-touring machines, it’s disappointing that KTM continues to cost additional for options which might be commonplace on not its principal rivals, such because the Kawasaki H2 SX SE+ and Ducati Multistrada V4 RS, in addition to different bikes effectively beneath this value vary.

4. 5 using modes can be found. Three preset using modes are commonplace—Sport, Road, and Rain. Every adjusts the throttle map and engine efficiency accordingly. Fueling is spot-on in any mode, whereas Sport’s zest is perpetually enticing. Observe and Efficiency modes kick open the doorways, permitting riders to customise TC settings on the fly, choose any of the aforementioned throttle maps, change ABS modes from Highway to Supermoto (as a result of we’ve all needed to back-in our Sport-Touring machines), and permit disabling wheelie management, which is nearly necessary for something bearing the Duke identify. All of these could be fiddled with through the crisp seven-inch TFT show.

5. Talking of rider aids, a lot is right here to maintain the shiny facet up. 9 ranges of TC can be found, letting riders get as rowdy or as buttoned up as they like. We’re all in search of nannies that step in when indispensable, although not a second earlier, which describes what we’ve bought right here—ditto for cornering ABS.

6. Brembo offers braking energy. When coping with Brembo Stylema calipers and a spiffy radial grasp cylinder, you possibly can in all probability guess the place that is going. The brakes provide nice really feel and large stopping energy.

7. The engine braking administration system does its factor whereas backing by the gears and laborious on the binders, aiding the slipper clutch’s quest to forestall rear-wheel locking. Whereas it undoubtedly introduces some inconsistent really feel on the Tremendous Duke R, it’s extra agreeable on this less-pointed utility.

7. WP semi-active suspension works its magic with a couple of button clicks. We’re not attempting to find lap occasions aboard the GT, although I wouldn’t blame anybody for doing a observe day bike on the SDR Evo, which shares related suspenders. Holding issues easy and direct for the typical road rider is an efficient name right here since we’ve three distinct damping modes out there—Sport, Road, and Consolation—bolstered by 4 shock spring-preload settings. Damping-wise, the suspension modes dwell as much as their namesakes. Sport mode permits the GT to scythe by canyon curves confidently, whereas Road soaks up battered metropolis potholes and acts as a contented medium. Consolation takes a comparatively billowy strategy that’s glorious for droning freeway hauls, although it could possibly get just a little free when you’re leaned over.

9. The steel-trellis body abides. KTM’s spicy sport-touring geometry is aligned with its class compatriots and, oddly sufficient, its figures are barely tighter than the 1290 Tremendous Duke R. What’s clearer lately, with Tremendous Duke R/Evo’s even racier aspirations per the final platform replace, is that there are way more distinct personalities in play. The GT doubles down on stability and positive factors your belief on that basis, although it’s no slouch when flicking the 526-pound bike onto the sting of its grippy Continental ContiSportAttack 4 rubber. Aiding in that notion are 2.2 kilos lighter wheels, shaving off treasured unsprung weight and rotational mass, doubtless livening issues up a hair.

10. Tour lengthy, far, and quick—that’s the 2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT mantra. That narrative feeds into the relaxed seating place, which, when you needed to quote the biggest disparity between its supremely bare brother, the SDR, you’d prefer to look no additional than its informal using place. Whereas the 32.9-inch seat top appears a bit lofty on paper, keep in mind that the V-twin packaging is slim; my 32-inch inseam has no concern reaching the deck. Past that, the large handlebar offers all of the leverage you must hustle the SDGT round curves, whereas wind safety is aplenty because of the beefy fairings and adjustable windscreen. After all, all of the touchpoints are adjustable to go well with riders of various sizes, and the brand new backlit switchgear is a good addition.

11. Touring facilities go a good distance in increasing this machine’s scope of labor. Sport is underlined, bolded, and shouted from the heavens, however this GT has practically each creature consolation we’d need for a grand tour. An adjustable windscreen is adopted up by LED cornering headlights, together with a 6.1-gallon gasoline tank. Fortunately, cruise management (not adaptive cruise management), heated grips, handguards, self-canceling flip indicators, and a key fob are all commonplace. New to the social gathering are two discreet storage compartments tucked away inside either side of the fairing; that is the place I stash the fob when using. Nevertheless, one merchandise is curiously lacking from that record of normal tools.

12. Aspect circumstances are an possibility now. GT stands for Grand Tour, so one assumes you’ll be packing your toiletries on an epic journey. Because the prior era boasted baggage as commonplace, we all know KTM agreed—earlier than this 12 months. Making the circumstances non-compulsory retains the SDGT’s MSRP beneath the foreboding 20k mark at $19,799. That’s dandy for the advertising and marketing division, however it’s $825 additional for swish saddlebags. The sturdy KTM PowerParts baggage is rapidly taken on or off. Whereas I couldn’t handle to stuff a medium full-face helmet in there as a consequence of an angular design, there’s room for an extended jaunt or a good grocery bounty. If the OEM baggage don’t tickle your fancy (there are aftermarket GT facet circumstances out there) otherwise you simply need the GT as an excellent day-use sport bike, you gained’t be paying for one thing you gained’t use.

13. The sportier facet of sport-touring is effectively taken care of with the 2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT. KTM isn’t a model identified for its subtlety, and the Tremendous Duke GT completely represents that. Its 1301cc engine is likely one of the legendary mills of our era. With its on-demand torque and very good efficiency, it deserves all of the gushing it will get. After all, we’ve a sporting chassis that’s extremely adaptable and decked out with many touring options, so this Beast variant retains up with the Joneses on the function entrance. Complaints about its efficiency are laborious to come back by, although we will nonetheless increase an eyebrow or wag a finger at should-be-standard digital choices or options that have been as soon as commonplace. Nonetheless, when its efficiency is taken into account, we suspect many house owners will likely be busy lofting their entrance wheels off into the sundown and doing it comfortably.

Motion images by Don Williams
Static images by Nic de Sena and Don Williams

RIDING STYLE

2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT Specs 

ENGINE

Kind: LC8 75-degree V-twin

Displacement: 1301cc

Bore x stroke: 108 x 71mm

Most energy: 175 horsepower @ 9750 rpm

Most torque: 104 ft-lbs @ 7000 rpm

Valvetrain: DOHC, 4vpc

Fueling: Keihin EFI w/ 56mm throttle our bodies

Transmission: Pankl 6-speed w/ non-compulsory quickshifter

Clutch: Hydraulically actuated moist multiplate w/ help and slip capabilities

Last drive: 525 X-ring chain

CHASSIS

Body: Chromoly metal trellis w/ cast-aluminum/composite subframe

Handlebar: Tapered aluminum

Entrance suspension; journey: Absolutely adjustable semi-active WP inverted 48mm fork; 4.9 inches

Rear suspension; journey: Linkage-assisted, absolutely adjustable semi-active WP shock; 6.1 inches

Wheels: Forged aluminum

Entrance wheel: 17 x 3.50

Rear wheel: 17 x 6.00

Tires: Continental ContiSportAttack 4

Entrance tire: 120/70 x 17

Rear tire: 190/55 x 17

Entrance brakes: 320mm discs w/ radially mounted Brembo monobloc 4-piston calipers

Rear brake: 240mm disc w/ Brembo two-piston caliper

ABS: Bosch 9ME Mixed-ABS w/ Supermoto mode

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES

Wheelbase: 58.3 inches

Rake: 24.9 levels

Seat top: 32.8 inches

Gasoline tank capability: 6.1 gallons

Estimated gasoline consumption: 41 mpg

Curb weight: 526 kilos

2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT Worth: $19,799 MSRP ($21,484 as examined w/ facet circumstances and Tech Pack)

2023 KTM 1290 Tremendous Duke GT Assessment Photograph Gallery