KTM 1390 Super Duke R and EVO – fun, aggressive, and powerful

Since the debut of the 990 Super Duke at the company, the philosophy has never changed: a fun, aggressive, and powerful bike.

The big technical and stylistic step came in 2020 with the advent of the third generation of the Super Duke and, since then, there has been constant improvement. In 2021, the Super Duke RR emerged: the most powerful Hyper-Naked ever produced by KTM to date… 2022 brought the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO, taking the characteristic performance of the Super Duke to another level with WP semi-active suspension.

Raising the bar is never easy, but the Austrian manufacturer surprises once again with a new Hyper-Naked model: the SUPER DUKE 1390 R. Larger displacement, more power, more torque, and a completely redesigned design by Kiska.

The new KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R has a completely redesigned design that highlights the compactness of the bike and its “muscles.” Even more aggressive and daring than ever. A surprising, almost alien evolution, thanks to the new set of LED lights, the new lines of the tank, and the addition of winglets. And exclusive color schemes to celebrate the 30 years of the Duke, inspired by the 990 SUPER DUKE.

The KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R and the KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R EVO feature a new almost alien-like LED headlight design. The daytime running lights are now located along the edges of the headlight and automatically adjust in intensity depending on ambient light conditions, thanks to a light sensor integrated into the instrument panel. The low beam lights are located in the center of the headlight and turn on automatically when it gets dark. The daytime running lights also decrease their intensity and function as position lights in darker ambient light conditions. The new LED light has allowed for a weight reduction of 700 g compared to the previous 1390 SUPER DUKE LED light. Due to the new design of the intake duct and airbox, the fuel tank has been enlarged by 1.5 liters, increasing the total volume to 17.5 liters. This gives the new SUPER DUKE several extra kilometers of range, which is expected to exceed 300 km.

The new spoilers on the deposit not only improve the overall look of the KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R, but also feature functional fins to increase downforce and contain – as much as possible – its exuberant character.

The KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R and KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R EVO are based on the frame developed in 2020 for the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, but with some important updates that place it to the next level.

KTM set out with the 1390 SUPER DUKE R to improve high-speed stability and low-speed agility without sacrificing riding comfort. With this ambition in mind, a 48 mm WP APEX Open Cartridge fork was installed. The new fork allows for compression, rebound, and preload adjustment.

The WP APEX shock absorber has also been upgraded. Separate gas and oil reservoirs adapt to the piggyback style, which offers full adjustment. For 2024, the electronic adjustment (DCC) of the shock absorber has also been improved to provide a better overall balance, finding – on paper – the right compromise between comfort and suspension performance.

The KTM 1390 SUPER DUKE R EVO is equipped with the latest generation of semi-active technology (SAT) from WP. Equipped with electronically controlled magnetic valves for variable damping, the new suspension offers a wide range of settings: from maximum comfort to stiffness and support on the track, at the touch of a button. The SCU (Suspension Control Unit) adjusts damping in real time based on the driving style and surface being driven on, analyzing the wealth of information provided by sensors and the IMU.

All suspension adjustments can be changed directly from the instrument panel, selecting five different damping modes through the TFT screen: AUTO, COMFORT, RAIN, STREET, and SPORT. Two additional modes are available if you opt for the SUSPENSION PRO package, which unlocks the TRACK and PRO modes. The SUSPENSION PRO offers three automatic preload adjustments: LOW, STANDARD, and HIGH. In this case, the suspension is able to calculate and automatically adapt the preload according to the rider’s weight and recreate 3 distinct geometries, AUTO-STANDARD, AUTO-LOW, and AUTO-HIGH. The SUSPENSION PRO also allows for Anti-Dive adjustment, which keeps the front end rigid and stable even under hard braking.

By 2024, the goal was to take a big step forward in terms of power, while keeping weight to an absolute minimum in order to pursue the coveted 1:1 power-to-weight ratio and maintain the character for which the KTM SUPER DUKE is known.

For this purpose, the diameter was increased from 108 mm to 110 mm, raising the displacement to 1350 cc. In addition, the new camshaft allows for two separate valve lifts, depending on the engine speed. These enhancements result in an increase in maximum power and torque throughout the power range. The result? A power of 190 hp at 10,000 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, in compliance with EURO 5+ homologation.

The gearbox of the 1390 SUPER DUKE has been updated with the shortening of the fifth and sixth gears to further improve responsiveness.
For more information, you can visit the official KTM website.