01. Engine & Exhaust

Engine
Giving THE BEAST life is a 1301 cc V-Twin which pumps out an arm-wrenching 177 hp while its torque figures reach for the sky between 6,750 rpm (140 Nm) and 7,000 rpm (141 Nm). All in all, weighing in at around 62 kg, the extremely slim 4-valve unit makes it one of the lightest – and most powerful - big twins in the world.


Titanium inlet valves
State-of-the-art, machined titanium inlet valves with chromium nitride PVD coating – how impressive does that sound? These feature a flat design, and weigh 19 grams less than steel inlet valves. When combined with the smaller combustion chamber on the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, offer a compression ratio of 13.6:1, and ultimately, more power.


Cylinder heads
Thanks to the resonator chambers on the cylinder heads, which have been engineered to increase the torque output in the lower to mid-range rpms, the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R power train runs smoother, consumes less fuel and cuts down on CO² emissions by around 10%.


Slipper clutch
Keeping the rear-end in check under harsh downshifts or aggressive decelerating by reducing rear wheel chatter, the slipper clutch also assists when you open up the throttle by assisting the Quickshifter+ to perform super smooth up-shifts.


Ride-by-wire
The Ride-by-Wire on the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R goes the extra mile. It electronically translates the throttle commands of the rider into the best throttle valve positions for the current riding situation. Choking, jolting and involuntary wheelies are a thing of the past. Voluntary ones, however, could easily be a thing of your future.


Crankshaft
The free-revving nature of the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R’s V-twin further enhanced by a very low reciprocating weight of its crankshaft. Moreover, the flow-optimized shape of the crank makes for smoother power delivery and for motor stability.


Pistons
Arguably the most important part of the motor, the forged piston structure on the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R has been borrowed from Formula 1 technology. This results in a high loading capacity, despite the extremely short and lightweight design. Furthermore, the piston skirts have a state-of-the-art, hard-anodized finish to minimize friction, and maximize longevity.


Intake flange
An intake flange is more than just a bit of plumbing that connects the throttle body to the ports in the cylinder head. It is an integral part of the induction system and has to match the airflow characteristics of the cylinder head and camshaft, as well as the displacement and rpm range of the engine, in this instance, widening its powerband by 500 rpm. Thunder along and surf its torque or whip it hard and meet THE BEAST.


Twin ignition
The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R features a twin-plug ignition system, which controls two differently sized spark plugs in each cylinder head independently of each other. This adds to the overall efficiency of the motor. The result? More power, better feedback, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions.


Exhaust
The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R’s exhaust system is made entirely from rustproof stainless steel and is Euro 4 homologated. Hundreds of test bench runs and complex simulation, ensured that the exhaust system contributes to the extremely smooth torque curve and excellent emission values on the V-twin. And did we mention the sound? While it whispers at low revs, it will take your breath away reaching for the high notes.

CNC-parts

Airfilter

Cooling