JOHANNESBURG – KTM’s 1290 Super Duke took the honours in the the 2014 Pirelli SA Bike of the Year award, with the BMW S1000R and R 1200 GS Adventure as the runners-up. The winners were announced on Friday 8 August at a media breakfast at the opening of the 2014 Amid Motorcycle Show held at Nasrec in Johannesburg.
Like 2013, the competition was once again very close, with the BMW S1000R actually being more the judges’ and readers first choice – but the KTM winning on overall score.
The award was the culmination of a process facilitated by Harry Fisher and Mat Durrans, the presenters of DSTV’s The Bike Show.
Motorcycle manufacturers and importers were asked to nominated new-for-2014 models, from which nine finalists were chosen by the panel of judges.
The KTM’s 1290 Super Duke is probably the most-hyped bike to hit Southern Africa this year but there have been grumblings in the media that the bike’s sophisticated electronics have tamed the beast overmuch.
On paper the Super Duke is awe-inspiring with impressive peak power and torque, combined with light weight and a small frame. By rights it should be practically unmanageable but electronics do a great job of keeping all that power in check.
The bike sports a typical KTM minimal look that seems to consist of only the bare essentials needed to make it roadable. It seems to be made up of little more than the big V-twin mill, a tank, a seat, two wheels and a (very visible) frame.
Seating is comfortably upright, allowing a commanding view over the surrounding traffic. Controls are light and easy to reach and the secondary multi-function display offers a bewildering variety of information on multiple pages.
Even with the riding aids kicking in every so often the bike offers immense punch on the road. KTM claims that the Super Duke makes more torque at 2000rpm than its predecessor did at peak revs.
Handling is sharp, as can be expected from a short-wheelbase machine. (Wheels24)
KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R: It’s probably the most hyped motor-cycle of the year but rode off with the SA Bike of the Year title this month. (Image: DRIES VAN DER WALT)