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KTM 1290 SuperDuke GT gets 2022 update
Written by Thembani Magazi – December 09, 2021
Reviewed by Asaf Kedem
KTM, the Austrian bicycle, motorcycle and sports car manufacturer, has rolled out the updated 2022 SuperDuke GT at the EICMA 2021 Motorshow in Italy. It seems like the fast-approaching new year will also bring with it some new updates to the bike in the form of fresh tech, features, and an updated powertrain.
As we would expect, the motorcycle has been outfitted with a new and cleaner, Euro5 compliant engine that reportedly delivers 173bhp of maximum power. The transmission, however, remains the same 6-speed unit without any updates. A flashy new 7-inch full-colour TFT LCD (thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display) display will be featured on the motorcycle along with updated switchgear. The updated meter console gets a “Turn by Turn PLS” navigation system which doesn’t necessarily need a smartphone connection. A surprise to many, the bike does not appear to have been given radar cruise control – a feature which might be added in next year’s iteration.
In terms of equipment updates, there are new and lighter wheels which have been borrowed from the SuperDuke R, lending the bike a lighter weight. For a sportier riding experience the wheels come with Continental Sport Attack 4 tyres. Furthermore, KTM has fitted the bike with WP APEX semi-active suspension with four settings that can be switched between as per the driver’s preference. It also gets a 23-liter fuel tank, and updated handlebar switches are featured in the 2022 update. The bike will be introduced in the international market by early next year.
Auto Trendy’s take:
This is an impressive offering by the Austrians. The SuperDuke GT has embraced Euro5 along with a host of other new features that KTM’s clientele will undoubtedly appreciate. It will be particularly interesting to see how their Turn by Turn navigation system operates without connection to a smartphone because up to this point users have largely been satisfied with their smartphone connectivity platform KTM MY RIDE. Visual guidance to the TFT display will help riders navigate to pre-planned destinations. According to the company these features have been carefully designed to be intuitive to use and add to the riding enjoyment, rather than distract from the road. With these tweaks and updates, owning a SuperDuke GT is likely to be a thoroughly rewarding experience come January.
