KTM have revealed the details of their mental new flagship, the 1290 Super Duke R, and as expected, it is engineered brutality in the metal!

The bike looks as aggressive as ever and definitely evokes every feeling of speed and hooliganism the moment you lay your eyes on it. The unabashed sharp, naked design reeks of power and speed; like the most powerful KTM ever “hulked up”. The engine is a 1,301cc twin and spews out 180 PS at 8,870 rpm and bucket-loads of low down torque – 144 Nm – of which 100 Nm is available from 2,500 revs! There’s a wave of torque, and then, there’s the deluge that floods your town overcoming everything in its path. That is the ferocity of what KTM have unleashed. Even worse, or better, is that the 1290 weighs just 189 kg. KTM claim a 0-200 km/h time of 7.2 seconds – faster than some good sportscars. A slipper clutch sends the powers out back while one of the most advanced traction control systems in the world is onboard to ensure things don’t get too rough. KTM also claim that the 1290 Super Duke R has a 15,000 km service interval.

Braking performance is equally mental.You have ABS and big discs front and rear, but in Supermoto mode, the ABS guards the front end, while the rear is free to slide around. There’s also an option to switch off the electronic police when you feel a little wild. Specially designed Dunlop Sportsmart rubber sticks to the road, for the best grip in hot and cold, dry and wet conditions with incredible stability, in KTM’s own words.

Want more pictures? Visit the gallery:

https://bikeindia.in/ktm-1290-super-duke-r-pictures/

Death Metal fans will enjoy the teaser a bit more than most others. Watch it here:

 

UPDATE: Action video from KTM:

 

UPDATE #2: Find out more about what the 1290 Super Duke R brings:

 

For staying on the same page each day, look up their new website:

http://1290superduker.com/cms/

Story: Jim Gorde

Austrian power brand KTM have unveiled their very first Husqvarna offering to the global market: the TC300. It is the first bike to roll-out from Pierer Industries AG, a firm owned by KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer. The TC300 is largely based on the popular Husqvarna TV250, a 2-stroke maniac machine. Technicians at KTM have infused this new bike with a 300cc mill to provide more bang for the buck.

This new Husky has received plenty of necessary upgrades than its predecessors, they include – a new carbon-fibre subframe, WP suspension, a state of the art Akrapovic exhaust, billet machined hubs and the iconic Husqvarna Factory racing livery.

KTM officials have also issued a statement regarding the launch of the new Husqvarna. The TC300 will be showcased to the general public on October 5 in Sweden. Stay tuned for more updates.

Story: Sayem Syed

Bajaj Auto Ltd., makers of some of the most popular motorcycles in India, are all set to raise the prices of their offerings. A leading daily stated that this move has been facilitated by the Pune-based manufacturer to offset the impact of high input costs and the rupee decline.

Addressing the media at a business conference recently, Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, MD stated, “It seems likely that we have to raise prices because commodity prices have gone up significantly, partly owing also to the way forex has moved.”

As of now, the  head honchos at Bajaj have not revealed any specific details regarding the percentage of price hike across their product portfolio. With the festive season coming up and with a couple of important launches from Bajaj, which include the KTM 390 Duke-derived Pulsar 375, among others expected. It would be quite interesting to see how Bajaj Auto Ltd manages to hold on its market share amidst severe competition.

Story: Sayem Syed

Bosch has just given the world the very first stability control system for motorcycles. Their system, called Motorcycle Stability Control (MSC), is he first brake control system and will ensure the best possible stability in all riding situations; providing assistance to the rider during both braking, accelerating, cornering and even simply riding in astraight line. The motorcycle’s handling, and of course, the riding pleasure, remain unchanged.

What will change, is the experience of optimum braking and accelerating even in bends, with improved safety within the limits of the motorcycle’s handling dynamics.

The system will become available at the end of 2013, as original equipment on the 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure and 1190 Adventure R models.

Gerhard Steiger, president of the Bosch Chassis Systems Control division, says, “Almost one in two fatal motorcycle accidents occurs in a bend. The Bosch motorcycle stability control can help further reduce the number of accidents.” In 2010, more than 5,000 motorcyclists died in road accidents in Europe alone. Studies show that ABS on its own can prevent around one-quarter of all motorcycle accidents that lead to injury or death. The new stability control will increase this number even further.

Fevzi Yildirim, head of the Bosch centre of competence for powered two-wheeler safety in Japan, added, “The technical basis of the MSC is the ABS enhanced system for motorcycles. The new functions are made possible by an extensive array of sensors and sophisticated software.

To understand the full effect of what the system offers motorcycle manufacturers and their demanding customers, we must discuss a whole range of safety functions:

• The lean and pitch angle-dependent ABS control improves riding stability in all riding situations as well as braking effectiveness.
• The traction control regulates the maximum engine torque so that even on variable or slippery road surfaces, the driving force is efficiently transferred to the road and the drive wheel does not lose its grip.
• When braking heavily in curves, the MSC reduces the motorcycle’s tendency to return to an upright position. This involuntary righting of the machine leads to a larger cornering radius, which often results in the motorcycle leaving its lane. In these situations, the eCBS electronic combined brake system creates the best possible distribution of brake force between the wheels, and thus stabilises the bike during cornering.
• The MSC also reduces the risk of ‘lowsiders’. These are accidents in which the motorcycle capsizes during cornering and the wheels slide out toward the outside of the bend. They occur when too much brake force is applied during cornering and the wheels are not able to transfer sufficient side force onto the road. MSC counteracts this by detecting the risk of a lowsider and limiting the maximum brake force. The eCBS function distributes this maximum available brake force between the wheels, ensuring the best possible brake performance under cornering conditions.
• The eCBS function ensures optimum distribution of brake force at all times – even when the biker mistakenly uses only one of the two brakes, or brakes with too much force.
• The wheelie-mitigation controls the engine torque, preventing the front wheel from lifting uncontrollably and at the same time ensuring maximum acceleration.
• The rear-wheel lift-up mitigation function keeps the rear wheel on the road by reducing the maximum brake force on the front wheel when riding on surfaces with high friction coefficients. Riding stability is maintained, taking pitch rate and longitudinal acceleration into account.

For motorcyclists, the Bosch MSC can be a lifesaver, but, just like ABS, it cannot defy the laws of physics. In particular, extreme misjudgement of the riding situation and major errors on the part of the biker can still lead to an accident. Nonetheless, the system supports bikers in borderline situations, helping them get more out of their motorcycles, while keeping them much safer at the same time.

Story: Jim Gorde

Kawasaki are famous for introducing their new offerings with a bang. Currently going viral on the internet is a teaser video from their Japanese website, which hints at a new bike from their Z-line. Although nothing has been disclosed, we bet that the bike featured in this video might just be one of the upcoming 2014 Z1000, Z800 or Z250 models.

The Japanese marque is pretty secretive when it comes to unveils and launches of new offerings in the global market. Company officials have hinted that the mystery machine will be unveiled on November 5 – two days ahead of EICMA 2013. For now, we, like many other enthusiasts, will have to endure the waiting game.

“Z Sugomi Call of the Wild” – official teaser video:

Picture source: Oliepeil

Suzuki have confirmed that their highly anticipated 1,000cc adventure-touring motorcycle, the V-Strom, is all set for its grand unveil soon. Ever since officials at Suzuki first showcased its concept back at the 2012 INTERMOT, many enthusiasts were eager to get their hands on this masterpiece.

The V-Strom features a radical 90°, 1,037cc V-twin engine producing 99 PS and 103 Nm of torque. There are due changes to the pistons, cylinders, cylinder heads, crankshaft, con-rods, radiator and clutch to aid the 1,037cc superbike-class engine for its new role in performing off-roading duties with ease. Under the skin is also a company-first traction control system on a production motorcycle, along with ABS. What will likely really tickle your touring fancy is the bike’s 25 km/l claim, and new 480 km range on a single tank, with its 19.7 litre capacity.

Although Suzuki officials have not yet revealed any information regarding the pricing of the 2014 V-Strom, the adventurer-tourer is expected to be priced around the $12,500 (Rs 7.8 lakh) mark in the US and £10,000 (Rs 10 lakh) in the UK. We hope Suzuki India gets the V-Strom to our shores soon.

Story: Sayem Syed