KTM 1390 Super Duke R

The name says 1390, but that's KTM's model-line number rather than the literal engine size — the Super Duke R's V-twin actually displaces 1,350cc, built to the Euro 5+ emission standard, and makes 190hp at 10,000rpm with 145Nm at 8,000rpm. KTM calls the 200kg kerb weight figure its "Ready to Race" number, and whichever way you measure it, that's a serious amount of power for a bike in that weight range — this is built to be one of the hardest-accelerating naked motorcycles sold in India. The componentry matches the ambition. A 48mm WP APEX open-cartridge fork and a WP APEX shock handle suspension, both adjustable for compression, rebound and preload. Braking comes from 320mm floating front discs gripped by Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers — the same generation of caliper used on current-generation superbikes — with a 240mm rear disc and twin-piston floating caliper. Michelin's dual-compound Power GP tyre comes fitted as standard. KTM gives riders up to five selectable ride modes — Street, Sport, Rain, Performance and Track — displayed on a 5-inch bonded-glass TFT screen that also runs a lap timer and shows telemetry, a feature set clearly built with track days in mind rather than just street riding. Anti-wheelie control and launch control are both toggleable, the fuel cap is keyless and labelled "RACE ON," and KTM offers its KTMconnect smartphone integration with USB-C charging as an option. Seat height is 834mm, the fuel tank holds 17.5 litres for a claimed range of around 300km, and KTM markets this specifically as a naked streetfighter rather than a sport-tourer — there's no semi-active suspension here and no radar cruise control, both of which are reserved for the 1290 Super Adventure S in KTM's lineup. What the Super Duke R trades away in touring comfort it puts back into outright performance and track usability. Priced at Rs 22,95,800 ex-showroom, it sits at the top of KTM's naked-bike range in India and competes directly with other big-displacement European streetfighters. The buyer here is an experienced rider who wants maximum performance in a naked, upright riding position — someone who'll use the track modes occasionally and the Street/Rain modes the rest of the time, rather than someone shopping for a first big bike. Running one of these day to day in Indian conditions means accepting a firm, track-biased ride on anything but smooth tarmac, and a riding position that rewards an aggressive stance more than a relaxed commute. That's a deliberate trade KTM has made with the Super Duke R, and it's one buyers comparing it against more touring-oriented big-displacement nakeds from other European brands should weigh carefully — this is built first for outright performance and track days, with everyday usability as a secondary consideration rather than the primary brief.