EICMA 2015: First Look at 2016 KTM Street Bike Models

At the forefront of the KTM street bike lineup is, actually, a 2017 bike. The new 1290 Super Duke GT is the Orange Empire’s take on a sport tourer, based on KTM’s flagship naked bike, the 1290 Super Duke R. Powered by the same 1,301cc V-twin the GT will have plenty of thrust on tap (173 hp at the crank, says KTM), and like the Super Duke will come with heated grips as well as switchable traction control, ABS, and ride modes.

Upgrades from the Super Duke include a few for the sporty set, and a few for the touring folks. Electronically adjustable and semi-active WP suspension will suit both, surely, as will the optional hill hold control to aid uphill starts. Tourers will love that the GT will also feature self-cancelling signals and inherit the 1290 Super Adventure’s LED cornering lights. Not to mention the adjustable windscreen and standard cruise control. Sportier riders have the Super Duke R’s awesome pedigree to lean on, and will be happy to see the addition of a quickshifter to the GT.

This bike should be a terrific blend of excitement and practicality, right in the wheelhouse for the type of buyer that KTM has in mind. An official MSRP is yet to be announced, but those power hungry customers can expect to pay nearly $20,000. What with the Super Duke R's price getting a $400 bump to $17,399, we can't imagine the up-spec GT will have an MSRP under $19,000.

Fully redesigned for 2016 is KTM's lightweight urban assault vehicle, the 690 Duke. A heavily revised 690cc single pumps out 7% more power (a claimed 73 hp) and 6% more torque from the same displacement thanks in part to raising the rev ceiling by 1,000 rpm. A new cylinder head has larger intake and exhaust valves and an integrated additional counterbalance shaft reduces vibration. That's good news, because the last 690 Duke occasionally felt like it was trying to mix paint rather than wheelie.

The revamped middle Duke sibling also gets three ride modes (Sport, Street, and Rain), updated passenger accommodations, and available traction control—Bosch two-channel ABS is standard, with a supermoto mode. A light-sensitive, full-color TFT dash is not only new for the 690 Duke but a KTM first, showing the Austrian firm’s commitment to innovation everywhere in its model lines. Claimed weight is just more than 327 pounds, which should make the 690 Duke a punchy ride, even with a full, 3.7 gallons of fuel on board. Price of entry? $8,999, not including traffic tickets for hooliganism.

Finally, the mighty Super Duke looks as raucous as it feels to ride: The 2016 Special Edition adds Galvano orange paint and graphics, anodized-orange caps, levers, and covers, an Akrapovic slip-on muffler, and carbon/Kevlar guards for the generator and clutch covers. The Super Duke SE is more than just bling, too, with machined and anodized triple clamps that KTM claim add rigidity to the front end, and wave brake rotors that are said to improve feedback (as well as add a little flair, let’s be honest).

A spicy, contrast-stitched saddle from the KTM Power Parts catalog will perch your torque-loving arse on top of one of the most playful, charismatic, and viciously fast motorcycles we’ve ever tested. No word yet on pricing, but in order to stick out in a crowd, expect to pay more than the standard Super Duke’s $17,399 MSRP.

The rest of the KTM street bike line returns for 2016, including the entry-level 390 Duke and RC390, the burly 690 Enduro R, and KTM’s fleet of ADVs; the 1190 Adventure, 1190 Adventure R, and 1290 Super Adventure.