2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Craving the comforts of a capable touring motorcycle combined with an aggressive engine pumping a claimed 175 hp for sport? Enter the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT—one of the most entertaining sport-touring motorcycles on the market.

Derived from the rowdy KTM 1290 Super Duke, the GT packs a punch of performance in the form of its 1,301cc V-twin powerplant and agile handling, but blends in touring amenities like cruise control, adjustable windshield, and heated grips for long-haul comfort. As KTM puts it, this is “a true premium machine for riders who demand simply the best,” and Orange isn’t too far off the mark there as this machine won Cycle World’s Best Touring Bike of 2016—the heated grips aren’t the only thing hot about this sport-tourer.

In our dyno run last year, the 1290 Super Duke GT recorded 150.8 hp at 10,060 rpm and 91.5 pound-feet of torque at 7,180 rpm.

The 2016 1290 Super Duke GT beat out the competition for Cycle World’s Best Touring Bike of 2016 because it is not only based on the “hugely entertaining KTM Super Duke that won us over one wheelie at a time” but “combines a torquey V-twin engine and stable chassis with all the accoutrements needed for the long haul.”

The competition in the sport-touring class includes the Yamaha FJR1300ES, Kawasaki Ninja 1000, Kawasaki H2 SX SE, BMW R 1250 RS, Suzuki GSX-S1000F, and Ducati Multistrada 1260.

The 1290 Super Duke was just revised last year, so no major announcements were made by the manufacturer. It is available at a starting MSRP of $20,599.