RideFast June 2020

It feels like a proper
track superbike, just
without the fairings
and bigger price tag.
from gen 2 and add more modernday
bells and whistles to attract
new buyers. Keeping old hooligan
gen riders, while attracting new
modern everyday riders was
always going to be tricky, and
for sure it’s almost impossible to
please everyone, but another thing
KTM are one of the best at doing
is trying, and never giving up or
The new 1290 SD R comes
out with the new Bridgestone
S22 hypersport tyres and
they work perfectly in sync
with the new bikes all-round
superbness.
stopping in their pursuit to become
leaders in the street bike market.
They took a massive leap
forward with their Duke range, the
1290 SD R in particular, but can the
new Beast 3.0 tick the very long
line of boxes set forth in front of it?
Riaan Neveling, if you are
reading this please do me a
favor. Go down stairs to the R&D
department there at head office,
find the team responsible for
building the new 1290 SD R and
give them a big hug from me. Heck,
give them a big kiss while you at it
and tell them Rob says well done
on building a superb all-round
work-of-art!!!
Just as I had been told and
expected, the new Beast 3.0 is the
best yet. Everything about the new
machine and the updates make
sense and can be felt. So much
more positive feedback – that little
bit of uncertainty that was there
before is now gone.
This new machine is more
determined than ever and now
has the resources to keep it all
under control. That extra flex from
the chassis and suspension just
make it more solid than ever, even
around the tight track I was testing
on. Stability has improved ten-fold
in every area – from straight line,
to corner entry and exit – this thing
is now planted to the tar!
The updated electronics don’t
interfere as much as before, but
are still there to help keep things
in check. Big Brembo Stylema
monobloc calipers offer nothing
but fierce, usable stopping power
and work in perfect tandem with
the new WP Apex adjustable
suspension up front. The rear
shock also feels way more mature
and assured of itself - this made
going fast a lot easier than on the
previous gen, and this bike was still
out-the-crate standard. All those
tedious problems before that
could only be solved by throwing
thousands of rands at are now all
sorted from stock.
There was never really an
issue with the motor. Power and
torque a plenty, but what some
did complain about, mainly less
experienced, non-hooligan type
riders, was the way it delivered it.
It was very intimidating for some
how the power came in. So much
force from so low down - it packed
a massive punch!
Just like all those other
criticisms, KTM listened and have
addressed and solved the problem.
The first gen SD 1290 R felt like
a Tattooed, ripped MMA fighter
The new gen 3 still has that big punch, only
this time it comes from that same MMA fighter
who is now dressed in a suit and tie, so the
tattoos and muscles are still there but hidden.
...it’s still a big punch, but now feels more
controlled, more presentable, more classy...”
punching you in the face when
turning that throttle. It was wild,
and in many ways uncontrollable,
with a then good electronics
package, but not great. This is what
those hooligan riders loved about
this model, but what everyday
riders were threatened by.
The new gen 3 still has that
big punch, only this time it comes
from that same MMA fighter who
is now dressed in a suit and tie, so
the tattoos and muscles are still
there but hidden. As I said, it’s still
a big punch, but now feels more
controlled, more presentable,
more classy - and that might put
off the hooligans just a bit, but
will welcome those who were
previously cautious about the SD
1290 R with open arms.
Add to this a much more
controlled and solid electronics
package and chassis, and we now
have what I, and many think, is the
most classy, sophisticated SD 1290
R to date - one that all can enjoy
and get the best out of.
It’s a machine previous gen
owners and the hooligans can
still go crazy on and enjoy, but
now also one that the everyday
rider can enjoy without feeling the
need to up their life insurance and
medical aid policies.
Where previously the SD 1290 R
failed, it now succeeds, and with
flying colours!
The new 1290 SD R uses what was pretty much
the old RC8 super bike chassis, with one-ortwo
small adjustments, and it’s made a huge
difference - it has that same solid, stable, and
precise feeling the RC8 had, only much better!
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