Herring has owned nearly every go-to superbike. But he decided that he was going too fast, too often, so he stepped back to naked bikes. Naked bikes take a superbike design—like a Yamaha R1 or a BMW S1000RR—and use taller bars and minimal bodywork. Herring discovered this Super Duke at a KTM dealer last year and enhanced it with upgrades, including:
- Adjustable ASV brake and clutch levers
- Evotech clear clutch cover
- Lightweight titanium Akrapovic exhaust
In addition to the upgrades, the KTM comes with a suite of electronics to tailor the riding experience. The Tech Pack features:
- Launch control
- Traction control adjustment
- Throttle response adjustment
- Wheelie control
Herring said:
The full potential of this bike has been unlocked. It’s very throaty and punchy. At any gear and at any speed, you’re focused on keeping the front wheel down. I’ve sunk at least six grand into it to make it what it is.
The Beast
Launched in 2014, the 1290 Super Duke R drew universal praise for being well-made and reliable. It has thunderous performance that few bikes can match. The Super Duke is known in certain circles as “The Beast.”
The standard 2020 Super Duke weighs just 416 pounds and boasts an intimidating 180 peak horsepower. These numbers are impressive. Yet, the shattering 103 pound-feet of torque—and urgent throttle response—is its superpower.
Shop now for OEM KTM partsSuperbike-Like Lunacy
Michael Neeves, a leading UK motorcycling scribe, famously said this about the Super Duke in MCN Magazine:
On track, the KTM is nothing short of sensational. It leaps out of corners, even in lazy gears, and demolishes the straights in a thunderous gush of superbike-like lunacy. With no fairing, it’s hard to hang on at such high speeds…after a day spent on track, you’ll leave with arms and neck like Popeye…but despite the motor’s savagery when you poke it with a stick, it’s docile and friendly at normal speeds.
After barely 2,100 miles, Herring is still mesmerized by the wild Super Duke. But, alas, his heart was stolen by a naked BMW M1000R. He said:
I prefer the screaming nature of the BMW’s four-cylinder engine. I’m selling the Super Duke and keeping the BMW. I was up ‘til 2 am last night on eBay looking for parts for it.
Herring was transparent in his listing about the ownership of the KTM. He bought it last year for $16,000 and put another $6,000 into upgrades. That makes its $16,250 Buy-It-Now price a deal. And since the upgrades are already done, it’s ready to fly.
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