KTM 990 Super Duke R 2012 — Specifications

Do you remember that era when a roadster was supposed to be a little sadistic, somewhat unpredictable? That was before the widespread adoption of electronic aids and excessively smoothed engines. The 2012 KTM 990 Super Duke R is a pure product of that era. It is the quintessence of a brutal and frank V2, a concentrated dose of orange mechanics that only asks to remind you who’s in charge. With its 132 horsepower and 100 Nm of torque from a 999 cc twin cylinder, it’s not a monster of pure power compared to modern super-nakeds. Its magic lies elsewhere, in the immediate and explosive character of its LC8 engine, which delivers its power without filter or compromise.

The frame is a work of art in tubular trellis, as light as it is rigid, and it communicates every detail of the road to your posterior. With a dry weight announced at 186 kg, the beast is nervous, almost febrile. The 850 mm seat asserts its authority, and the short wheelbase of 1450 mm gives this KTM 990 Super Duke R the agility of a dirt bike. The WP suspensions, although standard, are tuned for sport, and the radial brakes at the front bite with a ferocity that commands respect. It’s a machine that is ridden with your body, that demands commitment. It does not forgive weakness, but rewards boldness with raw sensations that few modern bikes can still offer.

Compared to a Triumph Speed Triple of the time or a Ducati Monster 1100, the KTM clearly positions itself as the most radical option, the most “track-focused” for the road. It’s not there to play a cameo role in the city or for long, quiet trips, its 18.5-liter tank reminds you of that. No, it is made for winding roads, for brutal rev-ups where the V2 growls and vibrates. It is this authentic character that still leads people to seek a used KTM 990 Super Duke R today, from 2008 to 2013 models, well before the arrival of the monstrous 1290.

Who should turn to this animal? Clearly the experienced rider in search of pure sensations, the one who considers electronic assistance an impediment and who finds happiness in a demanding and communicative motorcycle. It is the antithesis of the sanitized roadster. The new price back then, over 12,000 euros, made it an exclusive machine. Today, a test ride of the 2013 KTM 990 Super Duke R or an earlier year reveals how simple and direct the definition of motorcycling pleasure could be. An opinion on the KTM 990 Super Duke R is often unanimous: it is a motorcycle with character, tailored for those who like to feel the mechanics live and breathe. For others, there is the standard version, less extreme. But for purists, this R remains a reference, a milestone in the history of sporty roadsters.