KTM Superduke 1390 R EVO 2024 — Specifications

Who could possibly need 190 horsepower on a naked bike? KTM clearly never asked itself the question. With the Superduke 1390 R EVO, the Austrian firm pushes the envelope even further than with the 1290 and delivers a machine built to shake your guts as much as your convictions. The 75° V-twin climbs to 1350 cc, puts out 190 hp at 10,000 rpm and slams down 145 Nm of torque from 8,000 revs. All wrapped in a steel trellis frame weighing 201 kg dry, sitting on a seat 834 mm off the ground. For those wondering what the top speed of the KTM Superduke 1390 R EVO is, the answer hits hard: 290 km/h. This is a far cry from a tame naked bike for the daily commute.

The centrepiece of this EVO version is the electronic chassis package. KTM uses this suffix to signal the presence of third-generation WP semi-active suspension. The 48 mm inverted fork and rear monoshock feature magnetic valves controlled by a dedicated ECU. The unit continuously adjusts damping based on road surface and riding style across five maps: Auto, Comfort, Rain, Street and Sport. The gains aren't limited to electronics, as WP has also shaved 750 grams off the fork assembly. Compression and rebound are adjusted directly from the dashboard, with dual adjustment on the shock to differentiate between low-speed and high-speed compression. Up against an Aprilia Tuono V4 or a Ducati Streetfighter V4, the KTM clearly plays the technological sophistication card rather than the cylinder count one.

The optional Suspension Pro pack unlocks two additional modes, Track and Pro, designed for track days. It adds automatic preload management based on payload and an Anti-Dive system that maintains ride height under heavy braking. KTM has even integrated a launch device inspired by MotoGP, dubbed Factory Start: the rear drops to plant the tyre on the ground and optimise traction the moment you release the brakes. The kind of gadget reserved for prototypes five years ago is now available as an option on a production naked bike. Braking follows the same performance logic with radially mounted Brembo Stylema calipers biting two 320 mm discs up front. The 200/55-17 rear tyre handles the 145 Nm without flinching — on paper, at least.

The jump from 1290 to 1390 isn't just a displacement increase. KTM has revised the intake, slightly redesigned the frame, enlarged the tank to 17.5 litres to extend fuel stops, grafted winglets on either side of the radiator and modified the fifth and sixth gear ratios. The brake and clutch master cylinders benefit from automatic bleeding, the dashboard has been overhauled and the stock rubber switches to Michelin Power GP. The single-sided swingarm, traction and wheelie controls with optional fine-tuning of wheelie amplitude round out an arsenal that would make some superbikes look like relics from another era.

Then there's the question of price. At €23,449, the Superduke 1390 R EVO sits at the top of the hyper-naked bracket. That's more expensive than a base Streetfighter V4, in the same ballpark as a Tuono V4 Factory. The 201 kg weight also raises eyebrows, slightly up from the previous generation. But with such a favourable power-to-weight ratio and electronics of this calibre, KTM is clearly targeting the experienced rider who wants a versatile toy for fast road riding and track days alike. Beginners will steer well clear, and that's just as well. This machine doesn't forgive approximation. It rewards precision.