When we didn’t hear anything from KTM during the typical new model year blitz at the end of the last year, we worried that the Austrian brand had decided to pack it in, after the tumultuous ride of 2020.
Don’t worry though, KTM hasn’t forgotten about its 2021 obligations, and zie Austrians have more than a few plucky machines to debut for the current model year.
Two of the biggies are a new KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and an updated KTM 1290 Super Adventure lineup, as both bikes are being teased on its social media channels right now with a January 26th release date.
With the KTM 1290 Super Duke R getting a sizable upgrade for the 2020 model year, it was no secret that we would see the same updates coming to the Super Duke GT for 2021.
As such, we can expect the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT to debut with a new chassis, more-sophisticated electronics, and edgier styling. Of course, the sporty sport-tourer will be Euro5 compliant as well.
While the GT should be a little softer than the R model, the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is expected to take things in a different direction, and this bike could also show up at the end of the month.
One of the worst-kept secrets for 2021, the KTM 1290 Super Duke RR is rumored to be an up-spec model, with a large portion of the KTM Power Parts catalog thrown at it to justify the extra “R” in its name.
Meanwhile, the big new feature for the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure is expected to be its adaptive cruise control unit – a feature also touted on the Ducati Multistrada V4.
The Austrians are probably keen to make sure that the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S can stave off any marketshare advances from the new Ducati, but it remains to be seen what changes being the bodywork will come to the ADV bike.
We do expect that the Super Adventure will come again in two spec levels, “S” and “R”, with the latter using a 21″ wheel in the front, and an 18″ wheel in the back, for better off-road capability.
Both the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and KTM 1290 Super Adventure are slated to debut on January 26th, but we suspect that details and more teasers will manifest themselves before that release date. Stay tuned.
Source: KTM (Facebook)
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