Fresh thinking has put the KTM on that next level.
When Johnny came back from the launch on this thing, he wouldn’t shut up about it. The most telling thing was how he was giddier about his time on the 990 Duke than he was about his simultaneous test of the new 1390 Super Duke. Of course, his take on a bike is sometimes different to mine, so I held back from placing an order there and then, but I was intrigued to see whether his hype matched what I found when I finally got chance to swing a leg over this box-fresh beast. Well, to cut to it, Johnny was bang-on with his appraisal... after just a few miles pulling the pin on this thing, the KTM’s playful persona and impressive raft of abilities had me singing from the same hymn sheet. The thing I learned very quickly was just how playful and refined the bike was, impressively blurring the lines between utter competence and enthusiasm for pushing the envelope and making memorable moments.
Those leathers have got tighter just looking at the cakes...