KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, GEN2 SETUP - PART 2

Setup tips and secrets for your Gen 1 & 2 KTM Super Duke R 1290. Learn not only about rake and trail, but how to change them to your liking on your own SDR. Learn about swingarm angle, and how it can improve your bike's performance. Learn how to make your bike handle better, drive out of turns harder, turn better. This is a three part series. Part 2 is about swingarm angle, and how more angle can help you turn. Rear ride height, and how this effects swingarm angle. Eccentric position, and how this effects your rear ride height. Gearing, and how this effects your eccentric position. And the value of fiberglass superbike seats. Parts 3 get into suspension, brakes, steering stops, rotors, airbox, etc.

Chapters:
0:00 How Swingarm Angle helps or hurts grip
4:00 Regressive Rear Suspension
12:55 Shock Length / Ride Height
14:23 Superbike Seat

#ktm, #KTM1290, #Superduke, #KTMracing, #KTMlover, #roadracing, #motorcycle

[hexthank]

This is fantastic, thank you for providing not only great technical information but also reasoning behind the changes. Really helps to understand the cause/effect!

[kt]

Goldmine! Thanks a lot for these videos! Really humble in the explanations as well!

[MasterBlasterSr]

Dude, these are some of the best bike-specific videos by a racer on the net. We all appreciate the time you take, , , .... Where do I get the belly pan and front light fairing to get through the Tech inspection?

[jamesroydavies]

Fantastic videos, I’ve done a fair amount of track days on mine now (stock) and feel I’m getting to a point where doing some of these tips will now benefit greatly!

With the change of sprockets 15/40 how many chain links are used? 114?
Do you know what the top speeds were on this set up?
I ask as a fair amount of tracks near me have some long straights or higher speed sections.

[AntaresSQ]

Interesting video, I'm watching this as a 1290 SDGT owner. That bike has a lot to it that seems to already be in the right direction for handling, namely a good chunk more weight on the front and the electronically controlled rear shock. This electronically prevents squat by stiffening up low speed compression under acceleration. I still think this is a stopgap method, but I plan on springing the bike to my weight with a progressive shock spring, whilst keeping the original electronic hardware if possible as it works really well.

With regards to direct mount shocks, you don't necessarily need a linkage to achieve progressiveness but it certainly makes it easier to make adjustments. I've been thinking of possibilities, such as spacer or relocation kit to make the shock more upright. in this bike's case since the swingarm moves in an arc, but the shock is at an angle leaning forward, initially the swingarm has a hard time to push against the sideways shock, as it moves through the stroke though, the shock gets progressively closer to being tangential to the motion of the swingarm, this means the force acting on the shock is now more and more direct, causing less force to be needed to compress it, as you explained.

Now if you can make the shock bit more vertical, you can achieve the opposite effect. If throughout the travel the shock "leans back" compared to the travel, you can achieve progressiveness without a linkage or spring. I wonder if it would be possible to relocate the top mount of the shock further rearward, considering there appears to be some real estate. You could also move it forward on the swingarm but you have to be careful with bending moments and total travel, the closer the shock is to the pivot, the more travel you have at the wheel. Not too sure about secure mounting down there either, even though there definitely is space.

[rossanodimonte]

Hi Eric, any issue with the chain scratching the frame by mounting the 15T pinion, as you explained in the 3gen video? Even if keeping the std 38T in the back, if you ever tried it?
With this configuration 15:38, do you have enough adjustability with the rear axle eccentric.
Thanks

[robdefire]

Did you go to a 190/60 tire to get the increased diameter?

[DavidLee-kbmi]

Great video! I recently took my 1st Gen to thunderhill and it ran like a champ. Exactly what you mentioned, it dominated in the braking and turn speeds.

My only complaint is the brakes are not smooth on the initial bite maybe I have warped rotors? And the throttle profile is long!! I got wrist pains bending my wrist all the way down every exit.

Any solutions for these?

[Lumpys_Garage]

Are you measuring swingarm angle at ride height or fully extended?