KTM Super Duke 1290R concept bike by Mirco Sapio

The first Super Duke model dates back to 2005, when KTM launched the aggressive and innovative 990, and then we got to see a prototype of the threatening and muscular Super Duke 1290 R at the last 2012 EICMA exhibition in Milan, in November.

While waiting for the definitive version of the model, we can take a look at this interesting graphic concept conceived by Mr.

Mirco Sapio, an italian designer and KTM enthusiast that we met a few weeks ago upon the relase of another KTM-based graphic concept, the intriguing SuperDuke 1200 R Concept.

The design of his latest creation is actually pretty interesting, seemingly all projected toward the front end.
A diminutive full LED headlight is embedded in a see-through element made of carbon fiber that is an ideal extension of the track marked by the back of the tank: this diamond-shaped bit is conneced to the upper side of the fork and is flanked by two air intakes plus another one atop, ensuring the right supply of oxygen to the airbox.

Note that the shape of the cool and almost invisible underseat exhaust is meant to replicate that of the central air-intake at the front, and is also supposed to have a load-bearing function that – theoretically – has allowed the designer to get rid of the rear subframe.

Its trellis frame – as KTM’s tradition dictates – would be a chromium molybdenum steel structure wrapping the gritty 1290 cc structure V2 of the Austrian manufacturer, while the rear suspension is placed underneath the engine, near the right footpeg, is connected by linkage to the aluminum single-sided swingarm.
Once again, nice job.