Gen 1 Superduke AKA "Beast"

This bike needs no introduction. The Superduke 1290r is generally accepted as the king of street bikes. This apex predator is aptly nicknamed the “beast,” or “super scalpel,” for reasons which will become clear shortly. I have wanted to ride this bike since I began riding motorcycles years back. What better opportunity than to slay some mountains on this legendary machine during my Pacific Northwest adventures.

If you want to see the power, just skip to the video of me climbing to Sunrise point on Mount Rainier. But before discussing power, I wanted to discuss the outstanding ergonomics of this bike. The seating and foot peg position is absolutely perfect for a thrilling ride. The seat is upright for comfort while the foot pegs are directly below you. But the seat angles your knees down towards the ground while the gas tank goes above your quadriceps. This setup, coupled with the narrowness of the bike makes spirited rising effortless. It’s so agile and can be maneuvered in and out of turns with little repositioning. In fact, I thought it turned better than the RSV4 factory I rode recently, but I am not a racer. Engaging rides do not come at the cost of comfort, as I did a few 200+ mile days on this bike.

The next feature that stood out to me was the supreme aerodynamics of this bike. Aerodynamics is not something that is usually brought up when discussing naked bikes. But I believe that this bike got it right. I normally start to get knocked around above 50mph when riding standard style bikes. But this bike felt comfortable in the 50-90mph range, which is unusual. I think it may have something to do with the sharp angles and narrowness. It slices up canyons and mountains with ease, earning it’s nickname the “super scalpel.”

And now for the power, why exactly is it called the “beast?” Because of it’s stump pulling torque that can just about rip your arms out of your sockets. The thing I appreciated most about the Indian FTR I rode recently was its pull. As you leaned into the throttle, it pinned you against the back lip of the seat. But this v-twin is on a whole new level. Not only do you feel gravity like affects from the constant acceleration, but you start to feel the rate of change of acceleration. This is the third derivative of position, what physicists have appropriately named the jerk. To put this experience in words is difficult. As you lay into the throttle, you gradually feel like you are being ripped in half. And the intensity builds and builds and builds. Surroundings start to blur and it makes you think that spacetime might be warping as you enter another dimension. But it is so intense that it is unsustainable. You are forced to lay off. But then it invites you back in again. The greatest part is that all this happens between 0 and 100mph. You might be getting a ticket, but you are definitely not going to jail. The tachometer hovers around 5000rpm when cruising idly and you can start to enter hyperspace by crossing the 6000rpm threshold. You can enter the hooniverse whenever you want. The engine is always posed, ready to strike like a cobra.

 

Put Sunrise Video Here

 

This bike definitely deserves all the hype it gets. It is easily the king of street bikes, a devastating apex predator. The Superduke 1290r is by far the most thrilling and entertaining bike I have ever ridden. I have this bike rented for 4 days, but I am only riding it for 3 because I have had my fill. It has simultaneously walloped me and leaves nothing to be desired. I have never burst into laughter and unadulterated joy so many times from riding a motorcycle. But what are the cons to owning this bike? There is only one that comes to mind. Because it is such a beast, it may not play well in some environments.

As a convenient transition to my final point, I was pulled over for speeding prior to writing these final paragraphs. I was cutting up Yakima Canyon and got pulled over by a big brown pick up truck. Who knew cops drove brown pick ups? Where I’m from even the undercover cops are conspicuous. You can watch me take the big L in the video below. Anyway, my point is that range of speeds at which one enjoys this bike are not always on the right side of the law. It definitely beats sports bikes in this regard, but it is still easy to get in trouble. This leaves a lingering question. Can this much fun be had in a smaller bike for at lower speeds? Motaurs will always live in tension with cops, who want them to drive motorcycles like cars and keep both wheels on the ground. But maybe we can spend most of our time on the right side of the law and still have fun. I will be exploring this idea in my next few motorcycle reviews. It is hard to say goodbye to the Superduke, which has captured all my affections. But I will see you again in the near future.