By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
KTM 1290 Super Duke R (MY2014) vs Erik Buell Racing 1190 SX (MY2014)
You'll find the KTM 1290 Super Duke R carries superbike pace into a turn and doesn't need excuses there. Turning in on the Erik Buell Racing 1190 SX, you're rolling a throttle that won't snap at you. Its fat midrange pulls evenly off the apex.
So which one do you buy?
The 1290 Super Duke R has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: 1290 Super Duke R
The 1290 Super Duke R makes slightly more sense as a commuter. It's down to simpler maintenance and lower running costs. Don't read much into a gap this small.
The 1190 SX has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Small edge: 1190 SX
Between the curbs, the 1190 SX asks a bit less of you at speed. Put it down to more suspension adjustment and a sportier chassis. It's a fine margin, nothing more.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
A touch ahead: 1190 SX
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the 1190 SX. What tips it: better suspension. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The 1290 Super Duke R costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
1290 Super Duke R
On a racetrack, the 1290 Super Duke R doesn't need to make excuses. It doesn't trail superbikes down the long straights or through the corners. There's real precision in the fork and shock, with clear feedback rising through the grips when the brake lever comes in hard. The front squats and keeps talking as speed bleeds off.
Nils rode the 1290 Super Duke R in Andalusia in 2013, in Andalusia, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic in 2014, in 2015, and in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
1190 SX
From low revs, the 1190 SX's V-twin shoves hard, yet it builds without sudden surges. It stays civil in traffic. Its suspension takes a mid-corner bump cleanly, and the light aluminum frame doesn't resist a quick change of direction.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 1290 Super Duke R has the larger engine: 1301 cc vs 1190 cc.
- The 1290 Super Duke R has the larger fuel tank: 4.8 US gal (18 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
- ABS: standard on the 1290 Super Duke R, not offered on the 1190 SX.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
Nothing splits them on character. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
1290 Super Duke R
Strengths
- Lean Clearance For Days
- Built Right For Tall Riders
- Electronics That Enable, Not Dull
- It Holds Up Long Term
- Brembo M50 stopping power
Trade-offs
- Stock Pipe Sounds Lifeless
- Nothing Between You And The Wind
- Long Sweepers Expose The Chassis
- Insurance Bites Younger Buyers
- Aggressive ergonomics, limited long-distance comfort
1190 SX
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, linear power delivery with addictive midrange
Known problems to check before you buy
1290 Super Duke R
- Brembo radial master cylinder plastic piston cracking — recall (NHTSA Recall 18V-033) Recall 18V033000 The plastic (PPS polymer) piston in the front master cylinder could crack or break under heavy load, hard ABS engagement, or after a tip-over, leading to loss of front-brake function. Remedy: dealer replaces the plastic piston with an aluminum piston.
- Fuel tank threaded-insert leak — recall (NHTSA Recall 15V-441) Recall 15V441000 Threaded inserts at the rear of the plastic fuel tank could leak fuel due to a coating-process irregularity in tank manufacture. Risk of fuel ignition if combined with an ignition source. KTM notified affected owners; remedy was inspection and sealing of the inserts, or tank replacement where an existing leak was found.
- Radiator top-rail seam splitting The top-right (sometimes top-left) seam of the radiator splits along the upper rail. Owners attribute the failure to radiator-mount design and stress transfer from the freely-rotating exhaust clamp. Symptom: visible coolant weep from the upper radiator seam, eventual coolant loss and overheating risk.
- Clutch slave cylinder rubber-seal swelling and air ingress The OEM clutch slave cylinder rubber seal swells over time, causing internal corrosion and air ingress in the hydraulic line. Symptoms: milky or dark clutch fluid, hard-to-find neutral, hot-clutch fade, repeated bleeding required. Re-sealing rarely lasts; owners typically replace with billet aftermarket units (Oberon, Rottweiler).
- Hydraulic cam chain tensioner loses pressure The factory cam chain tensioner is hydraulic and runs on engine oil pressure. It can bleed down or fail to hold pressure, which leaves the timing chain slack. The usual symptom is a ticking or rattling noise from the cam chain area, most noticeable at idle or just after a cold start before oil pressure builds.
- Fuel pump failure — low fuel pressure, stalling, no-start "Fuel Pump Failure" warning, bike cuts out, hangs at approximately 5,500 rpm, will not restart. KTM identified the fuel filter and/or pump motor as the cause of low fuel pressure; a replacement kit (seals, gaskets, filters, motor) is supplied by the dealer.
- Rear wheel bearing failure due to swingarm water ingress The Gen 1 single-sided swingarm has no internal drain hole. Water collects inside the swingarm, corroding the rear wheel hub bearings. Symptoms: vague "steering" feel from the rear wheel under on/off throttle. Owners frequently find a half-cup of water when removing the axle adjuster. KTM addressed this on the Gen 2 swingarm by adding a drain hole — a tacit confirmation of the Gen 1 design defect.
- Side-stand sensor failure — no-start or stalling Side-stand sensor fails — often a magnet-related fault contaminated by chain-area debris. Bike will not start or stalls when in gear. The 1290 sensor uses a 50% duty-cycle pulse, so a simple bypass requires a dedicated dongle (Rottweiler, Vanasche).
- Jerky on/off throttle transition at low rpm Snatchy on/off transition at 2,500–3,500 rpm, particularly noticeable in Rain mode. Stock fueling is lean for emissions compliance. Many owners install aftermarket fueling modules (Rottweiler, Power Commander) or apply ECU updates from the dealer; outcomes vary.
- Front fork seals develop weeping / "tide marks" The seals on the WP upside-down fork can start to weep over time. Oily tide marks show up on the fork tubes just below the seals. The leak tends to come on gradually with use rather than being present from new. If left alone, the seeping fork oil leaves a residue that collects road grime and slowly lowers the oil level in the affected leg.
- Front brake light switch error / brake light stuck on Omron switch on the Brembo master cylinder fails. "Front Brake Switch" error appears on the dash; brake light may be stuck on, or a fault code is logged. Wire-routing strain at the master cylinder is the documented cause. Some owners report MTC (traction control) faults as a downstream side effect.
1190 SX
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old 1290 Super Duke R with a 10-year-old 1190 SX.
- 1290 Super Duke R
- about $9,000
- 1190 SX
- about $10,100
At ten years old, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R sits around $9,000 while the Erik Buell Racing 1190 SX runs about $10,100. That's a $1,100 gap in the KTM's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 1290 Super Duke R | 1190 SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) | 32.5 in (826 mm) |
| 1290 Super Duke R | 1190 SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1301 cc | 1190 cc |
| Engine | 75° V-twin | 72° V-twin |
| Power | 179 hp (132 kW) | 185 hp (138 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,870 rpm | 10,600 rpm |
| Torque | 106 lb-ft (144 Nm) | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,500 rpm | 8,200 rpm |
| 1290 Super Duke R | 1190 SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| 1290 Super Duke R | 1190 SX | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 386 mm |
| Wheelbase | 58.3 in (1482 mm) | 55.5 in (1409 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 1290 Super Duke R | 1190 SX | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Standard (from 2017) | Not offered |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
