Great.
Mount some wings on a defective radiator.

 

I like it! I like it a lot!!! There a lot of little changes and it looks like the wind protection is improved from the panels near the forks. Is it me or does it look like the instrument cluster will need to be removed to tighten the steering head bearings or rotate the handlebars? Stylistically, the front end looks like a Transformer but that's exactly what I expected from KTM. I do think the aero is pretty cool. Fingers crossed that it's not the same radiator but if they put the same radiator with the same bad mount I will get my pitchfork and join the mob.

 

Unless they made a thicker, stronger radiator that looks exactly like the previous one……I’d wager that it’s the same.
Now with wing stress.

 

that headlight is gonna take some getting used to, it just looks cheap. otherwise I like.

 

I dig it. Ill let it gestate and then look at a 2025

 

I find it a bit of a dissapointment, I was hoping for a visual overhaul much like going from gen 2 to gen 3 was. It's a well known fact bikes look better in person than they do in pictures, but even after 3 years I just don't find the gen 3 all that pretty in some places.

Undoubtedly it's going to be a stonkingly good motorcycle.

Aaaaaand... a 1400cc in a high performance sports motorcycle is getting a bit silly. Not that I'm complaining. But it will probably burn more fuel per mile now.

 

I find it a bit of a dissapointment, I was hoping for a visual overhaul much like going from gen 2 to gen 3 was. It's a well known fact bikes look better in person than they do in pictures, but even after 3 years I just don't find the gen 3 all that pretty in some places.

Undoubtedly it's going to be a stonkingly good motorcycle.

Aaaaaand... a 1400cc in a high performance sports motorcycle is getting a bit silly. Not that I'm complaining. But it will probably burn more fuel per mile now.

They have to meet Euro 5 though... so I bet it's as lean as you like. Your assessment I bet is correct as soon as we uncork it 👊🏻

 

Still has the **** switchgear from the gen 3, with a meager bump in displacement and a hideous headlight.

I wonder how it rides, and what it will be priced at.

 

The outline of the headlight matches the angular lines and colour borders in the bodywork, there is that. To me it is a cohesive expression of design.

I wonder if a correctly designed windscreen would look better here than on the Gen 3 - I find the gen 3 screens look ugly, difficult to incorporate with the headlight shape. Maybe one day I will swap headlight 😁

I hope it uses R EVO throttle tube so we have more likelihood of a heated handgrip. So far zilch.

 

I have the Materya dash cover on my Gen 3 and I think they did a great job integrating it with the style of the headlight, looks the best imo.

 

Also concerned about the wings creating more stress on a couple of support bolts. From that perspective the Puig wings seem better which is a bit disappointing.
The front I find it great, many manufacturers now opt for those single light units saving on the big reflectors and providing the same or better spread of light, then the rest is cooling and air intake. More function than looks imo. The dash seems to have filled more the spaces with information? Hope it will be easy to read.
Panels look the same just the top of the side panels have less surface so probably more air will go to rider.
Other than that is the same great bike for sure will ride good.

 

I have a 2022 SDR EVO. Here are my main take aways

First off , the engine , 10 hp and 4 more ft lbs. from 48 cc. Meeting Euro 5 . I think they accomplished it with their variable valve lift. Impressive but another mechanical system that can fail.

The 22 to 24 suspension, you will get a slight performance gain from some minor component modifications couple with better firmware and feedback loop.

The display is basically the same except it has better display usage and aesthetics. A plus, but by no means, a reason for me to go buy one.

The gas tank increases about .4 gallons, So another 15 miles. Nice but nothing crazy as I get off and stretch every hour and a half.

The winglets on the radiator are cool. But let’s face it, it’s really functional over 120 mph, So track days it could be helpful but it just KTM trying to put some aero cool touches on the bike, as all the competitors (BMW, Ducati) have done. I think it’s the gen 3. radiator with connection bracket around it. The bracket will take on the stress not the radiator itself. It does look cool though.

The chassis is basically a slightly mod gen 3 , mainly to accept new engine attachment points. The bike weighs roughly 5 lbs more .

So would I get one. Probably not. It is hard to justify the cost incurred ( trade vs new price plus all the taxes) which would end up being $5k to 7k, for a few aesthetics, a slightly improved screen and suspension system.

Now if I was new to the orange cool aid market , and I had a 5 year old bike, then I would be all over it. It just looks nasty. And the nastier, the better.

For me at 6’5” 270 lbs it’s also the required modifications that would need to be done. New handle bar, new mono shock spring and a Super link. Probably another 500 hundred dollars.

One thing I said when I got my 22 EVO , there is no need for engine performance modifications. Which zI have not done. My other bike is a 2020 1290 SAS, with an arrow racing header and Rottweiler stage 5 . It is pushing low 170,s but 106 plus ft lbs of torque. So plus 10 plus three ft lbs over stock. Recon I could get similar performance increases on the EVO. Which would make it comparable to the 1390.

Not sure if you guys all follow Superduked ( Go go) but he said he tuned his engine for racing with an High performance air filter, a racing header and a tune. He said the Rotty would fall off in the top end. Which may be true, but the rumble coming out of the air box is like a hammer hitting your chest. So I’m thinking a racing header, DNA filter and a tune may be in my future.

If I did not have a Gen 3 EVO, I would be all over it though. What an awesome machine

 

Love Superduked, he’s a cool dude and knows the Beast really well.

 

I wonder if that new lense-less headlight is a step backwards with regards to rider aero. The Gen 3 SDR has amazing aerodynamics compared to other naked bikes I've ridden, and I attributed that partly to the headlight (lense) shape. But what do I know.

 

My first SDR demo was on a 2015 and the first thing I noticed was the effortless 5 lane wheelie, the 2nd thing I noticed was how easy it was to ride fast. No turbulence, no dirty air hitting me and the bike felt competent. It would be a step backwards for KTM to screw that up.

 

I have a Puig Sport screen on my 2022 EVO and the airflow is amazing. As suggested I am not sure what cut out headlight will do to aero? M y guess is , it certainly will not improve things. But maybe putting a Puig Sport Screen on it will have the same affect'. Hopefull y we can get some real worls reviews on this matter soon.

 

To date I've tried the Materya dash cover, an MRA Sport screen, and the small Power Parts screen – the latter being my favourite. Haven't tried the Puig yet, I'd like to see one in person as they look a little odd in pics to me.

In my mind the lensed headlight deflects air up and away from the pilot, and the addition of a small screen helps even further. I'm sure KTM would have done wind testing so I could be way off base.

 

I have the Materya dash cover on my gen 3, not really a screen and I’m able to get streamline with the bike at high speeds. I get my helmet right close to the tank. Yeah I wonder about the aero of the new head light, and something else…cleaning bugs which is no prob on the gen 3.

 

Came across this video, which has about as much detailed footage as I've seen so far. (Apologies in advance, if it's already been posted elsewhere.)

 

^^^^ Cool, awesome.........I want one........BUT. i can't ride my 1290R to its limit.

 

^^^^ Cool, awesome.........I want one........BUT. i can't ride my 1290R to its limit.

And so, what your point!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

lol at that last part. Honey I’m just getting new tires.

 

Well i did get new tires, there just so happened to be a new 2020 1290R connected to them. She was much more happy when i said i traded 2 bikes for the 1290, a 790 and a GT.

 

Tell her you got a screamin' deal on your trade in and only had to lay down an additional $500 to buy it. It's not like she's going to go through the effort of looking up the truth 🤤 I'm not a fan of telling lies but sometimes it's (kinda) justified.

I remember my dad some years before I was born telling my mum 'I wanted those speakers. They were only $300'. This was when they were both not making much money, with two kids, and a third on the way (me). She got mad at him for buying it without consulting with her. It was about 30 years later in 2015 that we had to have them auctioned after he passed away and sold the house that my mum told me those speakers were $300 each, and he had four of them.

Best part is that those speakers were still superb in sound quality.

Something similar to these :

I live by the mantra that you should ask forgiveness, not permission. Buuuuuuut now that I'm a little older with a missus at home I kinda see the wiggle room.

 

When I was a seven years old, mum sent dad out to replace a broken clothes dryer. He came home with a brand new Honda Z50 for me...no dryer...obviously she wasn't pleased. With a garage full of bikes himself, he lived by the "better to ask for forgiveness" montra.

 

^^^ Ive had something like 20 plus new bikes over the last 35 plus years. Throw in 10 or so second bikes in there also. I understand the wife reservations on me getting "one last new bike", ive used that line often. Time to wear out what i have.

 

The 1390 would have to have improved suspension to get me to trade up mt 2022 evo. I also finally have great ins rates despite all the speeding tickets and want to enjoy it for at least a year.

 

Doug, it's killing me to think, based on your purchase, that my '16 GT would bring less than a new KLR. Killing me! Please tell me that the one you bought has a salvaged title, or a blown engine, or something!
😱

 

I do like the new tank shape and bits around the radiator (I'd love to see if those can transplant to the 1290, the shape and bottom angle of the side fairings looks roughly the same...), but otherwise I don't have a ton of FOMO compared to my existing 1290. Would be interesed to see what they do in a few years with a 4.0 refresh, though.

Here's another video of an unboxing/walkaround, if anyone is curious:

 

For the moment won’t change my Evo but some complains I’ve seen here and elsewhere which might justify a 1390 change are: You now can choose the engine braking level you want, the gear ratios are changed now in particular towards 5-6.
It also comes with variable valve timing (here not sure if 3.1 already had it).

Evo suspension even more refined than the already great Evo 2023. Also with MotoGP launch on the rear by lowering down.

 

The unboxing Smokey did was fantastic! I really like the new version and the headlight is growing on me quickly. Well done KTM!

 

As a happy '22 EVO owner (track pack, geared down, street and multi-day use) with no plans to purchase the 1390 SD this makes me interested in the 2025 GT.

 

My new 1390 is popping out of 1st and 2nd gear while doing a wheelie, slamming the front end down hard! it also occasionally turns the ignition off when initiating a wheelie.