Lightest SuperDuke... Track & Street

Hi All,

While on the topic of the new 1290 SD, there was a bit of conversation about the weight of the new bigger bike vs. the older 990 version. It could be fun and valuable to know what has been done to make our gen. 1 SuperDukes lighter. KTM touted them as being 186.0 kg's (410.0 lbs.) dry weight (2008 model year). Who knows what "dry weight" really means, but I do know that my USA spec'd bike was 445 lbs. (201.87 kg's) full of fuel (gasoline here in the northern hemisphere at 300' above sea level weighs 6.073 lbs./gallon ~ roughly - lol) and 415.3 lbs. empty.

I've done a few basic mod's on my street-use bike [and maybe a custom mod' here and there] and now my 2008 standard SD weighs 413.0 lbs. fully fueled and 383.3 lbs. (173.9 kg's) empty. What I'd like to know is what & how others have lightened their bikes. I've heard claims of gen. 1 standard SD's being 160kg's - CRAP! How did you do that???

Post your methods and let us all know what you did & how you got your bike so light!

My weight reduction mod's:

Custom exhaust
Remove EVAP/Emission canister & plumbing
Remove SAS
Remove Passenger Pegs
Ballistic (12 cell) Lithium Battery
Custom Air Box with K&N Filter
Custom Subframe (solo use with 2up saddle)
RSI Flat bar
Custom Mirrors
aluminium Barends



My weight increasing mod's:

HyperPro Steering Damper
525 X-Ring Regina gold chain
CRG Levers
ASV Rotator Clamps (negligible)
Stealth 40T Rear Sprocket (negligible)
Rearset Relocation Plates
Fork Bleeders
PowerCommanderV
DynoJet AutoTune Module

Cool. I need to go on a diet. I could loose all the poundage you removed from your bike and still be considered clinically obese.
I have no good scale and have only lightened my bike through the install of aftermarket slip-ons. The figures that KTM use must have been surprisingly close in comparison to other brands. I was pretty sure they all lie alike.

If you check back some of the first posts on my site I'm sure I wrote about it in them last winter when I was building it.

You have to go over the whole bike with a fine tooth comb.

Take every washer of any bolt that doesn't need it. Use alloy bolts in non load bearing places. Titanium in important ones. Cut every bracket and mounting down as far as possible. Like the mounting plate of the back of the battery box, you can take about 80% of that away. Shave all the extrusions off the throttle bodies. Cutting the excess metal off the subframe and doing the throttle bodies saves 2kg alone. Cut any extra wires out the loom for lights, horn etc. . Any plastic trims not needed can be tossed, and any left drill them to death. Carbon mask. Cut bars as short as possible. Take insides out kill switch so it only has kill circuit. No speedo sensor. Light battery. 520chsin and sprockets. You get the idea.

With the carbon wheels it was 158.4kg with no fuel. 165 on the grid with 8L fuel.
With standard it was 165kg no fuel.

You'll never got a road bike as low as a race bike though coz you need your lights and stuff.

Viking - thanks man!

That's a lot of good info. Damn, those carbon wheels take away a huge chunk of weight! It also makes a bunch of sense that removal all the street gear (lights, mirrors, flashers, relays, extra wiring, etc.) was a major component in achieving your final weight.