Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

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Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

12th photos

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawasaki ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F at the 2016 Alpen Masters.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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KTM 1290 Super Duke GT: extremely superior drive, excellent performance.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F: low consumption, good range.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Kawasaki ZX-10R: stable, full driving behavior.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Ducati 959 Panigale: excellent brakes, effectiveness and controllability.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawasaki ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F at the 2016 Alpen Masters.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

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Foolish dump truck on gravel? Professionally treated on the spot. Scusi, Signora.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
Zep Gori

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Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawasaki ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F at the 2016 Alpen Masters.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
Zep Gori

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Real sports bikes in the Alps? Panigale 959 and ZX-10R are best for a very fast lap, with a bulletproof driver’s license and spare underwear in the backpack. With Suzuki’s versatile GSX-S 1000 F you are clearly comfortable and yet really sporty. A likable underdog.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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The Super Duke GT is not an underdog, but for the time being the new benchmark for alpenglow. Cream engine, broadband chassis, complete equipment with all long-distance goodies – as a sports tourer in the true sense of the word, the KTM can do everything.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
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Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawasaki ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F at the 2016 Alpen Masters.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters
factstudio.de

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Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawasaki ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F at the 2016 Alpen Masters.

Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

Title contender warning!

Two thoroughbred sports motorcycles, plus a Japanese sports tourer who really doesn’t want to be one, and a touring over-naked from Austria are fighting this year for group victory in the mixed category Sport / Touring.

Sport and touring motorcycles open part two of the Alpine Masters. Who is running here? With the 959 Panigale, Ducati is sending the expanded Euro 4 successor to the 899 into the race, while Kawasaki is sending the brand new, nominally 200 hp ZX-10R. Suzuki’s GSX-S 1000 was already quite convincing at the Nakeds last year, and its fully disguised, technically closely related sister “F” can prove itself in the sportiest category this year. And then, as you must have been eagerly anticipating, there would be KTMs 1290 Super Duke GT. With her, of course, the Mattighofener want to be at the forefront of the Alpen Masters. Understandable, since the basic Super-Duke R already has a lot of what makes a real Dolo champion: stable chassis, upright, sporty ergonomics, huge brake and, last but not least, a 1300 Vau-Two catapult, which is designed for heavy driving performance. The gear and load status are always pretty bogus. For the ultimate alpine burner, the Super Duke R just lacks a bit of long-distance comfort, space for pillion passengers and luggage and a little bit of equipment. As if they were MOTORRAD subscribers, the KTM engineers have now added all of this to the Super Duke GT.

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Sport and touring bikes at the 2016 Alpen Masters

Alpine Masters 2016
Ahoy, Pordoi!

Ducati 959 Panigale and Kawasaki ZX-10R are no exception. Why is that? Well, certainly not in terms of chassis quality, braking performance or power, because Kawa and Duc have an abundance of both. If the road surface is flat and dry, the curves are long, and the sports tires are up to temperature (especially the Bridgestone RS 10 from the Kawa needs some of it), then no one can show the sports motorcycles in terms of stability, freedom from leaning, feedback, and ultimately driving pleasure. These wonderful sports driver tunnel vision moments are rare, because wetness, potholes, switchbacks are the rule in the Alps, and then the hashtag is stub handlebar suffering. The chassis of the Ducati works very well in principle, but because of its geometry trimmed for agility, it reacts rather stubbornly to impulses in an inclined position, demanding a tamer rather than a pilot up the Pordoi.

Duc better because it translates more powerfully and appropriately

The Kawasaki ZX-10R, on the other hand, is wonderfully full and bolt-stable, but for its part wants significantly more physical effort in alternating curves. In addition, riding the Zehner with its long tank and low handlebar stubs is really hard work, especially downhill. On the other hand, climbs, once again the Pordoi, are cited as an example, the Kawa driver has to complete almost without exception in the miserably long first gear (up to 150 km / h), and even then many other, significantly weaker motorcycles pull without using the clutch merciless of it. Just for comparison: 8.2 seconds when pulling uphill with a pillion passenger, from 25 to 75 kilometers per hour, that places the Kawasaki ZX-10R between the Honda CB 500 F and the Moto Guzzi V9. But woe if the four-in-line ignites from around 8000 revs – because then the ZX-10R drives everything into the ground. That is nice, of course, but of minor importance in this competition.

Somewhat better, because the translation is more powerful and more appropriate, the Duc robs. But its sports engine is not really satisfactory here either. Add to this the complete lack of passenger comfort and luggage storage in both, the overall result shouldn’t come as a surprise. The differences between the two are more of a degree. The Panigale 959 feels a little fresher, more manageable, but also more idiosyncratic, the Kawa more polished, more stable, more down-to-earth, rather oldschool. Ducati 959 Panigale and Kawasaki ZX-10R are best suited for a single, angry test round. In racing leather, if possible on a closed track.

Comfortable ergonomics, powerful brakes, great range

The Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F comes across as much, much more sociable, more appropriate to the purpose and yet not a bit dull. Because it is practically identical to the bare variant that was represented last year, its strengths are briefly repeated: strong inline four-cylinder with fine Japanese running culture and hoarse tubes, crisp, firm chassis with decent reserves, light-footed handling, upright, comfortable ergonomics, powerful brakes, great range. All of this can be transferred to the “F”, supplemented by noticeably better wind protection. The bottom line is that the Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F is a very competent alpine burner. Criticism? The shock absorber and fork should respond a little more sensitively, there is no pillion comfort, and a luggage system can only be found at accessory specialists. After all, the often criticized, harsh throttle response from overrun now seems a bit milder, although not yet perfect. Nevertheless, and especially at a price of 12,800 euros: The Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F is recommended for solo mountaineers with more sport than touring ambitions.

And with that to the motorcycle that almost has to win the group due to its key data. A whopping 173 hp and an even richer 144 Nm maximum torque, semi-active chassis, large fuel tank, wind protection, space for two and luggage, equipment up to the point – the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT does everything right on paper. Almost even more overwhelming then is the superiority on the street. In the latest Euro 4 variant with new cylinder heads and an exhaust flap, the Vau 1300 engine has become even more powerful subjectively. The way he storms the pass is unparalleled: 3.2 seconds of pulling through in second gear uphill, with a pillion passenger. This is great. This pressure means extreme sovereignty in all situations, especially because the performance, the response of the propellant, take place so wonderfully smoothly and calmly. The sky-high victory among all Alpen bikes in the engine classification is the deserved result. Then the driving behavior: noticeably Super Duke R, so still extremely sporty, but supplemented with a strong pinch of dignified long-distance comfort.

An amazing balancing act between tour and competition

Basically rather tight, the electronic chassis in comfort mode gives rise to more than sufficient comfort. An automatic gearshift is on board (no blipper), and the traction control now has lean angle sensors, a welcome addition. Furthermore, the Touring Duke has enormous loading capabilities (electronic adjustment of the spring preload at the rear), driver and passenger comfort almost on par with a travel enduro, as well as the same range and payload. Just like the engine, the whole vehicle makes an amazing balancing act between tour and competition. The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT manages to be enough motorcycle for a long journey for two without becoming too bulky in terms of driving pleasure.

The only real fly in the ointment, perhaps next to the defensive ABS setup, which can make the braking distance surprisingly long downhill, is the mechanical clacking of the semi-active suspension fork. If you did not know that they are functioning properly, you might think that something is broken. That being said, the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is an extremely complete motorcycle.

1st place: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT


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KTM 1290 Super Duke GT in first place.

plus:

  • extremely sovereign drive, excellent driving performance
  • broadband chassis, can comfort and sport
  • complete equipment
  • good seating and travel comfort, also for two

minus:

  • defensive ABS
  • clacking suspension fork

2nd place: Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F


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The Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F made it to second place.

plus:

  • bearish four-cylinder, rich pressure, fine running culture
  • Acceleration and torque great
  • stable, firm driving behavior
  • dresser seating position
  • low consumption, good range

minus:

  • Inadequate passenger comfort
  • poor luggage storage

3rd place: Kawasaki ZX-10R


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The Kawasaki ZX-10R is third.

plus:

  • stable, full driving behavior
  • very safe ABS
  • violent acceleration in the upper speed range

minus:

  • super sporty sitting position, tiring
  • bad draft
  • Passenger comfort and luggage storage

4th place: Ducati 959 Panigale


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The Ducati 959 Panigale scores the least in this category.

plus:

  • excellent brake, effect and controllability
  • Handiness and feedback on a level road

minus:

  • hard engine running
  • short range
  • not suitable for a passenger, luggage storage

Alpen Masters ranking

Maximum
score		 Ducati
959 Panigale		 Kawasaki
ZX-10R		 KTM 
1290 Super Duke GT		 Suzuki
GSX-S 1000 F		 engine 150 104 97 134 120 Driving behavior 180 120 125 141 127 everyday life 100 44 51 77 61 Comfort 70 19th 22nd 48 36 Overall rating 500 287 295 400 344 placement 4th. 3. 1. 2.

MOTORCYCLE conclusion


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1st place Sport / Touring: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT.

Real sports bikes in the Alps? Ducati Panigale 959 and Kawasaki ZX-10R are best for a very fast lap, with a bulletproof driving license and spare underwear in the backpack. With Suzuki’s versatile Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F you are clearly comfortable and yet really sporty. A likable underdog. The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is not an underdog, but for the time being the new benchmark for alpine glow. Cream engine, broadband chassis, complete equipment with all long-distance goodies – as a sports tourer in the true sense of the word, the KTM can do everything.

1st place in sport / touring: KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

Technical data Ducati and Kawasaki

Here you can see an extract of the technical data. If you would like the complete measurement values ​​determined by us, including all consumption, torque and acceleration values, you can buy the article as a PDF for download.

Technical data KTM and Suzuki

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