What Are the Best Fork Cartridge and Shock Upgrades for the KTM 1290 Super Duke R?

Finding direct-fit suspension upgrades for the 1290 Super Duke can be a headache, especially if you are looking for an Ohlins setup. The reality is there is no direct Ohlins cartridge for the 1290 Super Duke because Ohlins does not produce the specific cap size required for the KTM, and custom caps require massive minimum order quantities to manufacture.

Some companies, like Andreani, produce the Misano cartridge for the manually adjustable forks. My buddy Gavin bought a set of the Andreani cartridges. He opened the box, looked them over real close, closed the box, and sold them. Enough said there.

If you want a serious, bolt-on solution without jumping through hoops, take a look at Matris. They not only make a standard cartridge kit for the Superduke, but a pressurized unit as well—similar to the Ohlins FKRs that I run. The massive advantage with Matris is that there are no hoops to jump through because they manufacture their own caps. Their shocks are completely bolt-on as well, and I run their steering damper, which is very well made. It is definitely worth more than one look.

If you are piecing together a rear shock solution, keep the dimensions in mind. The OEM 1290 shock length is 356mm. The absolute best length combination you can run would be 356mm with 10mm of length adjustment (longer) to allow for geometry tuning. Keep in mind, whenever you are measuring chassis geometry or shock lengths to establish your baseline, the suspension must be hanging with absolutely zero weight on the tires for accuracy.