I had an 08 Super Duke and it was a fun bike. I currently have an 1190 S that I plan on keeping, but I'm considering a dedicated street bike. The 1290 SD is high on the list, as is the Aprilia 1100 Tuono, the Yamaha MT 10, and the BMW S1000R. For some reason that Tuono is really appealing. Unfortunately, getting to test ride all of these bike will be virtually impossible. I guess what I'm wondering is, have any of you that own the 1290 had the opportunity to ride one of these other bikes and thought maybe one of these bikes were as good, or better?

I had a 2012 V4 Tuono 1000, it was a great bike, very fast. But 2 things really pissed me off, first the suspension was shit, really bad, i fitted a TTX, and got the forks revalved. And then it handled great, but the fuel economy was shocking, i ran out of fuel on that bike 5 or more times, so i got rid of it, But the new 1100 Factory Tuono is a great bike, Ohlins suspension, and an 18 lt. tank, they are sill a thirsty bike, but the 18 litres will get you around 200K if your not to heavy on the throttle. The new to be released 1290R is going to be really awesome, and probably be a match for the 1100 T. Probably come down to weather you like a big torquey twin, or a higher reving 4.

I came from a BMW S1000R. I wouldn't say that things didn't get exciting until 9,000 rpm. Hell, I had my shift light set at 10K. That engine had plenty of scoot from 5,000-,6000 on up. Plenty. I never felt it was lacking there. In fact, for myself the only place where it was lacking was with the noise the engine made. I'm a long time Ducati rider and have never really been able to adapt to the usual I4 exhaust. although it could be reasonably argued that the 1KR did real good for that configuration. The S1KR made you a better rider too. I have lots of fun on the SD1290 and wouldn't go back but I was faster through the turns, etc. with the BMW. I had wanted to get the new Tuono Factory R but I couldn't sell the BMW in time to get the Factory that was at our local dealer. So I ended up with the KTM, which is what I wanted even before the BMW but we had no street KTM dealer here in the islands at that time. I think it's a push between the KTM and the Aprilia. It might come down to which has the better dealer support in your area and whether or not you really like to ride on the sporting edge of things. If you are a little more on the race style riding side of things then maybe the Ape. The 2017 KTM might close the gap though.

Interesting side-by-side road test of the 1290 GT and the S1000XR in this month's Fast Bikes. They gave the win to the GT and said the engine felt under-powered in comparison. I guess its all a matter of perception and what you're used to.
I'm lucky. I've got a 1098 Streetfighter as well that's had a bit of tuning work done and a suspension up trade. I treat that as my sports bike/sunny day scratcher. It feels more single minded than the SDR and not as comfortable. But I like the 1:1 power delivery and the total absence of electronics. Its an old-school brawler and a hell of a lot of fun. The SDR is a better all-round bike though, and its faster, no doubt about it.

Is the 1290 Super Duke the best naked?

It doesn't even rate according to AMCN.
At look at the charts at the bottom of the page obviously has little bearing on the outcome.

I have to agree with mac....the S1000r is not lacking midrange. Mine pulls the front off the ground at 4k rpm in the first 3 gears without any provication at all. Obviously the 1301cc SDR will have a little more grunt but, having ridden them back to back, there is not that much in it. BMW did a great job with that litre motor.

Having said that, now that KTM have caught up with their electronics and finally painted the frame black, I may consider purchasing one when it comes time to sell the BMW....got a year or so to make a decision and it won't be an easy one. There are several choices now that it'll be a hard decision.....great time to be in the market for a naked litre bike!

YES

Bear in mind I haven't had an I/L4 for 25 years. Its been twins and triples. I rode the S1000R and the XR quite close together and that was the fist 4 I'd ridden for a long time. As I've said, its all a matter of perception and my brain is just not calibrated for I/L4s anymore.
I like V-fours but I prefer the thuggery of a twin.

Ive never owned an in line 4, singles twins and a few triumph triples, i test road a Bmer 1000r, in 2012, and that thing amazed me, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But it made me ride in such a way, that life expectancy was looking less likely. it was fun, but mainly when on the gas, i road a Hyabusa, (old model) piece of crap-hated it. I've riden R1, GSX 1000s, only for short durations, fast as fuk, but they never apealed to me, I've always felt more at home on a twin. I think the motor in a twin motorcycle, and the motor in me, beat to the same drum. I'm also really enjoying hooning the back country roads on my 640.