KTM 890 DUKE R (2020 - on) Review

Amazing. The WP suspension is the best that I have ever had (out of 50+ bikes)... & no need to seek out expert attention to get it set up. just use KTM soft / Comfort settings. I tend to need a break after a couple of hours, but thats probably an age thing! I have the high comfort seat fitted which I find beneficial

Strong, thrilling and full of character. Makes a lovely noise with standard or quiet aftermarket can. Very fuel efficient. I tend to get 70+mpg

Totally reliable over the 9000miles that I have ridden, no issues at all. The plastic bodywork does have to be treated with care as its prone to scratching.

Bike seems to be kind to its chain, with minimal adjustment required if kept well lubed. KTM spares are usually well priced Local KTM dealer (Orwell Motorcycles, Ipswich) is competitively priced and efficient.

There is all that you would expect on a naked bike, although some things are expensive options. I have the factory heated grips & the Tech Pack.

I've carried a pillion comfortably and the pillion seat is a decent size. I've ridden the bike for hours and never feel fatigue my bike does have the uprated seat and is great on long journeys. The bike is very capable for long journeys with luggage and pillion or just as happy on short flat out blasts. Thanks to the Brembos it's stops pretty sharpish too. Being a 2 cylinder bike you get more vibration through the bars than a 4 cylinder bike but I've gotten used to it now and it adds to its hooligan charm.

The power delivery is sharp and you can really ring its neck which I enjoy, its not a powerhouse but its as good as you'll get from 2 cylinders, the 890 will do North of 150mph and gets to 130 at a decent rate, if you want big power buy a 1290. The 890 is all about the handling with enough engine power for most road riders.

The switches and dash are not of high quality compared to say bmw or triumph but they do the job adequately. Having owned the bike over a year and done over 5 thousand miles it has never missed a beat. The rocker cover does the oil weeping they are famous for but oil loss is very minimal and just needs a little wipe, only requiring a top up once in between yearly service.

It's ticks all the boxes for me in the equipment category Quick shifter Adjustable traction control Anti wheelie And the ones I've not used yet Supermoto mode and launch control however all these don't come standard. I would at some point like to add heated grips cruise control and the phone connection on dashboard.

This is where the 890r stands above most especially in the middle weight naked category. Can ride for hours no issues at all super comfy. You can tour commute track or just do what ever with this bike.

The punch and power out of any corner along with all the tech and quick shifter just makes every hp usable. The grunt is something else. There is no bike on earth under 120mph that is more exciting.

Had this bike for over a year and looks the same as when I collected it brand new.

The oe tyres are incredible in the hot and track. Riding all year round no they are not idea road tyres. You will need to change them every 1500 miles. The quick shifter is awesome. With the brembo kit you can stop in any distance at any angle.

Outstanding brakes and suspension, KTM nailed this. Bike is just 100% fun to ride! Seating is MX-like, good for a long moto plus two laps!

More power than you will ever really need, but maybe not since the 990 is on the way... Super torquey and high revving motor, really nice. Trans shifts very well and the QS seems to work fine. I still clutch most of my shifts on the street--save the QS-ing for the track.

Too soon to tell, but so far no issues.

I only ride it on the weekends, so my costs will be way down compared to an everyday user. Tires are super grippy and won't last long, but the cost is worth it.

Top quality components are a big plus. The negative--muffler is ugly, too big and too quiet--and gets in the way of your right boot heel. Footpegs are rubber covered, don't like them. Replaced them with proper knurled pegs--much better.

Suspension and brakes are absolutely sublime. Best handling 'straight from the crate' bike you can buy........however it was purchased as a 'fun' Sunday B-road scratcher and whilst it will also handled town commutes and the odd motorway blast happily I was aware that it would not please a pillion or be the best tourer.

Punchy and Characterful with perfect throttle response.

Nil corrosion yet and other than the above mentioned and the chain requiring adjustment twice in 1000 miles no faults whatsoever. According to a KTM mechanic the previous 790 model (same frame) could suffer corrosion under the headstock area and so I have used XCP rustblocker in this area and will monitor.

The first service was completed for just £70 (perhaps reduced to this due to the leaking seal and quickshifter tuning problems encountered by the supplying dealer). It is too early to estimate annual running costs especially as I cannot imagine tyres as grippy as these super cups iether lasting long or being cheap.

Had never been overly in love with the design of the KTM's and hated the 'trout shaped' exhaust and the (usual on all bikes nowadays) half metre long rearlight/reg plate holder and so had the supplying dealer fit an akrapovic slip-on and tail tidy and have since decatted the system. The oe michelin super cups seem even more confidence inspiring than my previous favourite Metzeler racetechs.

The above rating is in my opinion simply without doubt.......but only if used as a Sunday blast B road toy. A pillion seat and rear pegs come in a box but in my case will never be used. Luggage capacity is very limited and the covering of longer distances will not be the most comfortable and this is not what this bike was designed for. The bike is a brilliant example of how to create a lightweight, minimal scratching tool which (in the right hands) is capable of trouncing bigger/faster bikes on B roads and shorter race circuits. It also makes for a fun commuter.

120 hp and 67 ft lbs is mega from this parallel twin and to be so useable in all modes and at all revs/speeds is an engineering masterpiece.

I have seen no corrosion yet, it hasn't broken down and the finish appears to be excellent thus far. The plastics and vinyl graphics although obviously designed to be lightweight, could perhaps be a little tougher but I am perhaps being picky here. (Carbon fiber would have drastically increased prices). Otherwise would be 5/5

Parts are a tad expensive. The 350 servicing cost is estimated and could change.

The tyres, suspension and brakes are phenomenal. It is a 'naughty bike' and most equipment is designed around performance and safety. A radiator guard was a useful add-on due to the short front mudguard and the price of KTM parts.

Perfect power everywhere

Build to perfection. Best quality components throughout well done KTM

Forget the 790 scalple, the super scalple is the real deal