RF FEB 2021 ONLINE

About the Bike:
KTM has transplanted the motor and much of the firepower from the 890
Duke R into the 790 Duke, creating a new standard 890 Duke and really
mixing it up in the middleweight road bike class.
The Austrian firm entered middleweight naked battle in 2017 after years
of domination by bikes like Yamaha’s MT range, bringing superbike levels
of tech to more affordable bikes.Three years on, there are a bunch of new
bikes fighting it out in this segment, so it was time for KTM to update things.
KTM seems to have delivered a reason to smile, announcing the new 2021
890 Duke as the replacement for the outgoing 790.
It’s positioned as a slightly more street-oriented (and more comfortable)
scalpel than its 890 R sibling. The 890 Duke sports the 890 R’s 889cc parallel
twin that KTM says is good for 10 more horsepower and almost 4 more
pound-foot of torque than the 789cc mill that powered the 790 Duke. It now
shares the 890 R’s 6D lean angle sensor to complement its cornering ABS
(with Supermoto ABS mode), two-axis MTC (traction control), Sport, Street,
and Rain ride modes, and optional MSR (controlled engine-braking). The
entry-level 890 Duke features a TFT display
Optional equipment includes a Track ride mode with nine-level adjustable
MTC, launch control, and disabled wheelie control, and Quickshifter+ for
clutchless up- and downshifting.
The biggest change is the motor, which has grown in both bore and stroke to
799cc from 889cc. The result is a decent growth in power (just over 8bhp) as
well as modest bump in torque (up 3.7lb.ft to 68lb.ft).
Just like the growth from 790 to 890 on the Adventure, this increase in
displacement has also been met with an increase in rotating mass in the
engine. KTM says that this helps to smooth out the throttle response at low
rpm and improves cornering stability through increased inertia.
Helping you bring all this to a stop is an updated Brembo braking system
that features new calipers and pads for improved stopping power. The
300mm dual floating front discs benefit from what KTM describes as
“improved” four-piston calipers, and though the 43mm WP Apex USD
cartridge-style fork contains new, lighter springs and a new base valve for
better high-speed damping, it is still not adjustable. The WP Apex rear shock
remains adjustable for preload only.
Other changes include improved suspension in the form of 43mm WP Apex
forks and Continental ContiRoad tyres which, KTM says provide excellent
wet weather performance and - warm up quickly.
Last but not least it’s worth noting that KTM have brought the 890 Duke
bang up to date and it meets the latest restrictive Euro5 standards, while
keeping the dry weight to the exact same figure as it was before.
The bike arrives in dealers soon, and will give extra options for any
middleweight motorcycle buyer.
It sure looks very cool!
www.ktm.com