KTM 790 Duke

How is the design of KTM 790 Duke?

The KTM 790 Duke follows the KTM Duke family’s same style and design language i.e. having minimal design and an LED Headlamp. The naked sports bike looks sharp, sexy and minimal, staying true to its heritage. It also has a chiselled fuel tank with sleek side panels that gives the naked sports bike a solid street vibe. There is also an open-lattice swingarm and edgy exhaust that completes the overall look of the naked frame. The KTM 790 Duke has a frame of chromium-molybdenum that was adapted for weight reduction and compactness. The Duke 790’s kerb weight is 174 kg and it is regarded as the one of the lightest in the middleweight naked sports bike segment. 

How does the KTM 790 Duke ride?

The KTM 790 Duke comes with a liquid-cooled, parallel-win motor that generates a power of up to 105 bhp at 9,000 rpm and torque of 87 Nm at 8,000 rpm. The engine consists of double counter-balancing shafts as they are lightweight and thus make minimal vibrations. The 6-speed manual gearbox has a combination of quick-shifter and slipper clutch. The KTM 790 Duke also offers four riding modes such as rain, street, sport, and track. Different riding modes have different variable settings like throttle response, power delivery, and traction control. You can also customize the track mode in a 9-step throttle response selection and slip adjustable traction control. The naked sports bike offers launch control and anti-wheelie control. It also has IMU Bosch 9.1 MP that helps in feeding data to the cornering ABS and the ABS. The rigid and compact chassis helps in handling the bike on greater lean angles and sharper turn-ins. 

How comfortable is KTM 790 Duke?

The first thing that catches the attention of a buyer is the weight of the KTM 790 Duke. The bike is as heavy as the Triumph Street Triple RS but is notably lighter when on the road. The seat height measuring 825 mm may be a cause of concern for riders with shorter height. There is ample seating comfort on offer. You can comfortably tuck your knees on the narrow waistline formed as the fuel tank aligns with the seat contours.

The single-piece handlebar and the rear-set foot pegs give an aggressive but upright riding posture that is quite comfortable. The KTM 790 Duke delivers a manageable ride with its typical cushion-like seat. The 790 Duke also has non-adjustable inverted forks at the front and a rear mono-shock that is preload adjusted. Even after the firm set up, the Duke 790 handles road bumps, undulations and minor potholes well. The setup offers strong feedback when riding at higher speeds. This communicative setup makes handling the KTM 790 Duke easy and safe. 

How’s the tech?

The electronics package of the KTM 790 Duke is its biggest USP. The sports naked bike offers four riding modes- Road, Rain, Track, and Sport that has a different level of throttle sensitivity and traction control. The peak power is reduced when the bike is set at Rain mode for better riding ability and traction. In the Track mode, the rider can completely customise the traction control, launch control, and anti-wheelie control. The bike also has lean-sensitive ABS that allows the rider to apply brakes with more intensity. The bi-directional quick shifter functions nicely when downshifting. The bike also has a user-friendly TFT colour instrument console. Some of the standard features offered by the KTM 790 Duke are a digital tachometer, digital speedometer, gear indicator, low fuel indicator, fuel gauge, low battery indicator, engine kill switch, pillion seat and grab rail, trip meter count, fuel warning indicator, pass light, and more.

How’s the mileage of KTM 790 Duke?

The mileage of the KTM 790 Duke is 22.72 kmpl.

How is the performance of KTM 790 Duke?

It is a pure delight to ride the KTM 790 Duke that has an impressive throttle and strong torque curve. The bike does not fail to give an adrenaline rush when the throttle is opened hard after swaying through corners. Another aspect that is impressive about the bike is that it is vibration-free while running because of the dual-countershafts.

There is a slight buzz on the bar and at the seat which is normal. The 790 Duke also does not require constant gear shifts like its other siblings. The grip levels are also good owing to the suspension setup and the Maxxis tyres that keep the bike planted even at high speeds. 

Is the KTM 790 Duke good value for money?

The KTM 790 Duke comes with a slipper clutch and Motor Slip Regulation. The bike is well-equipped with advanced electronic features that make it good value for money. The performance, power and handling along with a decent feature list, make the KTM 790 Duke an attractive proposition for buyers.