KTM 790 DUKE
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… Saying goodbye.
It seems like only yesterday I was picking up the KTM, when in the first blog I mentioned how weird it feels when you first mount the 790 Duke. It was like having that new girlfriend you’re not sure about, but once you’ve ridden it a few times, it becomes more familiar… and enjoyable. We’ve toured, we’ve commuted, we’ve track day-ed and it’s even had a pillion. Whatever ‘I’ve asked of it, the 790 Duke has delivered, and been brilliant in the process. It just proves that you should never judge a book by its cover, unless, of course, it has the words Carl & Stevens written on the front! But yeah, I knew deep down it would be a wolf in sheep’s clothing for hooning around the back lanes, but I didn’t expect it to be so much more – it’s proven to be comfortable (with or without a pillion), a great touring machine and incredibly commuter friendly. It would be great if KTM should make it into an adventure bike as well… oh, hang on! And there you go, its brother is indeed an Adventure bike, so the ‘it fits all’ DNA is there from the start – it’s no surprise it’s such a good all-rounder then really, when you think about it.
It also begs the question on why do you actually need anything bigger? A decent rider on this will destroy some litre sports bikes, on and off the track. I do that on my CB500 on a trackday, so this would literally take the urine – and I mean a proper golden shower of urine taking. I, for one, take more pleasure in doing that, showing off with lesser power, than being the embarrassed one trying to control a £25k sports bike. If I was in the market for a bike, which I might be soon, I’d buy two. I’d buy the Duke and a 790 Adventure, and that’s a lot for me to say that, because I am pretty tight. But then again, what more do you want for £20k?
But for now, it’s time to say an emotional goodbye. By the time you read this, my beloved 790 Duke will probably be sitting in a dealer showroom waiting to be snapped up. If you end up with mine, please treat her with care. Nah, I’m only joking! Let her avit and enjoy it, just like your new girlfriend.
So that’s it, the game’s up. I knew the RR was always going to have to go back at some point, but a few more months wouldn’t have done any harm. Actually, with the onset of ice, cold tyres and puddles deeper than the Thames, maybe handing her back now while the Beemer’s still in one piece isn’t such a bad move. But I’m writing this concluding piece with a great deal of regret. For one reason or another, like smashing myself up/Carl and Boothy nicking the bike for USB part 2, I haven’t clocked the miles to fully experience the utter brilliance of this package. Here’s the thing. As good as the bike’s been, I dare say more time and a bit of tweaking would have made the RR even better. That said, for a bike that’s just rolled off the production line it’s very hard to fault, offering you all the tech, power and style you could wish for. It’s fantastically adaptable and can be switched from a hell-raiser into a choir boy in just a few touches of buttons. That’s great, and probably the reason why it’s proven capable of ticking most of my boxes on nearly every occasion.
So what more would I have hoped for from the Beemer? Character, really. In road trim it just seemed to do everything so clinically that it robbed me of the excitement a 200bhp+ sportsbike should have constantly on tap – I was often hoping for fireworks, but more usually I’d get party poppers. It seems counter-productive to ask for an edgier ride, but when your day-to-day antics don’t revolve around setting lap times you need a bit of personality to get your juices going – or at least I do.
As far as track riding goes, this bike is sublime. The very first time I rode it I was shocked by how agile it proved and that’s a sensation that hasn’t lessened with time. For such a big brute, the RR sure knows how to dance. It knows how to find traction too, and take the piss out of its rivals in a straight line. For a road bike, the package is unreal and I don’t need anyone to explain why most stock and superbike riders will be wanting to ride a Beemer next year. The sophistication of the electronics has impressed me on every ride, along with the brakes. I remember the concern being bandied around when people realised the RR no longer came with Brembos; it simply wasn’t founded. BMW revolutionised the S 1000 RR for 2019, and not just in the aesthetics department. In every which way it’s become a better motorcycle, still just as practical, but stronger, sharper and even more effortless to ride. Of course, it’s not perfect; its seat is much too firm for my liking. But when that’s the only major hang-up I can throw the RR’s way, it’s fair to say it must be a bloody good motorcycle.