Suitable Partners
KTM 890 Duke R Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro
Since 2017, the 790 Duke has been KTM’s middleweight offering; something considerably less confronting than the 1290 Super Duke, yet versatile enough to satisfy most riders. Now the 790’s replacement has arrived – the 890 Duke R, and it’s several notches up the scale in terms of performance and handling.
The parallel twin engine is basically all new, with bore and stroke both up on the old to give an extra 100cc. Compression is up too, cams wilder, pistons lighter, and both inlet and exhaust valves 1mm larger. For better low-speed response, the crankshaft now has 20 per cent more rotational mass, with a revised balancer shaft to reduce vibration. Inside the gearbox, the selector mechanism has been redesigned to produce a shorter lever movement and lighter action. A Quickshifter is available as an option.
Now to the rest of the bike. Chassiswise, the 890 is very similar to the model it replaces, the vivid orange tubular frame identical. The beefy swinging arm has been located higher up in the frame which also lifts the ride height for more ground clearance and sharper cornering. Up front, the WP fork now has adjustable compression and rebound damping, although no spring preload adjustment. An all-new WP shock controls the rear which has high and low speed compression damping. The riding position has been revised with the handlebars mounted lower ►
and a slightly raised seat height, and this means a more forward-leaning attitude for the rider with more weight on the front end.
One thing that is missing is any form of passenger arrangement – no pillion seat nor footrests (or their substantial brackets). The pillion set up is still available as an option, at extra cost of course. KTM says this has reduced weight by 3.2kg to bring the dry weight of the bike down to 165.9kg. New-spec Michelin Powercup II tyres – about as close to road-slicks as you can get – are a nod to the model’s capabilities as a Supermono racer.
The 890 is possessed of phenomenal stopping power – which is not surprising when you consider that the Brembo Stylema 4-piston calipers and 320mm front discs come straight from the 1290 Super Duke R. At the rear, the single-piston Brembo caliper and 300 disc are identical to the 790. A six-axis IMU operates the Cornering ABS system, with four separate throttle modes; Rain, Street, Sport and the optional Track setting. Traction Control can be switched off, but ABS cannot. My short test ride was conducted in an urban environment, so there was no chance for me to sample the performance capabilities of the new model. Around town though, the 890 R shows it had perfect manners when called for with razor-sharp handling, and a superb transmission. Across in California, son Rennie also got his hands on an 890 R, and he was able to let it loose around the canyon roads where the motorcycle displays another side to its personality. Says Rennie, “The ride is awesome. There are three standout players here – the motor, gearshift and how snappy and agile the chassis is. With a claimed 120 horsepower, the Duke 890 R delivers as mellow or mental experience as you like. There are four specific personalities lurking in the ride modes, with the ride becoming progressively angrier until you hit ‘go’ on the optional Track mode. The spread of power is so vast, you’ve always got some decent acceleration on hand when you need it. From
2,000 rpm right through to the 10,500 rpm red line, the 890 pulls harder than it has any right to. It’s impossible not to have a good time.
“The suspension is vastly improved over the 790’s, as is the ride quality with the swinging arm sitting taller in the frame – it simply annihilates corners. Overall comfort is good when you consider the engineers made the rider triangle racier with more weight directed towards the front end. You’re hunched forward more than on the 790. The electrics are intuitive and easy to use once you spend a bit of time getting used to them. KTM has created a motorcycle absolutely anyone of any level can enjoy. The 890 Duke R is the perfect mix of bratty, snappy character, civil on-road manners, intuitive electronics and enough practicality to be any bike you want it to be.” So there you have it: Mild and Wild, or in Rennie’s parlance, Mellow and Mental. Either way, it’s one heck of a motorcycle. Thanks to Procycles, St Peters, NSW for trusting us with this brand spanking new example. ■