SPECIFICATIONS

You wouldn’t have thought a simplelooking roadster like this would handle better than just about any road bike you can buy, exotic superbikes included. But it does. Then again the new KTM 890 Duke R is light (166kg dry) and makes 119bhp, which is the perfect amount of power for its chassis. It also comes with some of the finest suspension, brakes and tyres around, all polished to perfection by KTM test rider Jeremy Mcwilliams. If you get beaten in the bends riding this thing you’ve only got yourself to blame. But lots of bikes come with flashy cycle parts, think Yamaha MT-09SP and Triumph Street Triple RS for starters. But none will lean with such confidence, have so much front-end grip or offer such a sophisticated ride.

Spec aside it’s still a bit of a surprise just how capable the new 890 is. Yes, it’s based on the 790 Duke (still in KTM’S line up at £8999), which despite lower spec brakes, suspension and tyres is a frisky little thing. However, what really makes the difference is how it’s been given the trackday treatment by the aforementioned Grand Prix rider. The new fully adjustable WP Apex forks and shock mean the 890 sits taller for more ground clearance and improved agility. And its spring rates and internals have been fine-tuned to give the kind of feel you’ll only ever experience from a well-sorted racer – not hard or crashy, but plush and controlled. New Michelin Power Cup 2 tyres compound the feeling of utter invincibility in the corners. They’re semi-slick, grip like race rubber and warm up remarkably fast, even on a spring day in Blighty. Although, with so little tread they’re not going to be great splashing through puddles.

During the 890’s development KTM tested all the usual tyre suspects and these cranked out 58 degree lean on track, so were quickly snapped up. The Michelins also helped the 890 lap some of their

Price £10,399 Engine 890cc, liquidcooled, 8v parallel twin Power 119bhp Torque 73lb.ft Top speed 140mph (est) Rake/trail %% #éé Wheelbase 1482mm Kerb weight 166kg Seat height 834mm Tank size 15.4 litres Economy 51mpg Colours Ùäåðá þèýßç orange Availability Now

Bike verdict Unashamedly single minded, but few machines scorch through a set of bends with the grip, poise, or thrill at road speeds of the new KTM 890 Duke R. You don’t need a superbike to get your rocks off… shorter test tracks as quick as the 1290 Super Duke R and after riding the 890 today, it isn’t hard to believe. Then there’s the engine. Parallel twins aren’t usually exciting creations, but this one is. It has the rumbling character of a big V-twin (with more power than an original Ducati 916), the brappy mid-range grunt of a big supermoto and the free-revving urgency of a blueprinted racer. And if clutching up third gear wheelies is your thing, look no further. But despite the motor’s eagerness it never clatters or vibrates, and the throttle pick-up around town and mid-corner is flawless. Again, the 790 Duke it’s based on isn’t slow, but with its extra boring and stroking, increased capacity (from 799cc to 890cc) and a higher compression ratio the 890 Duke R has an extra 16bhp and more of a spring in its step. And for those rare moments when you need to brake on a bike with such a lust for corner speed, its Brembo Stylemas are so powerful you’ll need all but the lightest touch on the span and ratio-adjustable lever to get them fizzing.

If your neck muscles can take it the 890 will march to 140mph, but this engine is at its most rewarding at road speeds. On any given stretch you’ll have a bigger smile on your face than the person on the superbike or super naked you’ve just dusted off. Bigger riders will dwarf the 890, but it’s like a Tardis – spacious, with decent legroom and wide bars. It also comes with some nice electronics to complement its go-faster chassis toys: lean sensitive traction control and ABS, a crisp up/down quickshifter and three rider modes. It’s well finished out of the crate too. But there is an elephant in this room in the shape of the 790 Duke’s reliability and durability. KTM need to have dealt with this if the 890 is going to be seen as a true, all round, success. No doubt, detractors will accuse the 890 Duke R of being a ten-grand, one-trick, cornering pony. And they may well be right, but what a trick.