Stolen moments
Our KTM 790 Duke proved so popular, it even found its way into the wrong hands…
What’s the best thing about the KTM 790 Duke?
It’s such an agile, slim bike that it makes commuting a doddle. So easy to slip between traffic and so natural to balance on.
What’s the worst thing?
The fuelling isn’t great — I probably should have spent some time fixing that. The 790 would also definitely benefit from an aftermarket shock, some better-quality fork internals and probably an upgraded front brake master cylinder too. And while keeping the chain at proper tension is important on any bike, if the 790 is slack it’ll let you know with an alarming, ear-splitting, high-frequency squeak.
What was your defining moment?
Nailing the throttle earlier and earlier out of Charlies 2 around Cadwell Park, and feeling the Duke just dig in and drive. Such a mega feeling, I’ve never had enough time on track to really exploit a modern bike’s electronics before as much as I have on the Duke.
What have you learned?
That 100bhp is all the power that you need to have fun in any situation. That, and the fact that you need to keep it out of sight! Right at the end of the year the KTM was stolen from outside a friend’s house. Unbelievably it was found by the police two days later but the ignition was smashed. But it is a reminder of the importance of good security and keeping nice-looking bikes away from prying eyes.
If you had £8499 to spend on a new bike, would you buy it?
I’ve ridden and tested quite a few new bikes under the £10k mark this year, but I’ve been so impressed when getting back on the 790 Duke. In my humble opinion, it’s a proper beast for its price range.