Enhancing your 790 Duke

The best way to sharpen your scalpel’s edge

Bar position £FOC

Although the R has lower bars than the 790, you can alter the position of the clamps on the top yoke to one of two points to either move the bars closer or further away from you on both bikes. Positioning them closer (as on the R) gives a sportier feel to the riding position for free.

KTM paddock-stand bobbins £25.44

As the Duke lacks a centrestand, bobbins and a paddock stand make lubing the chain a far easier process. “There are loads of pattern options on ebay for about £10 but the KTM items seemed better constructed and come in an anodised orange finish,” says Ben.

Brake pads From £45

“The original pads don’t have much bite and a dead feeling to them,” reckons Ben. “I changed them for SBS Street Excel pads, which made them respond much better.”

Samco radiator hoses £51.49

A large number of 790 Duke’s suffer from the coolant hose to the radiator leaking. This is usually changed under warranty but a Samco silicone radiator hose kit (two hoses) will ensure it never happens again and comes in a huge variety of colours with a lifetime warranty.

Bar-end weights From £30

Owners report that fitting heavier bar-end weights can help to dampen out the 790 Duke’s annoying handlebar vibrations. There are lots of options on the market from known brands such as R&G and Evotech and unbranded items on online auction sites.

Tyres From £240

The original-fitment Maxxis Supermaxx tyres are okay for general road use but if you up the pace, they can feel a little hard and many owners say swapping them for more sportstargeted tyres makes a huge difference to the bike’s handling. Interestingly, that’s exactly what KTM has done on the R, fitting

Michelin Power Cup II tyres as standard.