KTM Dukes. Edumacate me.
Discussion
Never thought I'd end up heading down a KTM coloured bike ownership path but today I had to take my mates 790 Duke from Durham to Thirsk and back for a service and it seems as though it got under my skin a little bit, what a cracking little bike that is, albeit slightly under powered for my personal preference.
Which has lead me on to looking at :-
1. Low mileage 18/19 plate 1290 Superduke R's.
2. A brand new 890 Duke R.
Both of which I can pick up for similar money, though on a PCP deal the 1290 comes out slightly cheaper?
The thing which really shone for me on my pals bike was the way it turns and brakes, I know they have this 'Scalpel' moniker but it does seem to live up to it, over the so called Helmsley TT Rroad on the way back it was brilliant.
I have ridden a MK2 SDR before and it broke down on me during the test ride which did put me off slightly, but time is a great healer and I have always loved the look of the SDR so I am willing to overlook that minor indiscretion now. It was also -2 degrees outside and the bike was on Supercorsa's so it wasn't really a very telling test ride.
The 890 I am guessing would be very similar to my pals 790, just turned up a couple of notches.
Which leaves me in the quandary of which bike to go for? After my slight whoops with my S1000R on track I've decided that I'm no longer going to use my ride bikes on track so track performance isn't a consideration.
Anyone have experience of both bikes? And pointers you can give me about either bike??
Help an indecisive mofo out will ya!!!!
Which has lead me on to looking at :-
1. Low mileage 18/19 plate 1290 Superduke R's.
2. A brand new 890 Duke R.
Both of which I can pick up for similar money, though on a PCP deal the 1290 comes out slightly cheaper?
The thing which really shone for me on my pals bike was the way it turns and brakes, I know they have this 'Scalpel' moniker but it does seem to live up to it, over the so called Helmsley TT Rroad on the way back it was brilliant.
I have ridden a MK2 SDR before and it broke down on me during the test ride which did put me off slightly, but time is a great healer and I have always loved the look of the SDR so I am willing to overlook that minor indiscretion now. It was also -2 degrees outside and the bike was on Supercorsa's so it wasn't really a very telling test ride.
The 890 I am guessing would be very similar to my pals 790, just turned up a couple of notches.
Which leaves me in the quandary of which bike to go for? After my slight whoops with my S1000R on track I've decided that I'm no longer going to use my ride bikes on track so track performance isn't a consideration.
Anyone have experience of both bikes? And pointers you can give me about either bike??
Help an indecisive mofo out will ya!!!!
airsafari87 said:
The thing which really shone for me on my pals bike was the way it turns and brakes, I know they have this 'Scalpel' moniker but it does seem to live up to it, over the so called Helmsley TT Rroad on the way back it was brilliant.
The 890R will turn even better and more telepathically. I've not watched that myself yet as I was looking for the Neeves 890R road test but it cropped up, 890R Vs current 1290 SDR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjWnTIeY5Eg
I have a 790 duke and went for a (extended) test ride of the 890r a few months ago. The 890r has sharper handling (suspension and tyres) and far better brakes. In term of power, it is slightly up but it is not night and day. I think if you thought the 790 was down on power you need to go for the 1290 duke.
890 probably does what most people want it to do on the road and I expect would hold it’s own against a 1290 with the average jo on it. I had a gen 2 but wasn’t keen on it, got a gen 1 now but still not loving it. Had more fun on the 950/990’s and 690 smcr on the roads I ride and preserving my licence , so am looking at going back to a 690.
Cheers for the responses everyone.
I've done a bit more research tonight and the 890 R seems like a belter of a bike and would probably suit the type of riding I do a bit more than the 1290 R.
Having ridden my mates bike with the full, dealer fit Arrow system on, I would plump for the full Akra system on the 890.
The salesman I spoke to today strongly hinted, without saying anything directly that it may be worth waiting till the end of September before placing an order as there may well be some good deals to be had depending on how sales have gone in the previous quarter.
I've done a bit more research tonight and the 890 R seems like a belter of a bike and would probably suit the type of riding I do a bit more than the 1290 R.
Having ridden my mates bike with the full, dealer fit Arrow system on, I would plump for the full Akra system on the 890.
The salesman I spoke to today strongly hinted, without saying anything directly that it may be worth waiting till the end of September before placing an order as there may well be some good deals to be had depending on how sales have gone in the previous quarter.
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
The 890 Duke R is outrageous. Best handling road bike I’ve ridden. I just did a video on it but will get told off for posting it.
I’ve only ridden the gen 3 SDR and thoroughly enjoyed that too… but by all accounts it’s a decent site on from the gen 2z
Funnily enough I had seen your video. I’ve only ridden the gen 3 SDR and thoroughly enjoyed that too… but by all accounts it’s a decent site on from the gen 2z
From what I gather the Mk3 SDR is slightly more track focused? Whereas the Mk2 makes a slightly better road bike?
Are the 1290s less problematic than the 790 and 890?
It seems the 890R is more suitable for road thrills rather than track day competitiveness of the 1290 SDR but would the 1290 be a better bet when it comes to avoiding the problems 790s and 890s are known to have?
PCPing both anyway so if they do have problems you're not stuck with them at the end of the term?
It seems the 890R is more suitable for road thrills rather than track day competitiveness of the 1290 SDR but would the 1290 be a better bet when it comes to avoiding the problems 790s and 890s are known to have?
PCPing both anyway so if they do have problems you're not stuck with them at the end of the term?
I'd look for Beast 3.0 (2020-.... 1290R).
Every rotation of the throttle is a giggle, no matter how low the speed is.
Great in city traffic with pillion (tried that).
Comfortable for both rider and pillion.
Can be quiet, can be loud, always sounds like nothing else.
Handling is incredibly confidence-inspiring.
Compared it to new S1000R, new 1200RS, Streetfighter V4S.
1290R is my favorite (followed by V4S).
890R is a playful bike, but looks like a toy, feels like a toy, needs a better sounding pipe.
Tried it back-to-back with Street 765RS, would take 890R just because it is more fun for short rides through hairpins, but RS is better as a longer-distance ride.
But 1290R feels like a proper multi-purpose bike and that would be my choice over 890R.
Every rotation of the throttle is a giggle, no matter how low the speed is.
Great in city traffic with pillion (tried that).
Comfortable for both rider and pillion.
Can be quiet, can be loud, always sounds like nothing else.
Handling is incredibly confidence-inspiring.
Compared it to new S1000R, new 1200RS, Streetfighter V4S.
1290R is my favorite (followed by V4S).
890R is a playful bike, but looks like a toy, feels like a toy, needs a better sounding pipe.
Tried it back-to-back with Street 765RS, would take 890R just because it is more fun for short rides through hairpins, but RS is better as a longer-distance ride.
But 1290R feels like a proper multi-purpose bike and that would be my choice over 890R.
I had a KTM 1290 GT, probably the best bike I've owned in terms of comfort, capability and so easy to ride, like a big scooter, don't worry about the gear your in for the corner or overtaking, super bike for relaxing the mind and reducing stress.
I changed for a Ducati V2, a mistake. The V2 highlighted just how all encompassing the 1290 was.
I've looked at all sorts of bikes recently but only one made sence, to me, the gen 3 Super Duke, delivery in a few weeks.
I'm looking forward to owing that engine again and as its the gen 3 it sould be better than the 2019 GT. (Sometimes on track it would find false neutrals, scary when expecting the torque to slow you down and its not there, hopefully sorted now)
I changed for a Ducati V2, a mistake. The V2 highlighted just how all encompassing the 1290 was.
I've looked at all sorts of bikes recently but only one made sence, to me, the gen 3 Super Duke, delivery in a few weeks.
I'm looking forward to owing that engine again and as its the gen 3 it sould be better than the 2019 GT. (Sometimes on track it would find false neutrals, scary when expecting the torque to slow you down and its not there, hopefully sorted now)
I have a 790, had the 890 as a courtesy bike a couple of times and also a 1290.
The 890 only has, or rarely has the coolant leak from the hoses, generally just the clips need tightening up. The 890 just rides much better than the 790, so much more planted and really let’s you know what’s going on underneath you. The 1290 is everything turned up to mental mode, but at the same time it can be very docile and easy to ride even when you open it up.
The 790 has a host of problems, i had 9 months of trouble free miles Then I got the coolant leak, oil leaks, CS oil leak, snatchy throttle issues, the service support in London is also woeful, to the point as soon as my bike is out of warranty it’s going and I won’t get another KTM again.
I have just had a Friday afternoon build bike I think plenty of other owners have not had any issues at all..
The 890 only has, or rarely has the coolant leak from the hoses, generally just the clips need tightening up. The 890 just rides much better than the 790, so much more planted and really let’s you know what’s going on underneath you. The 1290 is everything turned up to mental mode, but at the same time it can be very docile and easy to ride even when you open it up.
The 790 has a host of problems, i had 9 months of trouble free miles Then I got the coolant leak, oil leaks, CS oil leak, snatchy throttle issues, the service support in London is also woeful, to the point as soon as my bike is out of warranty it’s going and I won’t get another KTM again.
I have just had a Friday afternoon build bike I think plenty of other owners have not had any issues at all..
Can't help on the newer bikes, but I've had a 990SMT for about 4 years now and it has been a real surprise. You can ride it like a knob with it wanting to lift the front wheel very easily or do distance on it like an adult (I did a loop of Devon and Cornwall on it c3 years ago - 800 odd miles). They do have a jerky throttle and a lot of engine braking (my first V Twin) which took some getting used to but fine now I know it and the actual brakes are superb and much better than my other sports oriented bikes. The build quality is also really high.
It was my first KTM and she's a keeper. Mine is a 2012 so one of the later ones as they haven't made them for a while but good value for those who don't want to pay out for a new bike. I paid 6k for mine and it's still worth 5k+ a few years later.
Good luck with whatever you get OP, and be careful with the 'Powerparts' catalogue as it can get addictive expensive. I was lucky that the previous owner of mine had already added most things available. I certainly don't regret going to the 'Orange side' of the bike world.
It was my first KTM and she's a keeper. Mine is a 2012 so one of the later ones as they haven't made them for a while but good value for those who don't want to pay out for a new bike. I paid 6k for mine and it's still worth 5k+ a few years later.
Good luck with whatever you get OP, and be careful with the 'Powerparts' catalogue as it can get addictive expensive. I was lucky that the previous owner of mine had already added most things available. I certainly don't regret going to the 'Orange side' of the bike world.
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