Duke 890 vs Tuono 660?

[MOBB]

Current bike (Svartpilen 401) whilst great, doesn't cut it compared to previous bikes I've had. Was always a risk but I havent lost much money on it.

So I've been looking, and I can get a great deal on a lightly used base Duke 890, and a brand new Tuono 660.

I'm test riding them both tomorrow, and both will cost similar money (£7.5k to £8k) - from what I can tell the Tuono wins on looks and quality, and the Duke pips it for power. Both seem like great fun.

I dont want to stretch to a Duke 890r, and either would be road bikes only, no track time. the bhp of around 100-120 is fine for me, I've done the huge bhp thing.

Which would you choose? :-)

Very excited I have to say!

[Krikkit]

I'd have the Aprilia I think, but I'd test ride both.

[ThreadKiller]

I bought a Tuono 660. Liking it a lot so far, but haven’t ridden the KTM. For me, looks made the decision without a ride.

[Kawasicki]

I’ve ridden neither, but first bike that attracts me is the KTM. I would also consider a 790 with some nice options.

[Birky_41]

I'd have the Aprilia. Can't really give a genuine reason other than I really like Aprilia and the way they do things (as in handling and feel) and I'm not a great lover of KTM

[scorcher]

KTM for me. Got that extra bit of punch but still got that middleweight feel to it. April is might have a slightly more upmarket feel to it.

[airsafari87]

I've ridden my pals 790 Duke a fair bit and it is a great bike.

My Mrs has a 660 Tuono and I'd say that the Aprilia just pips the 790/890 as an overall package.

Either bike is a great bike though and you won't be disappointed whichever one you chose.

[spareparts]

MOBB said:

from what I can tell the Tuono wins on looks and quality, and the Duke pips it for power. Both seem like great fun.

I dont want to stretch to a Duke 890r, and either would be road bikes only, no track time. the bhp of around 100-120 is fine for me, I've done the huge bhp thing.

Which would you choose? :-)

Have you answered your own question?

[rigga]

Just make sure the KTM has the tech pack fitted, they like to charge extra for the wizzy bits to work.

Which I dislike immensely, if the bike has a quickshifter fitted, it should work out of the box, not charge £700 for the privilege. There's other bits too, ride modes etc, but the old 790 came with everything working, when the 890r came out, extra income stream.


890 is a cracking bike tho.

[five50]

I have an 890 Duke R, which I’m
Very happy with,

However I was idly YouTube surfing the other day and came across this - whilst I’m not a fan of loud exhausts the priller does sound good with an exhaust:

https://youtu.be/CmGx6ZWsTBE

A somewhat similar take on the KTM (sorry, an r in this case) - I think he must have a mic near the exhaust pipe as mine is not this loud at speed vs the wind noise:

https://youtu.be/MdPi1yLqgKI

[airsafari87]

The twin Arrow exhaust on the 790 and 890 is very loud. It has a nice tone to it as well thankfully rather than a chav cannon blare.

[V5Ade]

I had a 790 that I loved, but it was no looker. If I had to do it again I'd test ride the Aprillia as it looks great.

[MOBB]

Both bikes test ridden this afternoon :-)

Duke 890 - instantly felt at home, similar feel to my Svartpilen, but much more grown up and stable feeling.

Very very smooth and well fuelled, you can pootle along nicely. Then you open it up, dear lord it’s savage. Instant aggressive thrust, I cannot believe it is around 110hp.

Handles nicely, brakes work but are wooden, seat is pretty nasty.

Great bike overall, not a big fan of the looks, they need quite a bit of customising to look great imo



Tuono 660

I got to ride a Factory version, damn they are pretty bikes!!

Sat a bit more sporty, but still comfortable, pulled away and it felt very different to the KTM. Less low down pull, but when you open it up, wow - the howl it makes is sublime, and it just feels perfect on the road. I much prefer the handling as it feels more like a sports bike

Quickshifter is great, the whole bike just feels right. Doesn’t like going slowly as much as the KTM. I didn’t want to give it back.

Hopeful buying a grey pre registered Tuono for £8k tomorrow, what a steal!!

[Normodog]

MOBB said:

Both bikes test ridden this afternoon :-)

Duke 890 - instantly felt at home, similar feel to my Svartpilen, but much more grown up and stable feeling.

Very very smooth and well fuelled, you can pootle along nicely. Then you open it up, dear lord it’s savage. Instant aggressive thrust, I cannot believe it is around 110hp.

Handles nicely, brakes work but are wooden, seat is pretty nasty.

Great bike overall, not a big fan of the looks, they need quite a bit of customising to look great imo



Tuono 660

I got to ride a Factory version, damn they are pretty bikes!!

Sat a bit more sporty, but still comfortable, pulled away and it felt very different to the KTM. Less low down pull, but when you open it up, wow - the howl it makes is sublime, and it just feels perfect on the road. I much prefer the handling as it feels more like a sports bike

Quickshifter is great, the whole bike just feels right. Doesn’t like going slowly as much as the KTM. I didn’t want to give it back.

Hopeful buying a grey pre registered Tuono for £8k tomorrow, what a steal!!

Great choice, I've been eyeing up a 660 myself. Does the one you've ordered come with the imu and shifter/blipper or are they only on the factory?

[MOBB]

Standard on the Factory only, but £200 for the qs and same cost for IMU is pretty reasonable

[Normodog]

MOBB said:

Standard on the Factory only, but £200 for the qs and same cost for IMU is pretty reasonable

That's pretty good, makes the pre reg bargains well worth considering!

[carinaman]

Useful thread thanks. I found the bits about pricing for the extras useful.

I've ridden several 790s. I really liked the torque. How does the 660 compare with regard to torque on the road?


Which dealers have the pre-reg bargains?

I saw the dealer that sold Martylaa a Tuono 660 last year that he's swapped for a Z650 offers a 2 year warranty on used KTMs.

Edited by carinaman on Tuesday 17th May 22:39

[PT1984]

Can I ask your opinion of the 401. Are you moving it on because of the small power output? Do you think it feels like a full size bike?

[Birky_41]

[BrotherMouzone]

MOBB said:

Hopeful buying a grey pre registered Tuono for £8k tomorrow, what a steal!!

That’s a great price!

If I don’t get on with the riding position of my R7 then Tuono is no 1 on my list as replacement.