Hi, I purchased this bike a few months ago. Firstly I must say that I really enjoyed watching your video. I p/x a KTM 790 adventure for this bike. I enjoyed the 790 but for me it just didn't get my pulse racing. This however is a completely different ride but like you I am enjoying it the more I ride it. Keep the videos coming.
Had my Duke 890R for 3 years now and agree with you about quick shifter but can be down to chain adjustment or can be set up on a service which improves it. Still love the bike
Wow we can tell you really 🥰 that 890R! What a wonderful happy review! 👍 I think you are right on the money about that power range; 120 horespowers and 99 torques in a light nimble bike is an amazing thing to ride.
Around 115bhp is most definitely the sweet spot, went from a ZRX1200r to a ZZR1400 because “POWER!!” and within 18 months went back to a ZRX1200r again. I also found that faired bikes lured me into doing silly speeds without realising. A 115bhp naked is perfect, plenty of power to have fun but can also keep within the speed limits (ish) without constantly looking at the Speedo. Great vids as always Kate 👍
Great bike...but. Recently sold mine after 2 years. No option to purchase 3rd year warranty, which I believe they do on the big KTM. QS is rubbish, it uses a magnet system I believe and had no end of jerky rough changes !You can alter the linkage position which may help, I tried and it didn't...better to switch the bloody thing off. Cruise control was great as were the heated grips. Brakes amazing as was the suspension. Finish was pretty good too. Had the 2nd year service done then after 10 miles it decided to leak oil from the top cover gasket...a common problem. Fixed as a good will gesture by my dealer/KTM as out of warranty!!!Was the leak the sign of things to come...so it had to go. The dash menu does not give you the option to turn the light/dark function off ie so that it doesn't change when you go under the trees, WTF.They do give you free break down if you have had it serviced at a KTM dealer. Would not buy a KTM again, shame as it was a cracking bike. I would have got the 765 but Triumph insist on that stupid rev counter which they still have on the new generation and I simply could not live with that. Happy with my replacement , a 2020 Triumph Speed Twin 1200.
I've been riding this bike for 2 years and LOVE it. Every time I test ride or rent another bike, nothing seems to compare to the nimble and quickness of this bike. I ride it through all the costal twisties here in California, and couldn't ask for a better performing and super fun bike. Glad you had a good experience. I have issues with neutral when the quick shifter is on. I don't like the KTM quick shifter so I don't use it.
@@allnighteristthe 890 Duke R has been around since 2020 and in that time has had no significant revisions. Google is your friend. PS. I have also been riding this bike for over a year.
You’re correct about the bars being more aggressive on the Superduke but if you install the aftermarket tall seat and move the bars to front position they feel very similar.
Great vid 👍 I think you and Mike should take a 1290 superduke gt and a bmw s1000xr for a weekend adventure/head head battle. All in the name of consumer research of course😉
Nice review. Two of my mates have the KTM790 and they are more than happy with the performance. Just like you said though with the 890 they do hunt in low speed town work but that's to be expected with a twin cylinder motor, bit lumpy so gotta be in the right gear. Yet so much fun and more than enough performance. Don't need the Superduke to get some excitement. 😎👍
If you're getting false neutral the chain is out of spec. Probably needs to be a little looser. I own a 2021. Once I watched a couple of videos showing how to get my chain tension in spec the quick shifter was 100% better.
Sorry to mention the obvious, which do you prefer, the Duke 890 or the Street Triple RS? I do agree with you that the Duke looks much better with the blue instead of the black/orange. The Triple, however, in red, is glorious! I've just got a new Hornet and I love it. I've been waiting since April to get one without the red frame. It's really quite fast! ha ha
I have a Husqvarna Norden 901 which has the same engine. The bike jumps into false neutrals when I shift normally from 1 to 2, I have to hold the shifter for some seconds so it doesn’t happen. From 5 to 6 I get a false neutral when using the quickshifter
Riding a Multi V2 with a mere 115hp I agree it’s the sweet spot for the road, it’s also a lot more fun as you use all the engine. Never been left behind by anybody unless they are riding like an idiot and well above the national limit. But then the road is not a race track. Know those roads well as I used to live near Clitheroe.
Nice review and pity the qs/bliper spoils it.. and I would be grieved to have to pay extra to activate it a seems norm with KTM.. maybe a ecu flash playing with the qs timings night smooth it out ..
Hi 👋 Kate, Thank you for your review. Isn’t it a little bit tall for you? I f I should stick a title on my experience it would be called “the beautiful and damned”. Beautiful is undeniable. The engine is so cool 😎. She pulls everywhere within rpm range. Brake and suspension really effective. But it’s not all roses and flowers to me. I ‘m experiencing some little annoying things. The most annoying is vibration/chattering that starts from forks and goes up to the handlebar, when I brake at high speed (more than 100 kilometers per hour). It started happening after changing tires. Rear wheel: impossible to keep it clean 🧽🧽🧽🫧🧴🤬🤬 … I think I’m going to paint it gloss black. I also expected less vibrations in a 2023 bike, even though I adopted a 6 millimeters thick ergal 7075 handlebar….But I think I could get used to that. As I wrote in some of my comments, my area luckily offers thousands kilometers of twisties so I choose that bike for that reason. She’s is really a scalpel, but in the right surgeon’s hands apparently, because I still struggle keeping behind Gs 1200s and 1250s …and they’re not all skilled pilots… It’s like having a perky kid: full of life, better than a “boiled” one, but you have to expect some phone calls from school and no good news, occasionally. I ‘m happy with her, I just hope to fix those little smudges. To end on a high note, you singingly mentioned “bohemian rhapsody” in this video,so, about this “petite ginger” what could fit better than “crazy little thing called love? 😘 🫱💨
Was kinda hoping you'd talk about the suspension, i'm at the higher end of the recommended weight for the bike and i find the suspension pretty stiff, even with it adjusted to comfort settings as for the quickshifter+, mine has a tiny positive kick when shifting up if you're not committed with the throttle, but autoblipper is perfect, can hardly notice it except the occasional pop from the exhaust as it rev matches which i like. I do know the quickshifter is shit if you don't have the chain bang on with the tension
Seems fun & ideal B Road toy...but...for me a bike still has to be smooth...False neutrals do not appeal either. Not ridden this or Triumph 765RS but based on your reviews the later is more appealing to me. Aware you have prior owned earlier KTM & Triumph Thanks 👍🏍
don't know, had one last week as a loaner and errm ... kinda'f twitchy, had to work it a lot to keep a stable turn, would initiate a turn scary fast but then it would sort of resist ... I don't know. And over 100 kph I would need to hang properly cause of the wind blast. I don't think this is the type of bike for me, looks like fun but short fun, after it gets tiresome. Also I might lack the skills for it :)) later edit: right, I had a 790 adv as a loaner some time ago (with 500 kms so brand spanking new) and going from 4th to 5th with the QS would be 50-50 of getting a false neutral with a rigouros red line revving to accompany it. Very annoying
Got a 890 SMT whilst my 1290 is being fettled.....I hate the damn thing, trigger throttle, too sharp front brake, quickshifter has so many neutrals in high gears and no wind protections, however the 890 Adventure is like chalk and cheese...a great amongst the greatest.
None of them are a real issue height wise for my 29 inch inseam but it comes down to the ride and which you enjoy the most. My advice? Test ride both and your heart will guide you.
Good review, agree with everything pretty much. I rode one today, I was very impressed, for twisty b roads, better than a 1290 without a shadow of a doubt, that's not even a maybe. Don't be fooled into thinking it's a soft choice with less power, if you don't know what you're doing you'll be in a hedge pretty quickly, it WILL bite you. That motorcross DNA comes through strong, this becomes apparrent when it starts sliding, and it handles that well, like most KTMs do. When they say ready to race, they are not joking. It gets my thumbs up, but with a caveat, 'experienced riders only'.
There is no such thing as too much power, always said it, still true. Triumph Rocket 3 R next, ecu flash the limiter obviously. Just imagine how fast a Rocket 3 would be with yourself on it instead of some huge old bloke like me and Chopsie. Sheep love chocolate and nuts, trust me I'm Welsh
Done some digging and it looks like these are nowhere near 120bhp. Thought that was optimistic for a 890cc parallel twin. Seems 100-105bhp is what they do on the dyno. Not that it makes much difference, can fully understand why they are so entertaining on the road.
I would 100% buy a SuperDuke R money no object. I have only had positive KTM experiences in the past personally 😊 but they do have a reputation so 🤷 superduke rides well enough for me to risk it all though 🤣
oh...kate all your word's ... KTM - Report's are similar at any cubic , only few trustfull youtube vid's are if 390 against other 250/400cc's (44teeth channel , diff. people same brand ↔️ same words and one is also a "duke xxx cc owner" 🙄) is it because the varity about the same concept (motorbikes) but many "latters that discriped each brand inside the ktm group" ???
Dear oh dear, frightening those poor animals like that ! Couldn't tell whether they were sheep or cattle ?? Usually cattle come towards you, so if they were you obviously wasn't weraing Amplex ???! :)
KTM I've never felt the hurge to ride one or own one , For me I'd Spend my money on a Triumph 765 in this category, I don't like the idea of paying to get all the extra modes opened ,that to me is stupid and costly, and another reason, it's past issues of being unreliable faulty electrics ,
Having nothing very constructive, or even positive to say about this strange bike, I thought I would talk about something else. I've now watched a LOT of your videos (and lovin' your style) and have realised that, I've gotta find an inventive engineer to help make something that i'm sure you would absolutely love and cherish... Having noticed how many times you put that visor up and down and up and down and.... you get the jist, I think i've found exactly what the Moto vlogging world is missing. A button on the handlebar to remotely raise and lower the visor. Now then, I reckon that would be an idea, and well worth reviewing on this channel. Only kidding about the bike, but It's not my cuppa and in that colour, even less!
Hello Kate how are you doing today looking forward to seeing this later on always love seeing you on a sportsbike wearing your leathers and swanky helmet and dark visor ride safe lovely looking forward to seeing you on a trackday with lily duke of blonde only one username Kate 😞 x