790 Duke

Giles

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What a cracking bike!

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-cX3Gr3n/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-cX3Gr3n/0/016fe8a1/M/2018-KTM-790-Duke-12-1-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

After years of big CC bikes, this has turned out to be so refreshing!

Sometimes we get suckered into buying a bike that we like the look of (marketing!) and then we try and make it fit around the riding that we do. We don't always think, 'What riding do I actually do, and what bike would suit that really well?'.

Our circumstances change as we go through life, and for me personally, I'm not doing much in the way of long distance tours two up like I used to.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Corsica/i-bfBsgst/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Corsica/i-bfBsgst/1/4dd52084/L/003-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

What am I doing mostly? A days teaching, and a three hour hoon with the boys. So do I still need a big 1290? Do I still enjoy a big 1290? What are the things that I miss that the 1290 can't give me?

Sometimes you forget what you're missing! I was very happy with my 1190 and 1290, rarely hit the throttle stop they had so much power, and didn't really think about its weight, or its long geometry. I took its weight and slowish steering for granted - I 'forgot' that it was a big bike to hustle about quickly on the back lanes and just ..... got on with it.

Then I jumped on one of these!

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-t562MTB/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-t562MTB/0/1303af4e/M/fullsizeoutput_99e-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

When you spend years with one particular genre of bike, there are things you forget. Like quick steering - lightening quick! Haul the bike about? Push it? Pull it? Wrestle it? Not on this! You just turn your head and look and the bike is following. Its ability to turn is .... unconscious. Do I need to 'set it up' for a turn, that to a degree you did with 230+kgs? Nope - don't even think about it. This baby is on rails!

At 170kgs it feels like riding a pushbike strapped to an engine. Gone is the 230kgs+ physics lesson in momentum, or the 19" or 21" physics lesson in gyroscopics. Gone is 'holding the bike' (with hands). You 'hold' this bike with your knees in the sculptured tank, and your hands and elbows are now Freeeeeeeee! I have never felt so 'liberated' on a bike in terms of handling.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-2FQxQsX/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-2FQxQsX/0/757113ae/L/85c90c05-8e82-46f3-bd38-05f8764acb91-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
courtesy of Andres!

The bike is pretty much naked, bar a tiny aftermarket flyscreen. Do I miss a great big fairing? No! I am no longer detached from the environment, there isn't a tonne of plastic between me and the tarmac, its all part of the involvement, the connectivity, the feel, the 'me and my machine'!. I don't get cold, I don't get any head buffeting, and now speed, feels like speed! Its that refreshing thing again.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-9VdC9gH/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-9VdC9gH/0/7b536f55/L/IMG_5868-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

The motor is a delight. Sounds like a V twin, and feels like a V twin but it just builds and builds and doesn't run out of puff at the top. Light and crisp.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-fz978gj/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-fz978gj/0/834244db/L/IMG_6111-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

I could wax lyrical about the crisp gearbox, the seamless quick shifter, the slipper clutch ... it is an absolute gem to ride.

Why? Why is it a gem to ride?

Cue my favourite riding phrase 'modulation'.

Today I have been out for a quick hoon with my regular riding buddies in filthy, wet, slimey back roads. Is there no better feeling than pitching yourself against challenging elements, and despite them, putting in a cracking ride that is precise and accurate, it flows and it has great pace? Is there anything better than that bubble of concentration that is just you and your bike at pace, perfectly synchronised? In total control?

What do you need to achieve that? Liberation! Freedom to see, to feel, to touch. Freedom from the mechanics of riding, so you can put a bike within a square inch of road that you identified 200 metres earlier. Freedom to have Wrefords favourite 'unconscious competent' style, where it just .... happens. Mental freedom where the physical process of going from full gas in fifth, to gathering it all up in slippy slimey, for a third gear double bend just happens. A machine where the individual elements of throttle, brakes, gears, slipper clutch ... all modulate together in a seamless action, one feeding into the next, and then the next. Fat Boy Slim mixing tracks and we don't notice the change.

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-qtXRXfW/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-qtXRXfW/0/a51bf907/L/IMG_6164-L.jpg" alt=""></a>


I have absolutely rediscovered my biking mojo, some of it is because its such a good bike to ride, and some of it is because the bike is the right bike for what I do.

Very happy! :thumb

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/790/i-qw6qC3T/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/790/i-qw6qC3T/0/06f863da/L/IMG_5882-L.jpg" alt=""></a>
 
Agree completely. I always thought previously that biggest, fastest, most powerful and expensive would give the most fun but I've learned that almost the complete opposite is true. I much prefer my 390 Duke to my S1000RR, 1200 Multistrada, 1290 GT etc because I have to ride it more, it always puts a smile on my face and I'm unlikely to be sent to prison.
 
My son Dan took one out last week and loved it. Is the 890 a straight replacement for the one you have? He was wondering whether to wait for that to come out, although they are doing a great deal on the 790 at the moment I believe.




Is that screen on yours any good?.......
 
Good post Giles, I’m glad to see you’re enjoying it. It’s got me thinking about giving one a go.
 
My son Dan took one out last week and loved it. Is the 890 a straight replacement for the one you have? He was wondering whether to wait for that to come out, although they are doing a great deal on the 790 at the moment I believe.




Is that screen on yours any good?.......

My understanding is that the 890 will be an R version. I'm not sure what that will entail - definitely more adjustable suspension, but it might also come as a single seater? (not sure).

The screen is a KTM power parts, and does add a little bit of protection. More than anything it means I don't get dead bugs in the nooks and crannies of the back of the clocks .. !
 
Great, he took it out after I told him about what you had said about it. He thought it was fantastic and like you say great fun. I think from December they are knocking £1200 of it or £1600 of accessories, or something along those lines.It makes this bike superb value.
The reason I asked about the screen was that he rode it back for half an hour on the motorway and realised just how exposed you are on a naked bike.He was just concerned if he was doing a long trip with a lot of time on motorways it would br draining,but If that screen at least takes some of the wind off you then it would probably be fine.:thumb
 
I would quite happily go to say, Honfleur for a long weekend two up, of the Black Forest for a week long blokes trip. But its probably a bit too small for R and I to do anything like what we used to ...

Bloke on his own? No problem!
 
Been looking at these and the 890.
A very informative appraisal, thank you Giles.

So one thing I do miss from big cc bikes, is big fuel ranges!

If you kept one in Portugal, it would be just the ticket, but I wouldn't want to be commuting from lincs to Portugal on it and having to stop every two hours to fill up!
 
My son Dan took one out last week and loved it. Is the 890 a straight replacement for the one you have? He was wondering whether to wait for that to come out, although they are doing a great deal on the 790 at the moment I believe.

The 790 and the 890R will be sold side by side
 
Great real world report here... we buy bikes emotionally and with dreams unfulfilled they can become a burden creating a negative experience- buy the bike that suits your riding needs is great advice...why have a fully specced GSA just for an hour on a Sunday......

Will be taking your advice...
 
Good friend of mine and fellow bike enthusiast has just taken a role at a KTM dealer and I'm over to see him next weekend for a ride on a few bikes.

The problem is, you can ride ten different bikes for an hour and decide they're all perfect for you. Sometimes, you just have to get a bike which 'best' suits your needs.

In adventure (read touring twice a year) options, no doubting BMW have a huge following, with their generally good reliability and an expansive network, they probably deserve their following, but there is a huge amount of choice out there. You just need to get out and see for yourself.
 
Agree there's lots of folk on bikes that don't really suit their real riding habits as opposed to their aspirational ones.

The biggies are really very good and can do most things to a surprisingly good standard but, as you say, but there are better bikes for the type of riding a lot of people actually do.
 
Nice write up, an enjoyable read Giles. Thanks for taking the trouble to post in such detail.
:beerjug:
 
Giles

Serious question here

I had my Hypermotard for many of the reasons you rave about but it wasn't enough. it was too much of a PITA on a motorway, which are sometimes unavoidable, E.G getting to the channel

The weight with 110BHP was brilliant on little roads though

So my question is it the weight you love or the lack of power and having to work at it more ?

I ask because 2021 will see me getting rid of the 1290 GT and i was fancying the 890 R but at the same weight the street fighter gives 208 BHP

And of course looks soooooo sexy
 
My son Dan took one out last week and loved it. Is the 890 a straight replacement for the one you have? He was wondering whether to wait for that to come out, although they are doing a great deal on the 790 at the moment I believe.




Is that screen on yours any good?.......

I had a 790 which was bonkers fast so if I were buying another I'd buy a bargain 790 and save a few £k. I had a Puig screen on mine which worked very well.
 
Giles

Serious question here

I had my Hypermotard for many of the reasons you rave about but it wasn't enough. it was too much of a PITA on a motorway, which are sometimes unavoidable, E.G getting to the channel

The weight with 110BHP was brilliant on little roads though

So my question is it the weight you love or the lack of power and having to work at it more ?

I ask because 2021 will see me getting rid of the 1290 GT and i was fancying the 890 R but at the same weight the street fighter gives 208 BHP

And of course looks soooooo sexy


I am certainly not 'working it'.

I get the argument about smaller cars and bikes and ragging them being fun. I'm certainly not ragging this. It's obviously not as lazy as as a litre plus sports bike, but I'm very rarely on the throttle stop.
But ... (So I have 138mph Stick in my mine here!), a lot of it is the roads you choose to ride. I enjoy back roads where you might occasionally hit the odd three figures, but generally we're below those figures and going as quick as we can for what you see. I'm just not interested in fast dual carriageways and roads like, say, the B500.
If I did ride those roads to their potential, with litre plus bikes (1290 GT etc), then yes .... I'd be working it hard to keep up. But I want to keep my licence and still have fun, so back roads and the more minor A roads it is for me!

So its the razor sharp handling and light weight that I'm really enjoying .. :thumb2
 
I know we've discussed this before Giles but I find myself in a similar position to you and long distance, two up trips which were the main justification for my 1190 really aren't happening any more.

My GS, and then the current KTM are the only big bikes I've owned, prior to that it was always mid sized bikes, Supermotos and the like so I completely get what you're saying.
I also love the look and vibe of the 790/890R, I think one would suit me down to the ground. BUT, I'm emotionally attached to my 1190 and do get a kick out of scarring myself shitless every now and again when I briefly explore it's top end...........

I thought I'd resolved the internal arguments in my head and decided to keep the 1190 for a while.............now I've read your write up the little voices have started again. Thanks :rolleyes:

Andres
 
Great, he took it out after I told him about what you had said about it. He thought it was fantastic and like you say great fun. I think from December they are knocking £1200 of it or £1600 of accessories, or something along those lines.It makes this bike superb value...........

What sort of on the road price are they offering him? (I can't believe I'm asking this :blast)

Andres
 
I know we've discussed this before Giles but I find myself in a similar position to you and long distance, two up trips which were the main justification for my 1190 really aren't happening any more.

My GS, and then the current KTM are the only big bikes I've owned, prior to that it was always mid sized bikes, Supermotos and the like so I completely get what you're saying.
I also love the look and vibe of the 790/890R, I think one would suit me down to the ground. BUT, I'm emotionally attached to my 1190 and do get a kick out of scarring myself shitless every now and again when I briefly explore it's top end...........

I thought I'd resolved the internal arguments in my head and decided to keep the 1190 for a while.............now I've read your write up the little voices have started again. Thanks :rolleyes:

Andres

What you need is a Vitpilen 701 !!

Not as much power as 790 but having owned both Duke 790 and Svartpilen 701, I can say the latter is an utter hoot.
So so light yet goes like utter stink with 74bhp ! The Duke was great but if you were to keep the 1190, you could do worse than get a Vit ( I know you prefer it to the Svart).
 


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