Page 102 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

GARAGE LONG-TERM TEST BIKES

5
KTM 890 DUKE I0I1I8I1I I MILES UPDATE

Does bigger mean better? 03

Steve pitches RiDE’s 890 against its flagship sibling —

the 1290 Super Duke R — to see if size counts

WITH A CHASSIS barely bigger than shock and own-brand radial brakes on the 890.
a 125, the power of an original The 1290 looks like it fits its £16K price tag. I’m
FireBlade and weighing under 170kg, not sure the £10K 890 can say the same.
the 890 Duke boasts an impressive
spec. In what universe could you On the move
possibly need more? THE FACTS Having put nearly 2000 miles on our 890 in the
But a lot more is what the Austrian firm’s last couple of months, I know it well and it’s
flagship supernaked — the 1290 Super Duke R £10,727 sharp, light and roomy with plenty of power and
— has in bright-orange bucketloads. So what’s the (as tested) great low-down torque. The handling is sublime,
difference between The Beast and The Scalpel? 115bhp 169kg suspension works really well on our roads and
while the brakes may lack a bit of bite and feel,
At a standstill MILES THIS MONTH they’re progressive, predictable and never cause
In isolation my mind pegs these machines as 55 me any sqeaky-bum moments.
similar but parking them next to each other, the Straddling the broad tank of the 1290 with the
difference is astonishing. There’s a family MPG THIS MONTH huge twin burbling beneath me, I wonder if it
resemblance sure, but if it’s the 890’s first day at might just rip my arms off. But there’s civility at
the gym, the 1290 is it’s meathead older brother 63.8 lower speed and great fuelling. It’s harder to hold
using the Duke’s max weights for its warm up. 30mph as fractional throttle inputs produce
Where the 890 is lithe and minimal, the Super COSTS THIS MONTH massive surges in speed. The 15mm higher seat
Duke cuts an intimidating stance. The 1301cc is more comfortable than the Duke’s but the
engine seems enormous, exaggerated by the fact £7.44 riding position is more aggressive.
there’s very little bike it’s bolted into. On the open road, it’s not
Fit and finish is finer on the ...but the just the extra 62 horses that
bigger bike too. Every inch 890’s switchgear 1290’s is much take your breath away, but
looks premium, from the lush is simple but higher quality the way they are deployed.
paint to the TFT dash. useful... The relentless drive from the
Switchgear is more complex massive motor is addictive.
but better designed. Steering is a more physical
Components are better quality effort, especially at higher
too, with fully-adjustable front speeds and, after an hour of
and rear WP Apex suspension hard riding on a mixture of A
and Brembo Stylema calipers and B-roads, my arms
vs non-adjustable forks and started aching.

KTM DUKE 890 £10,049
115bhp 169kg 820mm seat
PCP: £116.51 x 36 months. £3000 deposit.
7.9% APR. Optional Final payment £4185.
Total payable £11,379.36

102 SEPTEMBER 2022