New 2024 KTM 990 Duke Review: 10 Best Things!

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[SunnyKim_]

Locking electronics behind a pay wall is the dumbest thing ever.

[mikaelborjesson]

I have the 890 R 2020, soooo happy with that. I'm 1, 85 and it suits me perfect with the +2cm powerseat. The 990 R in a few years maybe, a 60 years present for myself. But for now still in love with my 890 R ❤️

[Geeman]

Tried both the KTM 990 and the MT-09 and much preferred the KTM more nimble handling better display got the tech pack included and unlocked for free. Very happy with my choice love the bike and glad I also tried the MT-09 to put my mind at rest with my choice for the KTM.

[kankit]

Locking existing hardware on bike with soft ware is a really scummy shit

[Jagknorr]

😐 maybe the mic doesn’t pic up the exhaust correctly, but that sounds really bad. 😂

[mainand]

Probable issues with cams means KTM parallel twins are off my list.

[RayEccleston]

I had a 2023 KTM 890 Duke R and had reliability issues literally from the first day I picked it up. After multiple trips to the dealership I ended up giving up and selling it for a $10, 000 loss (including taxes).

Please don’t make the same mistake that I made. Buy an MT09 instead, there is no point in purchasing a bike that will just sit in the local dealership’s service department.

[fraz]

Far too much money for me I'm afraid. Had the 890r but it had oil leak within 500 miles. Traded in for a s1000r sport. Best decision ever

[Steve-motorcycles]

One reason why you might not want to buy it, I can think of a few reasons. Looks, price, reliability. The new MT09 is so much better and £2 to 3k cheaper depending in the purchase of a tech package. And isn’t the 890 duke R better handling? I thought so.

[guslythgow]

Really over the insect look. Paying to unlock electronic features is the worst thing ever..

[cruze]

Is RC 990 coming to MotoBob in future ?

[CJ_Nightlives]

Personally I’m not keen on the looks of this, I think the 790/890 look better. Having owned a 2021 790 duke for a couple months now, I have to agree that the engine, handling and the vibe of the bike really get under you skin so can understand where your coming from with the 990, KTM is an addictive brand and I’ve loved every bike I’ve ridden from them

[SuperSneakySniper]

I think the info a 8:37 is wrong. The 890 Duke R has a seat height that's closer to 33 inches, or ~835mm. It's the BASE model Duke 890/790 that had the 820mm seat. I used to have both. The upgraded suspension on the Duke 890R made it noticeably taller.
Seems the 990 sits right in-between the two at 825mm. Got to sit on one last week and it felt sorta like a wider 890 Standard.

[otlndsh]

Does this bike's quickshifter enable downshifting while accelerating or upshifting while decelerating?
Does it have a Brembo front brake?
Does it have an Ohlins rear shock?
Are all the tech options included in the base price?
Is it reliable?

No to all of these? AND it's more expensive than the new MT-09SP? LOL

[andrewmckinlay]

Mine has the tech-pack for free, what it gives you does seem worth it but I do agree that buying a bike that is restricted in this way is not good and if it wasn't free it would have been a difficult decision . I had a Street Triple 765 RS and the KTM feels more powerful (i know peak power isn't) but the torque is very addictive, could ride it in 4th all day. Already done a tour with the KTM and it performed as well or better than the Triumph and I wasn't too sore (not as sore as the Triumph for sure) for an over 50 year old!! Having had a couple of Street Triples, this seems for me a more fun bike, the KTM it hasn't got the plushness of the Triumph and is more raw feeling but I kinda prefer that...

[astrofeeder]

i really wanted to check this one out but my dealer said they ordered them and the shipment was late so i ended up getting a street triple rs moto2. couldnt be happier tbh but ill probably get a duke next year for my second bike. was also really disappointed with the lack of premium components and $1000 price tag for the tech pack. even though the components are on the bike you still have to go back to the dealership to "update" the software.

[DoraTheNinja]

The ktm always has the better bike handling, engine, brake wise and you can never dispute that. But they fall flat on their face when you find out they are absolutely riddled with problems from the factory. Dont believe me look it up theyre horribly unreliable which makes it the better choice to go with the bullet proof mt09sp or Triumph 765 or something. I doubt ktm will fix anything this generation

[Tenktory]

I was sure that I would buy MT09. Then I went to Yamaha dealership and saw that bike with my own eyes. It looks a bit like a previous Duke. Too small and to cheap.
Maybe SP will solve the second issue.
Next I went to KTM to see 990. It looks like a smaller Super Duke. Just a bit smaller. It was love from the first sight. Where Yamaha lacks in terms of presence and feeling of serious bike KTM delivers in 100%.
Also ergonomics was superior for me (I'm 193 cm tall).
So now I wait for a better weather to test ride Duke, but I guess that I've already made my mind.

[NBMBC]

As others below reasons not buy are many, looks, price, reliability being the main ones.

[ben.aka.bigben]

I test rode a ktm super adventure. 4 miles on and it shut down in the middle of the highway. Dealer came and collected the bike. That was it for me with KTM 😂