KTM 990 Duke Test 2024

It's November 8, 2023: A significant day at the world's largest motorcycle trade fair in Milan, with 1000PS present with a team of 16. My phone rings in the morning: "Visiting our booth will be rewarding today even before the official embargo at 17:00," my contact informs me on the other end. Then silence, no further details. Nonetheless, I dispatch our social media colleague Marcel, who already has a hefty to-do list for the day, to the KTM booth first, which goes unnoticed at this point. It should be worth it, as a few minutes later our video of the KTM Naked Bike goes online. Within days, the video garners 20 million views - an absolute record. Is the excitement surrounding the KTM Naked Bike justified? A test in Andalusia will reveal the answers.

At this juncture, I would like to direct you to my comprehensive review of the KTM Naked Bike, where you will also discover an exhaustive list of all the motorcycle's characteristics. The subsequent paragraphs solely focus on firsthand riding experiences. For those content with just the raw technical specifications, feel free to click on Show more technical data.

When KTM invites you to Andalusia to unveil the 990 Duke, there's no need to hesitate. Riding this naked bike along the stunning coastline and picturesque mountain roads around Almería promises hours of pure joy. This region in southern Spain not only boasts a captivating blend of historical allure and modern charm but also showcases a plethora of scenic wonders that truly bring out the raw power and exhilarating ride of the 990 Duke. Following the route from the scenic coastal roads of the Mediterranean to the twisting passes of the Sierra de Alhamilla with Calimoto to follow, the experience is nothing short of extraordinary.

The experience when you first hop on the KTM Naked Bike is not as extreme as the Duke appears from the front. In comparison to the previous model, the bike has increased slightly in size. Particularly in terms of width, the fuel tank has become more prominent and the midsection is not as slim as on the 890. This enhances the grip with your knees, allowing you to feel more of the motorcycle beneath you and maneuver the bike through corners using your thighs. The handlebars have a noticeable bend, providing a comfortably upright riding position, although this slightly affects the feel for the front wheel. The knee angle of the KTM Naked Bike is not overly acute, making it suitable for riders up to 1.90 meters for longer journeys. The seat is also wider than its predecessor, offering ample room for movement in the saddle and a seat height of 825 mm.

The latest KTM Naked Bike, the Duke, now boasts mirrors that truly reflect its status as a premium naked bike, offering a clear and vibration-free view of the road behind you. The new illuminated switch unit on the left handlebar end provides high-quality haptic feedback, allowing for easy adjustments like changing riding modes even without looking. The paint job and decals exude quality, with even the matte finishes showcasing superior craftsmanship, a marked improvement from previous models. Overall, KTM has made significant strides in material, quality, and overall feel with the 990 Duke.

Looking back, the 990 Duke was once considered wild and barely controllable, but now the Super Duke is leading the pack. With a 950cc engine, it's clear that the middle class of naked bikes has evolved over the past decade. The performance figures are impressive, especially considering the reputation of the 890cc engines. In 2024, KTM has really stepped up their game. The engine runs smoothly, and the quickshifter performs better on this model than on any other KTM bike. The inline twin engine eagerly revs up, delivering new power before reaching its peak output of 123 hp at 9500 rpm. In sport mode, the sleek rear silencer adds a satisfying sputter to downshifts, encouraging a more aggressive riding style.

But even novice riders have nothing to fear from the KTM Naked Bike. The engine tuning in Street and Rain modes (where power is limited to 112 hp) is relatively mild, and the safety features are extensive: lean angle-sensitive traction control, ABS, and five-stage wheelie control come standard, while cruise control and the high-quality quickshifter are available as optional extras. The additional fun modes Performance and Track, which come with features like launch control and the distinctive orange Track display layout showing current and maximum lean angles and deceleration performance, can be added for an extra cost. Furthermore, all of these functions can be individually adjusted or deactivated in these modes. If you opt for the full Akrapovi system, the adjustable engine brake control, exclusive to the 1390 Super Duke R, is also included.

One of the major drawbacks of the KTM 890 Duke compared to its competitors was the limited adjustability of the shock absorber and the non-adjustable fork. However, this has been completely revamped with the 990 Duke. The suspension components are provided by KTM's in-house supplier WP, featuring a fully adjustable 43 mm USD fork with 142 mm of travel at the front and a central shock absorber at the rear with 150 mm of travel, adjustable for rebound and preload. The range of adjustments is now more precise, with just five steps making a noticeable difference. During our spirited ride on twisty country roads, the initial setup of 3 clicks for rebound and compression proved to be ideal. The damping response was satisfactory, providing a comfortable ride over both long bumps and short impacts. The only criticism lies in the slight lack of front-end feedback, which can be attributed to the compromise between sportiness and comfort, as well as the higher handlebars of the 990 Duke. When pushing hard into corners, the 990 Duke tends to run wide, as noted by Martin Bauer during his brief test ride.

When I first rode the KTM Naked Bike 990 four years ago, I probably wouldn't have had any complaints about the brakes. However, in recent years, the standards in the class have improved so much that the 990 is no longer leading the pack. For instance, when compared to the Stylema system on the 890 Duke R, which was introduced last season in 2023, the 990 front brake requires a lot more manual force and lacks the precision of the R. Despite this, what's more important for safety than maximum deceleration is the stability of the brake, which I can vouch for even after pushing it to its limits. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement where the 990 Duke R could excel.

Quality comes at a cost, as they say. For the KTM 990 Duke, that cost amounts to 16,399 euros in Austria, 14,895 euros in Germany, and 14,400 CHF in Switzerland. However, this price does not cover additional features like the Quickshifter, cruise control, and the Track and Performance riding modes. When compared to its competitors, KTM positions itself in the upper echelon of pricing within its class.