KTM 790 Duke...First bike considerations

[Krise]

Afternoon all

With my MOD1 & 2 booked for Tuesday...as long as I pass I want to get on a bike ASAP....so I have done a deal on a 790 Duke that I have to either leave a deposit on tomorrow or let it go.

I have had a ride around the block on one, it was instantly comfortable and a great position for me, so began some reading and research in the usual places such as youtube, MCN ect and they are all full of praise for the bike.

I joined the FB owners group and that seems to be just full of owners reporting the reliability issues and rarely the good stuff, are they reliable ?

Are there any owners on here or anyone that has experience of the 790 Duke ? Have I jumped the gun and should have looked at something else ?

I'm not looking for a sports bike, I have considered the Hypermotard, Monster, Husky Svart / Vit 701, the Husky I have had a walk around at the dealers, again it was a great fit for me and in my eyes look cool as f&*k but haven't ridden one.

Thanks

Krise

[Krikkit]

I'd wait until you've passed (good luck btw!) and then you can try and try a few more for a bit longer. 15 minutes is probably the sweet spot, as you'll know the riding position, seat comfort etc is right, and have a chance to try it on a few different road types.

FWIW I don't think I'd buy a 790 now, I'd have to stretch to the 890 as it's got a lot of improved details.

[wilbo83]

I'd definitely not buy anything unless you can get a longer test ride on it. Take it to different scenarios, i.e. country roads, motorway / dual carriageway, car park on camber (I'm a short arse!) etc to see how you could live with it.

As for the KTM, a friend had a GSXR which he sold for a brand new KTM Duke, that lasted less than a year as he had lots of issues and is now on a fireblade. That's my only experience of them, albeit not direct, but it's not a positive one.

[carinaman]

Krikkit said:

I'd wait until you've passed (good luck btw!) and then you can try and try a few more for a bit longer. 15 minutes is probably the sweet spot, as you'll know the riding position, seat comfort etc is right, and have a chance to try it on a few different road types.

FWIW I don't think I'd buy a 790 now, I'd have to stretch to the 890 as it's got a lot of improved details.

44 Teeth on 890:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDtlBy7RlyQ

I wonder if they'll be some cracking PCP deals at the end of the year to get rid of stock and get market share?

[carinaman]

Try the 390 Duke for size, seat and seating position and see if it's worth waiting for the Duke 490 next year?

KTM have a reputation for heavy discounts at some times of the year. I am tempted to suggest getting something used and Japanese to get some riding experience under your belt and make a decision when the Duke 490 arrives, but then you'd have to wait until KTM do a discount on the 490, or just put up with possibility that it may be discounted after you've bought one at list price.

I'd probably take the PCP route so you've the option of handing it back at the end of the PCP term if the problems become too routine and boring.

[V8RX7]

Personally I'd buy something cheaper now as a first bike, then upgrade when you know what you like / need / enjoy and buy when the cheap deals come around in winter.

[Killboy]

Just get the insurance quote first, and see if you can stomach that. Fresh license and lack of secure parking (if you do not have) could end the conversation fairly quickly.

Other than that, I think it's an excellent bike. One you will not out-grow as quickly as something small/st.

[fredd1e]

Speaking as a rider who jumped from a TZR125 straight on to an FZR1000, back in the 80s you could do this as insurance was easy to get .
I'd ask yourself if you are you confident in your skills to be able to enjoy the KTM Duke 790 (or 890) ? I suspect they arent a soft option , also speaking as an ex ( tweaked) KTM Duke 640 owner and reckon on the 790 being a separate level to my old single thumper which was a hooligan bike of its day. If you are confident crack on and have a ball backing it in to roundabouts and wheelying out of them etc , & hopefully replacement plastics wont be too expensive. PS not a killjoy, if you've got the skills /confidence enjoy it rather than a riding a white goods version of a bike as some middleweights appear to be these days.

[SpeedWeasel]

Krise said:

Afternoon all

With my MOD1 & 2 booked for Tuesday...as long as I pass I want to get on a bike ASAP....so I have done a deal on a 790 Duke that I have to either leave a deposit on tomorrow or let it go.

I have had a ride around the block on one, it was instantly comfortable and a great position for me, so began some reading and research in the usual places such as youtube, MCN ect and they are all full of praise for the bike.

I joined the FB owners group and that seems to be just full of owners reporting the reliability issues and rarely the good stuff, are they reliable ?

Are there any owners on here or anyone that has experience of the 790 Duke ? Have I jumped the gun and should have looked at something else ?

I'm not looking for a sports bike, I have considered the Hypermotard, Monster, Husky Svart / Vit 701, the Husky I have had a walk around at the dealers, again it was a great fit for me and in my eyes look cool as f&*k but haven't ridden one.

Thanks

Krise

I did this.

I had a deposit on a new 790 before passing my test based on reviews, sitting on one and basically just wanting one.

MOD 2 passed in morning, 790 picked up in the afternoon. That was 12 months and 3000 miles ago. I've had no issues with mine and I've really enjoyed riding it. Shortly after I bought a Tracer 700 for commuting duties when the weather was stty (4000 miles on that too). The Tracer is very competent but is a bit dull compared to the Duke.

It's light, it handles well and is fast enough to be interesting. I've seen the various issues reported on FB but haven't experienced any of these 'common' issues.

I'd say, based on my experience, do it. Throttle goes both ways etc etc

[KTMboy]

I’ve got one, and I love it!!

Not sure for a newbie but you can really hustle them along....

Warranty takes care of reliability issues - 1,000 miles in and the top end on mine sounds like a bag of spanner’s so no doubt it will need to go back in...

890 is probably for more experienced riders who can appreciate the better brakes, suspension and tyres ......and its £4K off more too!

[carinaman]

KTMboy said:

890 is probably for more experienced riders who can appreciate the better brakes, suspension and tyres ......and its £4K off more too!

The 44 Teeth review, if I understood it properly, said the 890 felt more stable and secure at the front and less flighty compared to the 790. I've only ridden the 790.

[Krise]

Killboy said:

Just get the insurance quote first, and see if you can stomach that. Fresh license and lack of secure parking (if you do not have) could end the conversation fairly quickly.

Other than that, I think it's an excellent bike. One you will not out-grow as quickly as something small/st.

Insurance isn’t an issue, even in central London as I have a garage, to be honest everything from a 125 to a 899 panigale is about the same to insure for some reason

[hellsbuddha]

I am intrigued about the comparison between the tracer and the 790D.

I have the 790 D and am on the fb group. I must confess I am not sure what to do with it, post warranty (Feb 21), as it does seem to have a host of mostly minor and some major faults.

I do love riding it though, and the QS, autoblipper are great and flatter me a lot more than my riding ability would suggest.

However, I do think I will go to a Honda or Yamaha next, even though they dont really have anything other than the tracer 700 which I like.

Hope the test went well.

[hellsbuddha]

PS

There are loads of 2019 Dukes available, I would just wait, pass the test and then get one.

Feel free to drop me a pm if you want to discuss

[Krikkit]

KTMboy said:

890 is probably for more experienced riders who can appreciate the better brakes, suspension and tyres ......and its £4K off more too!

Anyone can appreciate better suspension, brakes and tyres really... Just because you can't take them to the limit doesn't mean they don't bring benefits.

Plus there's the residual values to think about - chances are an 890 will hold up much better.

[Krise]

Well it’s the big day tomorrow so should it all go ok I’m pretty sure I’ll get the 790, however the CB650 I have been learning on I have really gelled with, having done about 6 hours a day for the last 3 days in this heat and the fumbles and wobbles I have had I have never once felt uncomfortable on it.....and it looks better than the 790 also....so I may stop of at the Honda dealers on the way home once I have got the admin out of the way tomorrow morning.

[Krise]

This one in particular as it’s just around the corner from the test centre

[Bungleaio]

Just get the bike you like, if it doesn't work out you can always sell it and get something else.

Best of luck with the tests.

[Krikkit]

Bungleaio said:

Just get the bike you like, if it doesn't work out you can always sell it and get something else.

Best of luck with the tests.

+1 to both parts! I think once you have an idea what you want, you get an idea if a bike is "right" within a few minutes of riding it. And once you're bored, get whatever else tickles your fancy.

[Bob_Defly]

The engine in that Honda is so boring. You'll be bored of it within a year. But it will be very reliable.

Bikes need character IMHO, more so than cars.