KTM 890 Duke R pricing announced

KTM has given more detail on the incoming KTM 890 Duke R, with the new machine bringing more punch in a lighter package than the current KTM 790 Duke.

The KTM 890 Duke R will be price at $17,195 (plus ORC) and is expected to arrive in Australia in May, 2020.

Designed to sit above the 790 Duke (rather than replace it), the 890 Duke R, dubbed ‘The Super Scalpel’, utilises a fresh engine platform, revised chassis and upgraded electronics.

The Austrian firm says the bike will provide ‘more torque, more RPM, more speed, more stopping power and more aggression’ and it claims every component from the 790 Duke that ‘contributes to rider sensation’ has been upgraded or re-thought.

The KTM 790 Duke arrived in 2018, after KTM debuted it at EICMA in 2017. Utilising a new engine, dubbed the LC8c, the 790 Duke closed the gap between the 390 Duke and the 1290 Super Duke.

But KTM clearly didn’t want to rest on its laurels, with the 890 Duke R upping the stakes and adding another option in the company’s ever-growing road bike range.

The KTM 890 Duke R powerplant is an upgraded version of the LC8c parallel-twin motor in the 790 Duke. An increase in capacity has allowed KTM to get more power from the engine. The 890cc motor puts out 121hp and 99Nm of torque, a decent improvement from the 790 Dukes 105hp and 87Nm.

Interestingly, KTM has listed the 890 Duke R's capacity as, shock-horror, 890cc. In an age where engine capacities are rarely what the bike name suggests, this is a nice surprise.

Electronics include Cornering ABS and Cornering MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) with a new 6D lean angle sensor that not only detects the side-to-side, and forwards and backwards pitch of the bike, but also its drift positioning. The Cornering MTC programming has been refined, accomplished by the use of two independent sensors. KTM claiming greater linear acceleration and anti-wheelie for faster and controlled power away from a corner or situation.

Three rider modes (RAIN, STREET and SPORT) come as standard with an optional TRACK setting available. TRACK mode will give riders full customization on traction, anti-wheelie and throttle control. Also optional is Motor Slip Regulation (MSR) which plays the role of an electronic slipper clutch.

KTM has achieved an overall weight loss of 3.3kg over the 790 Duke. The 890 Duke R says goodbye to passenger footpegs and utilises a single seat cover as standard.

The fully adjustable WP APEX suspension has been designed to cope with the extra horsepower. Travel remains the same, but the ride height has been increased by 15mm to improve handling and ground clearance. The whole suspension system can be customised to suit the style of riding. The WP APEX fork has split functions for damping, linear springs and easy altering of compression and rebound. The shock has high and low speed compression adjustment and well as rebound and preload.

The KTM 890 Duke R delivers a more attacking rider position. The rider is placed marginally higher and further forward on the bike. The handlebars are lower and set further forward, and the larger footpegs are located higher and towards the rear of the motorcycle. The steering stem is made from aluminium rather than steel to save weight.

KTM claim greater stopping power with the 890 Duke R. New Brembo components are lighter and larger compared to the 790 Duke. The Brembo Stylema monoblock brake calipers offer advanced tech through optimized airflow to the pads and less braking fluid, resulting in a shorter lever stroke. The 890 Duke R also utilises Michelin Powercup II tyres for a good balance between road and track, while the latest generation KTM TFT display is also in place.

As mentioned earlier, the KTM 890 Duke R is expected to arrive in May, but this is subject to change as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic develops.