VOL. 55 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 13, 2018 P71
and then again into Street. Both
modes offered discernible steps
in performance you could feel.
While a faster, more experienced
rider would prefer to keep it in
Track mode to take full advantage
of the 790's performance, the
other modes make riding this
Duke more accessible and enjoy-
able for learning riders perhaps
upgrading from the 390 Duke or
similar entry-level bike.
The 2019 KTM 790 Duke
is an absolute riot to ride
that rewards its pilot in
spades. Between its
2019 DUCATI MULTISTRADA
1260 ENDURO ($10,499)
ENGINE: .................. Liquid-cooled, DOHC,
4-stroke, Parallel-twin
DISPLACEMENT: .............................. 799cc
BORE X STROKE: ................ 88 x 65.7mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: ......................12.7:1
CLUTCH: .........................Wet multi-plate
TRANSMISSION: ........................ 6-speed
CHASSIS: ..................Tubular steel trellis
FRONT SUSPENSION: .......... 43mm WP
inverted fork, non-adjustable
REAR SUSPENSION: ..................... WP
monoshock, preload adjustable
FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ............ 5.5 in.
REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ............. 5.5 in.
FRONT BRAKE: .2 x 300mm semi-
floating discs, radially
mounted 4-piston calipers,
Cornering ABS as standard
equipment
REAR BRAKE: ... 240mm disc,
1-piston floating caliper, with
Cornering ABS as standard
equipment
FRONT TIRE: ......120/70 ZR17 in.
REAR TIRE: ........... 180/55 ZR17 in.
RAKE: ............................................... 24°
WHEELBASE: ..................................... 58 in.
SEAT HEIGHT: ................................32.5 in.
Fuel capacity:3.7 gal.
WEIGHT (DRY, CLAIMED): ................ 372.6
COLOR: ............................... Orange, Black
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
Aside from working flawlessly all day, one
cool feature about the 790 Duke's quickshifter
is that you can reverse the shifting pattern
to GP-style (one up, five down) without any
additional parts or modification.
rowdy, yet silky smooth engine,
its sporty but comfortable er-
gonomics, and its razor sharp
but forgiving handling, this Duke
could be the jack-of-all-trades
naked sport bike many riders
have been looking for. No, it's
probably not a bike you'll want to
tour on, but then again, nobody
would stop you. If you're after a
well-sorted motorcycle that's as
comfortable to commute on as
it is carving up the canyons or
ripping up the racetrack, then
the 2019 KTM 790 Duke is your
ticket. CN
