2019 K TM 790 DUKE
FIRST IMPRESSION
P70
PowerParts accessory catalogue,
and if that's still too tall, you can
drop it down even further to 30.7
via a lowering kit.
Perhaps my favorite ergonomic
feature of the 790 Duke is its ad-
justable top triple clamp. Between
the reversible risers and two mount-
ing holes, it offers a combination
of four different bar positions—
something taller riders will certainly
appreciate. The 30-inch tapered
aluminum handlebar gives
the rider great leverage
and the ability to switch
direction with minimal
effort. Handling is so
sharp that the bike
is un-phased by mid-
turn line changes to
avoid a rock or gravel
Keeping costs down was no doubt
one of the main reasons for the 790's
non-adjustable suspension, and I
tried my best all day to find its limits
with no success. Sporty riding is, of
course, where it shines brightest,
and the WP units keep the Duke
glued to the road. It's only when
cruising around town it feels some-
what harsh and on the stiffer side,
but this is "The Scalpel" we're talking
about here, not "The Sofa."
That being said, the 790's
ergonomics are spot on for a large
variety of riders, but some might
complain about the seat being on
the firmer side, which in stock trim
stands 32.5 inches tall. A lower,
31.7-inch seat is available from the
patch. This in turn also makes the
790's handling more forgiving in the
chance of a rider error, allowing you
to quickly correct yourself without
getting too squirrely.
After an hour or so in Track
mode with the throttle sensitiv-
ity set to Sport, I knocked the
response down to Street,
which I found the be the
perfect combination.
Street allowed you to keep
a smooth, neutral throttle
without any jerkiness.
Later on in the day I
bumped the ride mode
down into Sport to
see how it
compared,
