Y
ou've got to admire the board at KTM AG. Headed
by CEO Stefan Pierer, the Austrian company is
firing on all cylinders these days, each year releas-
ing a string of new bikes that get the juices flowing fast
and furious, on either road or dirt.
Being a street bike guy, I'm more in tune with the latter,
as my dirt skills amount to play riding at best. And having
spent more than my fair share of time on every version of
the 1290 Super Duke R since it came out in 2014, I have
first-hand experience of seeing KTM's street bikes get
better every year—or every other year.
That brings me to today's main course, the 2020 KTM
890 Duke R. Born from the loins of the 790 Duke that
came out in 2018 here in the U.S. (2017 for the rest of the
world), the 890 Duke R is every bit the 1290 Super Duke
R's little brother, far more so than the 790 ever was.
That 790 is an excellent little bike, but the 890 takes
everything up several notches. It's a more versatile motor-
cycle, and its target audience is, well, everyone from pro
riders to beginners looking to get into the KTM fold.
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 17 APRIL 28, 2020 P35
Mattighofen's
MIDDLEWEIGHT
MASTERY
May the roads be clear, the sun at your back,
and a KTM 890 Duke R between your legs
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
