VOLUME 57 ISSUE 17 APRIL 28, 2020 P41
In Road, Rain or Sport settings,
KTM's revised traction control (Motor-
cycle Traction Control—MTC) system
is either on or off, and included as
standard is the KTM-specific Motor
Slip Regulation (MSR) that acts as an
electronic slipper clutch to stop the
back-end from locking up under high-
rpm downshifting.
As for the optional extras, there's
plenty to choose from on the electronic
front: heated grips, cruise control, alarm
system, quickshifter and the KTM MY
RIDE control unit, that allows you to pair
your phone and run turn-by-turn naviga-
tion, take calls and texts, etc.
From The Hot Seat
So what do all these goodies add up
to? Well, I can give the short version
and say the 890 is absolutely bitchin',
and if you're into riding at all you'll un-
derstand. But being so simple doesn't
tell the whole story.
Yes, the ride is awesome, but there's
plenty of impressive sideshows at play
here. There are three standout play-
ers here—the motor, gearshift and how
snappy and agile the chassis is. With
a claimed 120 horsepower from the
parallel-twin, the Duke R delivers as
mellow or mental experience as you
like. There are four specific personali-
ties lurking in the ride modes, with the
ride becoming progressively angrier
until you hit go on the optional Track
mode. At this point, the throttle re-
sponse is almost 1-1, and the little 890
rips wheelies in the first three gears
without hesitation, and fourth gear with
a bit of persuasion.
The spread of power is so vast,
you've always got some decent ac-
celeration on hand when you need it.
From 2000 rpm right through to the
10,500 rpm redline, the little 890 pulls
far harder than it has any right to. The
lighter engine internals prefaced earlier
come to the fore here, helping the
motor tear through the rev range, but
they are offset by the stability offered
by the heavier crankshaft. The initial
throttle response is smoother and more
controlled than on the 790, especially
when cranked over and you start feed-
ing in the gas. Dial the electronics
You can see in
this shot how
much ground
clearance the
890 has. You'll
be able to lean
this thing over
for days.
