on dirt was exceptional, as it also was
on moderate to fast road riding.
The engine was also the least
thirsty, as we averaged 40 mpg after
both road and dirt riding.
However, the KTM is not perfect.
The 21-inch front wheel that makes
the KTM such a winner off-road hurts
it on the street, and when combin-
ing that with knobby tires on tar, the
ride is a definite step down from the
Ducati. The suspension, too, suf-
fers on the street and doesn't offer
the same ride quality of the Ducati's
Skyhook setup. However, transfer the
KTM to the dirt, and the ground lost
to the Ducati on the street is more
than made up.
The KTM is a tall and relatively
skinny machine despite having the
highest capacity of any bike in the
test. The ergonomics are definitely
geared towards off-road perfor-
mance, and when you stand up in the
saddle you feel absolutely at home.
KTM's spent a huge amount of
resources in making the electronics
as intuitive as possible. While there
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 19 MAY 10, 2022 P121
