Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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P86 RIDE REVIEW I 2024 KTM 990 DUKE 990 achieve that lightning-quick agility in corners. Cornering ABS ensures you'll have to mess up very hard before things get out of hand. Our ride in the Spanish hillside lasted about three hours, and the 990 proved comfortable. The seat unit didn't get overly hard (it's also been angled up two degrees), and there's ample leg room, but it's unlikely you'll end up doing touring miles on a 990. The rearset peg position is unadjustable but the handlebar can be moved to one of four positions, so there is a decent level of customization there. EVERYTHING ELSE Looks-wise, the 990 really has grown up. It utiliz- es the same stacked LED headlight as the 1390 and is easily the most polarizing aspect of the bike's look. It's a case of "hell yes!" or "hell no!" after staring at it, I reckon I'm on the former's side. It looks like something out of The Termina - tor and makes the diamond-shaped headlight of the 890 look nearly juvenile by comparison. KTM was at pains during the launch to em - phasize the whole growing up thing for the 990, and it's hard to argue with them. The playful- ness and bratty nature the 890 had that was so loveable has been replaced by a bike that is very much a mini Super Duke, thanks primarily to the physical size and stiffness of the chassis. The 890 was lithe and light, but the 990 feels more substantial in almost every aspect. But simple things like reducing the amount you need to alter the suspension to get meaning - ful change, the extra mid-range performance, and the revised seating position all add up to a thoroughly excellent machine—whether you like the headlight or not. The 990 has some pretty stiff competition in Yamaha's revamped MT-09 (due for U.S. re - lease later this year), the Triumph Street Triple 765 R and RS, and the Ducati Monster, but it's more than up to the task as the only parallel- twin bike in the class. Time will tell if we are to get a 990 Duke R, but given KTM's penchant for the absurd, I wouldn't be surprised to see one in the near future. But for now, I can say with a hand on my heart that the 990 Duke is badass. CN 2024 KTM 990 DUKE ($12,500) ENGINE: 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, parallel-twin DISPLACEMENT: 947cc VALVETRAIN: 8-valve BORE X STROKE: 70.4 x 92.5mm COOING SYSTEM: Liquid FUEL INJECTION: Electronic fuel injection system EXHAUST: 2-1 TRANSMISSION: 6-speed CLUTCH: Wet, multi-plate, slip and assist ELECTRONICS: Riding Modes, ABS, Traction Control CHASSIS: Tubular steel FRONT SUSPENSION: 43 WP Apex inverted forks, compression and rebound damping adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: WP Apex monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable FRONT BRAKE: Single 300mm disc, Brembo 4-piston radial monobloc calipers REAR BRAKE: Single 240mm disc, Brembo single-piston caliper FRONT TIRE: 120/70ZR17 in. REAR TIRE: 180/55ZR17 in. WHEELBASE: 58.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 32.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 3.9 gal. WEIGHT (CURB): 394 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S