P108
RIDE REVIEW I 2026 KTM 990 DUKE R
With a claimed 129 horse-
power, engine performance
on the street is never in ques-
tion. The Duke R runs dif-
ferent mapping than the RC
R Supersport bike, with the
Duke's torquier bottom-end
punch immediately recog
-
nizable compared to the
RC R's penchant for higher
revs. The 947cc twin with its
specific mapping allows the
Duke R to rip from corner to
corner on twisty backroads,
and when paired with the
sharp, direct quickshifter that
comes as part of the Tech
Pack, life is indeed rather
enjoyable on the Duke R.
You've got more than
enough torque for 90 per
-
cent of riding situations on
the Duke R, and despite the
urgency in its personality, you
can be lazy (if you want) by
sticking it in fourth gear and
lugging it from turn to turn,
giving the engine internals an
easier time of it. Do this, and
it's remarkable how smooth
the ride is with very few vibra
-
tions coming through to the
handlebars.
Engine performance is
down to what mode you're
in. This being the special
one, the Duke R gets Rain,
Street and Sport modes,
each with differing levels of
throttle response, and should
you pick up the Tech Pack
(and you really should), you'll
get the Track mode and
three custom modes that al
-
low you to dial in damn near
every performance aspect
you can think of.
KTM has been a huge
proponent of electronic af-
termarket add-ons for years
now, much to the chagrin of
many customers, and the
Duke R is no different.
Basically, you can buy the
cruise control, Motor Slip
Regulation (MSR) and quick
-
(Left) Seven more
Austrian ponies reside in
the new motor, with output
now claimed to be 129
horsepower. (Above) The
extra 15mm of ground
clearance is a welcome
addition when riding on
the road. The 990 Duke
R will rip its way up your
favorite canyon.
