Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1545744
P106 RIDE REVIEW I 2027 KTM 790 DUKE bigger in others. The reshaped fuel tank pro- vides good knee support during cornering (but can be a touch hard to grip when the brakes are first applied, as mentioned), while the slim- mer seat front improves reach to the ground. The handlebar position has been revised, footpegs move slightly rearward and upward, and the riding position strikes a more natural balance between aggressive sport riding and everyday comfort. Even after several hours in the saddle, fatigue remained minimal, and this was mainly thanks to thick seat padding that doesn't (unlike so many others) sink you into the base alloy after an hour of riding. The styling also receives meaningful up - dates with the new LED headlight that doffs the cap to bigger brothers in the 990 and 1390 Super Duke R, but I'm sorry, I can't dig on it. The old unit, while much heavier, was far better looking. Revised bodywork and a larger front fairing improve airflow while maintaining the minimalist Duke appearance. The five-inch TFT display also gets an up - date, even if it feels a little small in this age of seven- to 10-inch TFTs that we're living now. The graphics are cleaner, menu navigation requires fewer button presses, and the inter - face feels more intuitive. KTM's electronics continue to rank among the best in the class and have done for years, so this area of the 790 isn't really that surprising. The 790 Duke's re-arrival into the U.S. market thus completes the Duke, lineup and, my god, I hope KTM doesn't screw with it anymore. This has been one of the biggest problems for the brand in that they chop and change the capacities and, more importantly, the names of the bikes almost year on year. So, please, KTM keep it at 790, 990 and 1390 for a long time, will you? Having said that, the 2027 KTM 790 Duke is a great motorcycle that has matured without losing the playful edginess that made it so popular when it was initially released pre-Covid. In a segment filled with excellent choices, the updated Duke has a ton of com - petition, but it's still one of the most reward- ing midsize naked bikes you can buy. CN 2027 KTM 790 DUKE ($9799) Engine Parallel-twin Valvetrain DOHC, 4-valve-per-cylinder Cooling System Liquid-cooled with water/oil heat exchanger Displacement 799cc Bore x Stroke 88.0 x 65.7mm Compression Ratio 12.7:1 Max Power (claimed) 105 hp @ 9500 rpm Max Torque (claimed) 64 lb-ft @ 8000 rpm Fuel System Bosch EFI with ride-by-wire throttle Lubrication Wet sump Transmission 6-speed Final Drive 520 X-ring chain Clutch PASC slipper clutch w/ power assist; optional Quickshifter+ Electronics Bosch six-axis IMU; ride modes: Street, Sport, Rain (Track optional); motor-slip regulation (optional); cornering traction control, cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS, launch control (optional Tech Pack); cruise control (optional); 5-inch TFT display w/ smartphone connectivity and navigation capability Frame Chromium-molybdenum steel trellis frame using engine as a stressed member, cast-aluminum powder-coated subframe, cast braced aluminum swingarm Front Suspension WP Apex 43mm open-cartridge USD fork; compression and rebound adjustable; 5-click adjustment Rear Suspension WP Apex monoshock; preload and rebound adjustable Front-Wheel Travel 5.9 in. Rear-Wheel Travel 6.7 in. Front Wheel 17 x 3.50 in. cast aluminum Rear Wheel 17 x 5.50 in. cast aluminum Front Tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV, 120/70-ZR17 Rear Tire Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV, 180/55-ZR17 Front Brake Dual 300mm floating discs, WP 4-piston radial-mount calipers, cornering ABS, Supermoto ABS Rear Brake Single 240mm disc, single-piston caliper, cornering ABS Wheelbase 58.1 in. Rake / Trail 24.0° / 3.9 in. Seat Height 32.5 in. Ground Clearance 7.3 in. Fuel Capacity 3.6 gal. Weight (dry, claimed) 368 lbs.