2019 K TM 790 DUKE
FIRST TEST
P66
Switchable Bosch
2-channel ABS is fitted
as standard for Euro 4
compliance, with light-
sensitive full color
TFT dash.
throttle bodies or oil (116 pounds
with those included), says Torsten
Gaul, compared to 88.2 for the
690 Duke's single-cylinder motor
on the same basis.
That's pretty amazing for an
800cc twin-cylinder engine,
and you definitely feel the result
when riding the bike. After being
honored with a brief getting-to-
know-you ride last September
on the prototype 790 Duke, the
chance to spend a whole day on
the grippy roads of Gran Canaria,
including a couple of hours riding
the island's Maspalomas circuit
allowed a more intensive evalu-
ation. Just as first time around,
though, the 790 Duke feels small,
slim, short and sporty, with a
close-coupled riding stance that
has your chin seemingly over the
front wheel. It's a responsive,
eager-revving bike that's not only
thoroughly practical but also
hugely entertaining, and totally
intuitive to ride. It's one of those
bikes where you feel a part of it
from the very moment you hop
aboard—this could make riding to
work a lot of fun, though maybe
not half as much as taking the
long way home on it.
I started out using Street mode
out of the four available maps,
before switching to the slightly
sharper but still super controllable
Sport map—there's also a Rain
mode with a smoother pickup and
reduced power, plus Track which
is sharper still for racetrack use,
though even that has a crisp but
controlled pickup from a closed
throttle that's not at all snatchy.
The LC8c motor pulls cleanly
The 790 uses a chrome-
moly tubular steel trellis
frame with 43mm WP
fork and cantilever
shock, neither of which
is adjustable for damping
but have good stock
settings.
