2019 K TM 790 DUKE
FIRST TEST
P70
or you can reduce it still further to
30.7 inches via a lowering kit.
Even though KTM has obviously
aimed to keep costs down with the
non-adjustable WP suspension, the
generous travel is well controlled in
everyday use, and after a day spent
trying my best to fault their choices,
I must admit that KTM's develop-
ment team got their settings for it just
right. I'd never ridden on Maxxis tires
before I tried out the 790 proto-
type, but the Taiwanese manufac-
turer whose products equip most
of KTM's off-road range has done a
good job here with their Supermaxx
SP street rubber especially designed
to equip the 790 Duke equipping the
lightweight 17-inch cast aluminum
wheels. The 180/55ZR17 Maxxis
rear tire will be another factor in the
nimble handling, too.
The twin 300mm front discs
are gripped by four-piston radial
calipers from Spanish company
J.Juan, and these stop the bike
well with lots of feel, without using
the large 240mm rear disc very
hard at all. The settings for the slip-
per clutch have just enough engine
braking left dialed in to help you
stop for a second-gear hairpin from
high speed, without chattering the
rear wheel on the overrun. Plus the
settings for the clutchless autoblip-
per are so ideally chosen that you
KTM is
planning
a series of
790 Duke
Power
Cup one-
make road
racing
series
around
the world.
The 790 is a very
impressive real-world
ride that's a true
KTM, replete with the
brand's core values.
