2018 KTM 790 Duke | First Ride | Review

[@dlb83082]

I am in love with this bike - I am a sucker for Orange and trellis frames!

[@lizstorer000]

Yes first review by you & I really enjoyed the difference from others! I just purchased one of these, I’m nearly 50 and coming off a HD night rod ( had for five yes). On my test rides I found the 790 really fun!!! Love the look & how light, nimble, and flick able it is!!! Picked it from others I tried as is so practical for commuting, Country riding & track! Ps I am not a beginner either...

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you Liz! I hope you have plenty of smiles per mile on it. It really is a fun, good, do everything well all-rounder bike. KTM nailed it with this bike. Ride safe, Scott

[@lizstorer000]

NothingToProve Thanks Scott :-) Lovely to hear from you! I pick it up tomorrow so yes I am looking forward to many happy miles riding it!!! Cheers, Liz in WA 👍😎🏍🇦🇺

[@visionhalf328]

Nice video mate! awesome bike great presentation!

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you!

[@NothingToProve]

@Thgt Ggyh Hi, I'm an American living in Germany, this is why you'll hear me slip and say a German word every now and again.

[@davidc1961utube]

Seems like that display twitching back and forth between day and night mode would have me searching for a way to set it to one or the other. Also, throttle by wire without cruise control? Should at least be available as an option. I have the same beef with the AT I test rode last year. Otherwise looks like a hoot, but is priced not too far from a Tracer 900 GT, which has more goodies. So many choices of good bikes, it is an embarrassment of riches shopping for motorcycles these days.

[@brynk5574]

This bike gonna be my second purchase*** after all

[@hatimnoli]

I like the country you're in! Free fuel, two thumbs up :)

[@borisstupar5147]

In Europe is fill up first and then pay....Overseas is opposite :)

[@kostastsaknidis7861]

I scared a lot at 17:22, but I guess it all gone right. Great review as always, thank you sir !

[@NothingToProve]

Oh, the car was turning into the gas station right where I was pulling out, his turn signal doesn't show up very well in the video, that's how I knew I could pull out onto the street. Plus distance and speed deceleration is hard to judge in a video vs. being there in real life. We humans judge distance and speed with two eyes, video only has one eye. Maybe I should mount two cameras to my helmet...LOL!

[@kostastsaknidis7861]

@@NothingToProve You can't trust the turn signals.. It may was a totally controlled situation, but as I was watching the video, I can say I scared a lot.

[@Aiken47]

Hey Im 50, I love this bike - Ive had one for 3mths now - young riders, hmpf :P

[@NothingToProve]

LOL! And I'm one year older than you and I loved riding it too! It's one of those bikes that are simply fun to ride. Fun, fun, fun, no matter what your age.

[@johnDukemaster]

@@NothingToProve Young at heart.

[@wereyouaking]

Be nice if you could just lock the screen in either light or dark

[@NicoBiturbo]

You can

[@volt7cooltangs701]

In the UK, some of our roads are in pretty bad condition due to lack of maintenance. ruts, etc. I think the WP suspension on the Duke 790 is hard. Too frigging hard man. OK for a track day and on smooth roads but downright unpleasant and annoying I find. Unacceptable for me really, would have to look at modifications to suspension. Also the low speed, in town fueling is a bit sh!t due to the leanness of Euro4 emissions. I’m on about at below 29mph. Jerky. Rain mode helps but still not smooth. Engine is a superb peach as is the standard exhaust note. Has to be the best sounding Euro4 compliant exhaust since the 1200 Triumph Thruxton. Goes like a stabbed rat.

[@robertprosser6856]

Quality review as always!👍

[@SaxDorado]

Man I really like this bike, but still debating between this, the MT 09 and the Street Triple RS. Leaning a little more towards the MT 09 because of the Yamaha reliability.

[@dlb83082]

it depends on what kind of powerband you want Street Triple is all top end power - MT-09 is brutal mid range (long torque curve) - 790 is like a v twin will be similar to the MT-09 powerband with a v twin sound

[@iamthemobey]

I love the MT range but the suspension and brakes put me off.

[@hstefan]

@@iamthemobey The MT 09 suspension is decent if you tune it for your weight, also, brake feel and power can easily be upgraded with some synthered pads

[@joepopes7923]

To many MT 09 out there. Riding a bike like everyone else isn't my thing. The KTM has more character and is more unique.

[@baconbaconbobacon]

and now the 790 Duke R has been spotted being tested in and around Austria

[@NothingToProve]

Na, it's been out for a few months now in Europe, it will be a few more before it arrives in the U.S. But it is one of the hottest new bikes for 2018.

[@MarkStraker]

He's on about the 790 Duke 'R' - a higher spec bike that will come out soon.

[@baconbaconbobacon]

Yea rumor is they will show the Duke 790 R at this years EICMA in Milan...i was going to get the default 790 when it came to the states later this year (possible next year?) but since the R has been spotted, im going to wait on that model

[@RealOrbit-Australia]

@@baconbaconbobacon not happening...

[@vexmau5]

RealOrbit - Australia why not?

[@madsoothsayer]

If you had to choose between the 790 and your 2015 SDR, which one would you prefer? I am in that same boat right now.

[@NothingToProve]

SDR all day long! The SDR is just on a whole other level of performance.

[@cranky1812]

Any news if KTM will launch a RC version of 790?

[@NothingToProve]

Beats me, I do know that KTM is hard at work to get the 790 Adventure out by next spring, if they can do an RC too...doubt it.

[@SunShine-yd5xu]

Nice review as always. In which city you are located?

[@NothingToProve]

Hi Sun Shine, thanks, I live near Paderborn. Cheers from Germany

[@tomkruzpl2896]

Very good test. I have to choose 790 or mt09 and I think I like orange more and more, what do You think guys?

[@NothingToProve]

Tough choice. Both are very good bikes. It really comes down to a matter of the heart, which ever bike moves you, that's the one for you. If you want performance, the 790 will do better track times though...so if you ride with some sport bike guys, the 790 will keep up with them in the corners no problem. Whereas the 09, you'd have to work a little harder to do so.

[@tomkruzpl2896]

Thanks a lot, Best wishes from pl :)

[@SonriseSunset]

Test rides are not availabel with most all delaers - state side anyway. only if a biker maker has a test droive day set upo with a deraler, do you get a chnace to check out a bike. And I find thast it;s usually Kawi who has the test drive events. Even used sports bikes. I am looking at a used 2020 790 and the dealer suyss he can' let me test drive - wow. I wanted to check out the harshness of the suspension. Some reviews really complain about poor or over damped forks and shock when it comes to big bumps. I told him that too, but to no avail. So I wanted to find out if for me, it would be a deal breaker. You don't mention anything about harshness in the suspension over bumps in your review, except, "best bike with non adjustable suspension". So I'm guessing it's not a deal breaker. That was 4 years ago....do you still feel the same after reviewing the new Hornet? The new Hornet seems like just the opposite, suspension is too soft though you didn't indicate that in your Hornet review.

[@kamilf9558]

Great video Thumbs up 👍 Thanks for sharing Peace

[@wartrain12]

This was great

[@tevense]

Nice review. Hope you also can do the 790 adventure :-) would be interesting to se :-)

[@NothingToProve]

Thanks Trond, that is next on my to do list.

[@caskstrength7629]

How tall are you?

[@NothingToProve]

5'10"

[@sink38ms]

CM ON KTM...MAKE THIS ONE IN DCT?👈🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@joepopes7923]

The 790 is the first build KTM in China by CF-Moto.

[@johnDukemaster]

Only the new ones with 95bhp. These "old" ones are made in Austria

[@chriswest2290]

Look when the rewiew was uploaded. This in the original Austrian version.

[@tomquinn607]

Want to like the bike but KTM's bad reputation for major engine problems precedes it and discourages me from ever buying KTM.

[@CB74651]

@@Snotroggel453 Japanese bikes leaks too mate like some are leaking oil and coolant, also haven't seen any KTM duke 790 with major problems here in the Philippines where it's assembled locally.

[@rikt1541]

nothing to prove is autofhugl on motorcycles

[@Youtube_Globetrotter]

The slipon looks terrible, the seat looks terrible, the tank looks terrible. Wheelbase looks very long, I like that at Ducati Diavel but not on this one. It might be fun to ride but I pass.