The best budget naked? 2024 KTM 790 Duke review (w/ WP Apex Pro suspension kit)

KTM's brought the 790 Duke back for 2023, and it's now a £7,000 bike. How's it so affordable? Well, it's now made in China - but does it matter, can you tell - and will you care when the bike's so fun to ride? Join me for a full walkaround and riding review of the 2023 KTM 790 Duke, fitted with the accessory WP Apex Pro fork cartridges and shock.
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[@Telesko]

I've had a 790 duke since 2020 and I absolutely love it. I am shorter than you and find my legs fit perfectly around the tank but the pegs are in an aggressive position and my knees get stiff after a while. Its an awesome bike.

[@peeperpawsmcgee]

Gotta say my 2023 duke 790 does not have that adjustable suspension. 😢 but I did get it in the US with the 105hp version and 1500 off I start rebate so retailed 7500, plus taxes and fees. Now I only need to live in fear of cams failing. Been changing oil every 2000 miles in fear of metal

[@chrisk3754]

I have one and Street mowed is my favourite seems like plenty for me. The track mode seems like it’s really for the highway and yeah I think it’s an awesome bike.

[@thomasperl1172]

Have it by myself the version with 105HP aaaand love it, greets from Austria 😄

[@darrenstone3693]

I bought a new 790 literally a month ago. I love it

[@timrodierides]

Hope you're still enjoying it!

[@darrenstone3693]

@@timrodierides Absolutely 👍

[@xChuckZitox]

Picking mine up this Saturday. I have ridden a 390 for 4 years and love the bike. Just needed a bike I could take on longer trips. Looking forward to my adventures on the 790.

[@trooper64428]

I found the 790 2024 Duke better than the MT-07, the Duke is lighter, quicker, better balanced, better turning circle, more flick able, more manouverable at slow speed, and easier to read the tft screen as you can keep your eyes forward rather than looking down to see how fast your going, better clutch and you can hear the change in engine noise change when slow speed manouvering so you don't stall, as a training bike it's unbeatable, it has the manouvering of a super moto rather than a street naked, if you are thinking about motorcycle lessons go for a school that uses the KTM 790 Duke.

[@gerryryan2302]

Glad you didn’t get your Willy out !! …however I will comment on the China manufacturing part of it …as long as KTM have put robust quality control checks in place for the manufacturing process so that they match the home produced bikes..what can go wrong 😂😂

[@wl660]

And KTM have a great reliability record? Errrr…No. I would avoid any Chinese manufactured bike that I would hold out of warranty.

[@antoineallard8788]

Funny how here in belgium, we dont have lease type contracts for flats. Only share hold, each month you pay a small amount to ( in my case 75€) the « syndicate » which all the owners represented by a delegate, and does all the maintenance and repairs with that money

[@love4boost]

I don’t mind sticker graphics depending on the graphics. Now the Duke graphics are nice so I wouldn’t mind those coated. But the graphics that came on my MT-09 were hideous so I was happy to remove them as soon as I got home. I’ve done that with my helmets too. I’m weird about that stuff. I’ve avoided buying cars just for having pinstripes down the side

[@danielb8573]

Nothing weird about that I’m the same stuff like that really grinds my gears

[@alechopkins6545]

Aha, my phone is made it Vietnam, but my washing machine is chinese and think maybe my tv lol

[@Mtthwpez]

It's weird to me for KTM to be championing the 790 models being made in China, now, as KTM and CFMoto have been in partnership since 2013 I think. They also assemble a lot of KTM's bikes and make the engines for them too.

[@davexs]

Your review came up in my search, while I sit in Thailand thinking of the Duke, or should I say, Chuke 790! Great news 105hp for me if I buy? Anyway great review, I like your style. Subbed

[@ronnystenzel3266]

You wanted some garlic liver sausage? Here you have your german/austrian Knoblauchleberwurst! What is your preference when it comes to Knoblauchleberwurst? Do you prefer "grob" or "fein" ? It its actually an easy one: Grob=KTM, fein=Honda. "Fein" suits everyone, but "grob" keeps you excited.

[@timrodierides]

This is the content we really need on KZbin! 🤣

[@mahdavimail]

Very very nice bike that depreciates like dropping stone. 😢

[@pabloblascocarrascosa5425]

Suspensión pro includes different rear shock??

[@tubejorrit]

yes

[@hellasultras]

The hornet was too small and cramp for me {6,2} but the duke was very roomy and has a much higher seat

[@The.JZA.]

I'm sad to see the 890 go and I definitely don't want a 990 so I guess the 790 is the one for me. I have a Duke 390 and I'll stick with that for another year or two.

[@timrodierides]

Why don't you want a 990? The face?

[@The.JZA.]

@@timrodierides Just too much bike. It’s unnecessary. Nobody needs a litre bike on the road. I know it’s only marginally more powerful than the 890 but it’s also marginally heavier and more expensive as well so it’s all just getting a bit ridiculous. The 790 is still an awesome machine that has plenty of power for the road. You can actually twist the throttle without instantly going insane speeds. If the 890 was still an option I’d probably go for that but I have to draw the line somewhere and for me the 990 gets a no, even if it is a very nice bike.

[@leewatkeys9065]

Yes I care. I wouldn’t buy an Austrian KTM let alone a Chinese one. Yes I’ve heard about the smart phone tv etc but for me a motorbike is about the engine: I have a F800R with a European built twin and won’t buy a F900R as it has a Chinese engine. My money my choice.

[@donderstorm1845]

i don't think there's anything wrong with Chinese built engines. cfmoto builds pretty good bikes. i think people should get used to Chinese bikes becoming more and more popular. quality of Chinese manufacturing is improving and we'll see what happened with Japanese manufacturing. they've already become a huge exporter of cars. wouldn't surprise me if the same will happen with bikes.

[@ezequielperez159]

We don't really care what you do with your money, pal. No need to let us know.

[@nstarmore]

Probably the only bike manufacturer that improved it's build quality through chinese partnership. I will still never own one again.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Reliability issues??

[@nstarmore]

@@johnnyboy1586 yup, meticulously maintained and still the most unreliable bike ever owned

[@johnnyboy1586]

It seem like all the issues are withe the road machines as guys I know who have ktm dirt bikes don't seem to have any major problems, the one guy I know who has a 1290 duke gt has had a few problems, all electrical,he's sticking with it coz he said nothing he's ridden comes close

[@nstarmore]

@@johnnyboy1586 it's probably more that expectations are different for off road bikes and that was probably the issue I had. It was a 990 Adventure, electrical issues were part of the problem but it was part of a wider issue with a lot of the materials used being poor quality, including cheese like alloy for engine casings and bolts. Combined with the blatant lack of effort that went into the engine mapping ultimately just resulted in an unenjoyable ownership experience. The engine itself was amazing as was the suspension but service intervals for both were incredibly short, basically, if you treated it like an off road bike that needs constant attention and fiddling then it was fine but trying to use one daily was a joke. I also remember going to a dealer and seeing 6 month 1090's covered in rust and galvanic corrosion. Admittedly this was a fair while back but from what I've read not a whole lot has changed. Ready to race indeed...once

[@johnnyboy1586]

@@nstarmore gee that's bad indeed! Maybe go for the Suzuki 1000cc Strom? That should be bullet proof, and cheaper

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

I care where its made. Not for the quality, or manufacturing environmental nightmare or slave workforce but for the regime it funds. You lot in the UK are spared the constant threats and bully behaviour happening here on the pacific side of the world. If you don't care well that's fine mate but dont go rubbing it in the face of those of us that are bracing for conflict with this bikes country of origin. Sheesh. 🙄

[@timrodierides]

You should probably get the 890 then

[@iansmith9483]

🤣

[@wl660]

I agree - only I do care about manufacturing quality too. We have a choice on where our money goes - and people will reap what they sow.

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

I'm sure it is a real KTM, but I'd rather have a CFMoto 800NK. Same engine.

[@rhoodj]

Honda Africa Twin 1100XL😅😅

[@user-sq9gg8rw9h]

А еще меньше дисплей нельзя было сделать???? Скоро KTM вместо маленького планшета будет комплектовать мотоцикл просто наручными часами !!!

[@ikbendusan]

classic example of the european licensing structure ruining a bike slightly

[@vasiltsalta5643]

Maybe it could be remapped with the ROTW ECU Map or a map from the 2019 Duke 790, so you get it to 105 bhp

[@zefautino]

KrapTM... no thank you.

[@jd5k]

CF Moto, Keeway etc are china made bikes, but they're just as smooth, refined and reliable as their counter Japanese Bikes.

[@EJK1965]

Dear Mr Tim, everyone should be aware of the increasing geo political problems with essentially America vs China Vs Europe. Here in Britain we have sold off much manufacturing and this a large part for the decay. We have also surrounded ourselves with Chinese products, they are everywhere. So let's consider purchasing from UK and Europe based companies, if for no other reason to attempt to help our children. Their ego and mismanagement in Wuhan recently killed 10 million people...... remember? So people do the right thing and try to avoid monetising communism, irrespective of how cheap this bike is.

[@donderstorm1845]

what an incredibly stupid comment.

[@anxiousappliance]

get a job.

[@isupportthecurrentthing5225]

I'll pass on anything chinese made. No ty.

[@timrodierides]

But being made in China is the current thing! 😜

[@rexeverything100]

What even the device you've just watched this video on pretty much everything is assembled in china. A bit contradicting don't you think. Designed by KTM parts supplied by KTM assembled in china, they are way ahead of the west as far as technology and build quality goes.

[@Canoneosmiami]

Speak English! Not British village but Hollywood movie’s English so we can understand u !

[@Steve-motorcycles]

😂 Go home