ROAD NEWS
KTM UNLEASHES SUPER SCALPEL
I
ver since the 790 Duke arrived with non-
adjustable suspension, fans of KTM’s road
ripping Dukes have been waiting for a more
hard-edged and take on the Scalpel concept.
While it seems half the industry has shut up shop,
KTM has officially unveiled the production version
of the highly anticipated 890 Duke R.
As the name suggests, KTM has bumped the
cubic capacity up to 890cc to bring power up to
121hp backed up by 99Nm of peak torque from
the LC8c parallel-twin.
In addition to the larger capacity, the 890
Duke R features a new cylinder head which
has been developed to accommodate a set of
larger intake and exhaust valves (37mm and
30mm), while the camshafts feature increased
lift and a more aggressive profile. KTM also
included a new balancer shaft to match the
increased RPM and increased rotating mass
14 KIWI RIDER
and keep vibration to a minimum.
With the lack of adjustability in the 790 Duke’s
suspension is a point of contention for some, KTM
ensured the 890 Duke R has all the goodies to
deserve the moniker of “Super Scalpel”.
The Austrian manufacturer even goes as far
to call the 890 Duke R “the sportiest bike in the
middleweight segment and will even give bigger
bikes a run for their money”.
To back up their claim is a host of upgrades
on the base 790 Duke platform including
better suspension and braking as well as the
aforementioned larger capacity engine.
Braking duties are now handled by Brembo’s
top-drawer Stylema monobloc calipers clamping
on lighter 330mm discs and are controlled via a
Brembo MCS master cylinder, which allows the
rider to adjust the lever ratio and brake feel.
Overall, KTM claims a saving of 1.2kg of unsprung