MUSCULAR SKELETON The chassis is rigid steel tube trellis , using the engine as a stress bearing member , and the subframe is cast aluminium with a strong triangular design . The handlebars are 760mm wide , quite straight , a nice height and provide comfortable , commanding control for the rider , and the clamps offer four positions forward and back to offer alternate steering characteristics as well as hand / arm ergonomic comfort . A nice touch is the levers are easily adjusted even with gloves on . At 820mm from the deck the seat is more suited to tallish riders , but not too challenging for those at the shorter end of the scale . The look is distinctly KTM with the usual six stacker , praying mantis-like LED headlights with DRL and bold orange and black colour scheme . I ’ m not really a huge fan of this styling and reckon it could be time for a freshen-up , although it is distinctively KTM . All lighting is LED .
Suspension action at both ends is great from the WP APEX items . Front wheel travel is 140mm from the 43mm USD forks and at the rear there is 150mm of axle travel from the PDS ( non-linkage ) mounted WP APEX shock . The forks don ’ t offer any adjustment , while the rear shock has spring preload adjustment . Braking performance and suspension adjustability are perhaps the only slight weaknesses in the 890 Duke ’ s arsenal , well , at least when compared to the R model . The 300mm twin front discs and KTM branded fourpiston calipers perform very well in the stopping department , but won ’ t have quite the same performance as the 320mm discs and Brembo Stylema calipers of the R model – particularly if track days are your thing . If not , then happy days with this model – they work exceedingly well on the road and you save a bunch of cash to boot . At the rear a single 240mm disc with a KTM two-piston caliper is in place and works well . The lean-angle sensitive ABS performs
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