KTM 690 DUKE R (2010 - 2011) Review

The duke is not a cruiser, it hates straight roads, city traffic, any kind of luggage being strapped on it, pillion riding, being ridden in a chilled out or relaxed manner. Get on, find twisty road and plug in. Use all the throttle and all the braking capability. Return home with big grin knowing that (most) of the time you've kind of been within 30mph of the speed limit.

Its a single. Its a bit vibey but weirdly if you ride as mentioned it seems to find a really smooth groove. On the right roads being ridden hard between 4-7k it can be incredibly smooth. Its rapid too, not in a 160hp pull your arms off way but the way it can convey you between corners via a blur of quick gear-changes and stomping braking capability is sublime.

Had mine for 10 years and 20,000kms. So far nothing has gone wrong or broken. You get the impression everything was thought about on this bike. Where Yamaha used old angle iron their XTX660X, KTM decided to use some lightweight alloy bracket intricately designed and manufactured. Brakes, suspension, wheels, the whole design philosophy is one of building a quality machine. Sure if you decide to use it on salted roads in the middle of winter it will no doubt corrode and fall apart but treat it with the same respect as those who designed it did and you won't have a problem.

Serving every 6000kms, larger valve check service every 12,000kms. I service mine every year before summer. Bike comes with a great manual that tells you most of what you need to do for simple oil changes etc at home.

Theres a couple of reasons why this bike didn't sell well. Its singular purpose and its price. The price came down to the parts used from the factory: radial brembo brakes, proper fully adjustable suspension (high & low speed compression, preload and rebound damping), crazy 48mm front forks, Marchesini wheels, well mapped fuel injection, almost slick Dunlop Alpha tyres, in a package weighing 148kgs. Some might not like the way it looks but you have to admit it was penned as a singular design. It is so good at what it does well because of the attention to detail. I have a few bikes and I've owned a fair few over the years, I don't use the KTM that often but when I do it always blows me away. 10 years on it is still my favourite.

Brilliant suspension.

Exhaust, cam and map improve breathing.

Some of the fasteners corrode. Gearbox could be smoother.

Great on fuel and servicing but hard on rear tyres.

Forks and shock.