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KTM Announces 2021 Base Model 890 Duke

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Type: Parallel Twin, 4-Stroke, DOHC

Displacement: 889 cc

Bore/Stroke: 90.7/68.8 mm

Starter: Electric; 12V 10Ah

Transmission: 6 Gears

Fuel System: DKK Dell’Orto, 46 mm Throttle Body

Lubrication: Semi Dry Sump

Cooling: Liquid Cooling with Water/Oil Heat Exchanger

Clutch: PASC (Power Assisted Slipper Clutch), Mechanically Operated

Ignition: Bosch EMS with Ride-By-Wire

Frame: CroMoly Tubular Steel, Engine as Stressed Member

Subframe: Cast Aluminum

Handlebar:  Aluminum, Tapered, Ø 26/22 mm

Front Suspension: WP APEX USD Ø 43 mm

Rear Suspension: WP APEX Monoshock

Suspension Travel Front/Rear: 140 mm/5.5 in; 150 mm/5.9 in

Front/Rear Brakes: Disc Brake 300 mm/240 mm

Front/Rear Wheels: 3.50 x 17”, 5.50 x 17” 

Front/Rear Tires: 120/70ZR17”; 180/55ZR17”

Steering Head Angle: 24º

Wheelbase: 1,476 mm ± 15 mm / 58.1 ± 0.6 in

Ground Clearance: 191 mm / 7.5 in

Seat Height: 820 mm / 32.2 in

Tank Capacity: 14 L / 3.7 gal

Weight (without fuel), Approx: 169 kg / 372.6 lbs

Pages: 1 2

33 Comments

  1. WillieB says:

    Was anyone waiting for this bike? What’s the point? I was expecting the announcement of the 890 Duke GT or SMT or something.

    • joe b says:

      I have a Honda CB1000R and this seems to be in a similar catagory, I can see how desirable it is. the point is, its a very good bike. I guess if you were expecting something else from KTM, your just going to have to wait. I like it. I can see how others would too.

      • WillieB says:

        Yeah it is a great bike, sorry what I mean is, the R version already exists for only $1000 more. Is there a big customer base that would not buy the R, but will buy this for only $1000 less….

  2. FREDDIE says:

    With less brakes and suspension you have to balance it out with 5 less HP. It is all about keeping you safe.

    • joe b says:

      I’ve had a couple bikes in the past that didnt have adjustable suspension, but what setting it had was just about perfect for me. And not having a couple HP off the top, where one seldom ever goes (remember the gloating over the gutless motoguzzi). This wont be a slouch. I’ve had my fill of ricky racer cramped leg, clip on types, with only max Hp at peak rpm. This machine looks like they understand that, not everyone wants knobs, that once you turn them to a setting you like, you never touch them again, and pay for that one,two, knob turns. Safety, is how you ride it, not what your riding. If i have to tell you that, you’ll blame the bike, whatever. I can see what they are doing, larger mass crank, a less than premium level of components, lower price. Not everyone wants a full tilt race bike. They are uncomfortable, difficult to ride for long distances, and you get tired of having to point out stuff you paid for, seldom using, to justify your initial outlay. The 270° engine talks to me, maybe not to others. I just need to sell a few of my other machines, before i go and get another.

      • Edbob says:

        Hey dude, it was a joke about flawed logic.

      • FREDDIE BRENNEMAN says:

        cool it joe b I was trying to make a joke. The next nice day you need to go for a ride.

      • KenLee says:

        Suspension adjustment is not only for performance oriented “ricky racers”. In simple cheap forks both: compression and rebound rates are pre-set on equally ballanced level. For less harsh front feeling on poor quality roads it’s good to be able to to turn compression down about 15-20% without touching rebound (or turn rebound up same rate above untouched compression, if both values were too low). That makes difference in terms of comfort and stability and you are not able to reach it with simple fixes, like heavier/lighter oil, or pre-load distance pieces. You are right about, that once we find a spot-on setting, we never touch it again, but for me these few clicks makes difference and is worth some extra bucks. If producer gives a choice as KTM does with standard and R version, then it’s great, but if not (new Trident, or Monster), then for some of us it might be a deal breaker.

      • KenLee says:

        Suspension adjustment is not only for performance oriented “ricky racers”. In simple cheap forks both: compression and rebound rates are pre-set on equally ballanced level. For less harsh front feeling on poor quality roads it’s good to be able to to turn compression down about 15-20% without touching rebound (or turn rebound up same rate above untouched compression, if both values were too low). That makes difference in terms of comfort and stability and you are not able to reach it with simple fixes, like heavier/lighter oil, or pre-load distance pieces. You are right about, that once we find a spot-on setting, we never touch it again, but for me these few clicks makes difference and is worth some extra bucks. If producer gives a choice as KTM does with standard 790 and 890 R versions, then it’s great, but if not (new Trident, or Monster), then for some of us it might be a deal breaker.

  3. Frank W says:

    The 790’s have poor resale value due to mechanical issues, real or imagined, are the 890’s any better.

    • Blitz says:

      My daughter has a 790 Duke with about 12K miles on it, and it’s been fine. It had maybe 600 miles on it when we left on a ride from MT to Maine and back. Only issue was that the stock rear tire was shot by the time we made it to Michigan, and the front was shot by NY on our way back. Michelin Pilot 2CTs fixed that.

      I have a 2015 690 duke with 18K flawless miles. Valves remain in perfect adjustment.

      I can see the poor resale value as more of the “new model” phenomena – KTM keeps pushing, and making the older stuff obsolete.

      I am, however, a sample of one.

  4. motorhead says:

    Nice balance of properties, performance, price! Which bike – Base or R version – is more reliable and lower maintenance costs? Assume I don’t need the highest-spec suspension or brakes, and prefer to confidentially ride from Raleigh to Alaska and back without a breakdown. Thanks.

  5. fred says:

    Cool bike. It reminds me a lot of my old SV1000. Less weight, a bit less power, much better electronics (the SV had no ABS, TC, ride modes, etc), better brakes, better suspension, uglier styling (IMHO), but very similar in concept.

  6. fred says:

    Cool bike. It reminds me a lot of my old SV1000. Less weight, a bit less power, much better electronics (the SV had no ABS, TC, ride modes, etc), better brakes, better suspension, uglier styling (IMHO), but very similar in concept.

  7. todd says:

    Make sure you pay the extra $300 so you can wheelie. Ridiculous to pay extra to unlock features that are already on the bike. Even worse is when KTM refuses to unlock the features after the purchase! All the reviews and even the owners manual are written with these features unlocked but (on the 690 at least) KTM stopped honoring the sale of Track Pack in the US without telling anyone.

    • Mick says:

      The MotoGP apologists have been trying to tell us all the wonders the switch to diesels would bring to street bikes.

      Yeah right. Eighteen years later you get a host of electronic nannys that you have to pay extra just to shut off.

      I think I am going to expand my comprehensive boycott of all four stroke racing to include all features derived from four stroke racing. Want to not sell me a bike? Just equip the thing with traction and wheelie control. Done!

      MotoGP, the nightmare that never ends.

      • Motoman says:

        In your world there are only three motorcycles that fit your requirements (number pulled out of my butt) unless you build it yourself.

        In my world, I am amazed at the number of motorcycles available these days to fit just about any desire. And I understand everything in the industry is not perfect or perfectly suited to my needs.

        And I have been riding for a long time just like you.

    • KenLee says:

      KTM_jailbreak.zip file expected soon on e-bay with PC wire included- around 50$…

    • Goose Lavel says:

      So you must have a bone to pick with Tesla as well?

      • Mick says:

        Tesla and Apple do not exist in my universe for the same reason.

      • todd says:

        I could give a hoot about Tesla as they only make cars (though I am in the industry of making cars too). I don’t buy cars, especially ones without a manual transmission. Apple? It’s just a generic appliance.

  8. Skybullet says:

    Just go ride it, probably all your petty complaints will fade away. KTM does some serious engineering to improve their bikes. Styling, price and nit picks are a distant second to all around WOW performance. You can thank me later. (KTM SMT and SD GT owner for many years)

    • Grover says:

      WOW! My bike won’t run and I’m 340 mi. from the nearest KTM dealer! You’re right, WOW is the key word.

  9. Gary says:

    I say that’s a pretty $hitty move to ding the engine 5 hp … presumably to punish you for not spending the extra grand. It is costing both you and KTM money to do this. Similar to the other $hitty move of making you buy a track pack to unleash the full power of the Super Duke R. This kind of customer “service” will bite them in the end. Great bikes. Extremely questionable marketing strategy. If I had wanted that kind of customer service I’d have asked them to buy me dinner and a drink first.

    • Uncle Stashu says:

      Agreed…..thought da exact same ting when I read da part about less horsepower. It’s kinda sucky….and I don’t see how it would make da bike cheaper?????? BOOOO

    • Tim says:

      The way I see it, KTM is really just a European version of the Motor Company (the colors are even similar) but making bikes for those who have no need for cruisers. They both charge you a premium price for a questionably reliable bike (at least at their respective price points) and then you must pay more after the sale to get the performance you should have gotten in the first place.
      Still waiting for the KTM version of the “Screamin’ Eagle” catalog.

      • Jeremy says:

        “Still waiting for the KTM version of the “Screamin’ Eagle” catalog.”

        Your wait was over 20 years ago. It’s called the KTM PowerParts catalogue.

  10. Reginald Van Blunt says:

    I must of been living in a box some where, cause the numbers on this are wonderful. 114 hp, less than 400 pounds, a reasonable tankage, value priced for all the technology, we’re not in the 60s any more. Of course the butt crack splitter seat and speed points else where look funny, but – gee whiz. Hope it has a 270 crank.

  11. VLJ says:

    Well, mickey, at least the second color option isn’t all THAT orange. Just the wheels, really.

    Still pointy, though.

    • mickey says:

      Yea, I was shocked when I opened this up and saw the pic lol

      • VLJ says:

        Sooooo, three color options…

        Gray, with a single small orange stripe at the front of the fairing, and orange wheels.

        Orange and black, with orange wheels.

        Orange and black, with black wheels that have a thin narrow band of orange covering three-fourths of the outside of the rim.

        Yep, this is one seriously frustrating manufacturer. Forget this “Ready To Race!” blather. Ditch that. “‘Great looking bikes!’ – Stevie Wonder” truly ought to be their corporate slogan.

        • mickey says:

          “‘Great looking bikes!’ – Stevie Wonder” truly ought to be their corporate slogan.”

          Holy Smokes that’s funny. Good one Veal!

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