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MoreBikes Editor Ross has been driving the KTM for over six months now and has clocked up just a few thousand miles. Right here’s his newest ideas…
The KTM 790 Duke is in-built China. So far, I’ve not likely talked about it. Loads of stuff we personal and devour is constructed over within the Far East, and but loads of you’ve got an terrible lot to say about bikes in-built that neck of the woods. I perceive a few of the concern, although any criticism concerning the high quality of the construct is turning into much less and fewer pertinent with every passing 12 months. There’s nonetheless some tough stuff on the market, however if you happen to follow the bigger, extra established manufacturers that aren’t merely targeted on constructing low-cost, you’ll not go far improper.
One which’s come out on high is CFMOTO. They’ve been round for fairly just a few years now, making a reputation for themselves by knocking out value-for-money middleweight and small-capacity bikes. That’s in all probability why KTM determined to affix forces with them again in 2011, earlier than getting into right into a three way partnership in 2017.
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There’s evidently a variety of belief there, and the CEO of KTM, Stefan Pierer, has stated precisely that. “We constructed up an excellent belief degree with CFMOTO. They’re a really critical Chinese language firm. We’ve now organized to do a 50/50 enterprise on KTM merchandise made in China on the market worldwide. I’m pleased to connect the KTM identify to one thing made by them.”
And that’s what occurred, with CFMOTO not too long ago handed the designs to the beforehand defunct KTM 790 Duke, which was dropped from the vary in favour of the 890. It’s largely the identical because the previous mannequin, minus just a few minor tweaks. KTM and CFMOTO have made some delicate adjustments, together with revising the engine (with 20% extra rotating mass to assist enhance dealing with and stability).
It’s a superb motor. Enjoyable, versatile and free-revving with sufficient chunk and a want to be labored arduous. It’ll haven’t any qualms holding its personal with greater and ‘extra succesful’ bikes on the street.
The chassis is spot on, too. It’s unchanged for 2023, which suggests there’s the identical decidedly budget-focused 43mm WP Apex forks up entrance and Apex shock on the rear. They’re arrange just about completely for the bike, with a particular give attention to efficiency over consolation. A pair of radial-mount four-piston calipers assist to haul it as much as a halt, providing loads of chunk and greater than sufficient really feel.
It’s close to on not possible to ever actually know a motorcycle with out proudly owning it, however six months collectively is a fairly good period of time to get an excellent really feel for it. Because it goes, I’ve been severely impressed with the CFMOTO-built KTM 790 Duke. It’s sharp, agile and surprisingly straightforward to trip – primarily providing all the good things that made the unique 790 Duke a winner. Solely now it’s made by CFMOTO in China as a substitute of KTM in Austria.
Importantly, the construct high quality of the brand new 790 Duke seems simply nearly as good because the earlier technology, and I’ve had completely no points in my three-and-a-bit thousand miles. The older 790s have been identified to have just a few reliability points, although we’d wish to hope many of the niggles have been ironed out for the ‘new’ model.
Finally, if this new deal helps the Austrian agency hold prices down sufficient in order that they’ll proceed pricing it severely competitively (there’s a deal on in the intervening time which’ll snag you one for beneath £7000), we’re all for it. A world through which extra folks trip this bike can’t ever be a nasty factor, I reckon…
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