Comments on: 2024 KTM 990 Duke Review | First Ride

By: Dougie Quick

Dougie Quick — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:51:11 +0000

In reply to Rich.

True the Austrian 790 is built by Chinese LABOR but this 990 motor? Built in Austria if that makes any big difference. Pretty sure with over a billion Chinese people to hire from that KTM will have no trouble securing highly able individuals to do the work ….I seriously doubt there would be any appreciable difference in quality as far as labor goes….the rest of it is simply manufacturing parts that are meeting specifications….If a company is really trying to offer the best at a given pricepoint then saving in labor area COULD at least translate to investing MORE into a motorcycles components? In theory anyway I personally am only afraid of Chinese products if they are MANAGED by faceless brand nameless bottom line focused companies for THAT is where low quality crap comes from! But many many very high quality products are “made in China” by name brand corporations what are totally unlike the greedy unbranded crap one might see around….Its all management engineering and quality control NOT the race of humans the labor is hired from….stepping off my soap box now

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:21:41 +0000

In reply to Dave Johnson. KTM 990 Duke is built at their Mattighofen, Austria plant, unlike the 790 Duke.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:15:25 +0000

In reply to Rider Magazine.

So, corrected wet weight with full tank of fuel is 418 lbs., earlier the fuel tank was listed as 3.9 gal, thus reason for 419, with the 3.8-gal tank—418 lbs. wet. That’s the correct wet weight for the new KTM 990 Duke. The 890 Duke R was a little heavier at 422 lbs. wet.

One more thing, my comment about built in China was incorrect. The new KTM 990 Duke is built at their Mattighofen, Austria plant, unlike the 790 Duke.

By: Rider Magazine

Rider Magazine — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 02:55:45 +0000

In reply to Rich. KTM's official tech specs say "Weight (Ready to Ride): 179 kg" but you are correct, that is without fuel. We've corrected the mistake.

By: Dave Johnson

Dave Johnson — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:26:06 +0000

Now if KTM would just quit making their bikes in China I would consider them. Until then, not a chance.

By: Matthew Kirn

Matthew Kirn — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:14:05 +0000

Still waiting for a mid-range Duke GT. I’ve wanted to buy a KTM for some time, but the bikes just don’t fit what I am looking for, which is a mid-size (under 1000cc’s), light, comfortable, sport-touring motorcycle. In terms of displacement the 890 was probably more in line with my thinking, but the 990 at under 400 lbs. would definitely work!

By: Joe Michaud

Joe Michaud — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:37:46 +0000

Any idea what scheduled maintenance costs are over 2-3 years?

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:08:11 +0000

Warning – Big mistake on the claimed wet weight of the KTM 990 Duke, factory is claiming the dry weight (no fuel), actual wet weight is 419 lbs.

179kg (no fuel) = 395 lbs. (no fuel), add 3.9 gal fuel = 23.8 lbs., thus 419 lbs. wet

That sounds accurate, no way it could have been 395 wet, that would have made it lighter than their 790 Duke.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:41:13 +0000

Forgot, most outstanding spec is the wet weight of 395 lbs., that’s nothing. It’s even less than the super light Ducati Monster 937 (414 lbs.) with only 111 hp and 69 lb-ft torque, basically same size engines — 937cc vs 947cc. Both being twins, Duc’s V-twin vs KTM’s Parallel-twin, like to see a shootout b/w these two.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:34:01 +0000

The specs are pretty awesome, nice power and torque numbers for the 990 Duke, just wonder about reliability of this bike due to it being manufactured by CFMoto in China. Not a big fan of Chinese-built motorcycles. The 790 Duke is Chinese built also, thus reason for the outstanding MSRP. Good prices, hope KTM has their quality control department in check.