No comparison ... two different worlds. and nearly twice the price.
790 Duke vs new 2020 Super Duke 1290?
I know they're completely different classes but how do you guys think they compare?
Might be a long shot but anyone ride both yet?
Might be a long shot but anyone ride both yet?
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
I own both but I/m selling the 1290 - As you know from the reviews the 1290 is a "beast" - Its a magnificent bike. Smooth, well built, everything works etc.
However, unless you ride your bike on open roads with large high speed sweepers its a waste. The 790 isn't as fast of course but the handling is superior for tight twisties and every day riding. The 790 is lighter, smaller and just a big more user friendly in real world riding. Thats not intended to take anything away from the 1290.
I need to add that I'm and old guy (80) and not a big guy either - I rode my 1290 over 12K miles and enjoyed it but in the first 5 months I owned the 790 I put 8000 miles on it and thoroughly have enjoyed.
Steve
However, unless you ride your bike on open roads with large high speed sweepers its a waste. The 790 isn't as fast of course but the handling is superior for tight twisties and every day riding. The 790 is lighter, smaller and just a big more user friendly in real world riding. Thats not intended to take anything away from the 1290.
I need to add that I'm and old guy (80) and not a big guy either - I rode my 1290 over 12K miles and enjoyed it but in the first 5 months I owned the 790 I put 8000 miles on it and thoroughly have enjoyed.
Steve
It's really simple. If you crave the attention, get the Super Duke.
If you love riding, get the 790 Duke.
It's really that simple. I might be wrong.
Just go out and ride both. It's the only way to know. Heck, if you are a fat arse, you may need the Super Duke. Who knows.
If you love riding, get the 790 Duke.
It's really that simple. I might be wrong.
Just go out and ride both. It's the only way to know. Heck, if you are a fat arse, you may need the Super Duke. Who knows.
I downsized from a Rocket-III and was sure I needed the 1290. And I'm glad I heeded advice from others.
I have a couple of mates with 1290's (some who also downsized from the R3) and the all said - they would buy the 790. I guess if you think you need a bit more there is the 890R now.
But it does indeed depend on your size and weight. It would seem that KTM crept into my room one night and measured me whilst I was sleeping.
I have a couple of mates with 1290's (some who also downsized from the R3) and the all said - they would buy the 790. I guess if you think you need a bit more there is the 890R now.
But it does indeed depend on your size and weight. It would seem that KTM crept into my room one night and measured me whilst I was sleeping.
QUESTION: I know they are a decade apart and so technology wise very different - but has anybody had the 990 and a 790?.
Just academic interest.
Just academic interest.
. I’ve had both bikes, actually I’ve owned probably the whole range of Ktm’s at 9 of the twins.:grin: 2004 950ADV S,2006 950SM, 2007 990SD, 2010 990R Adv, 2012 990 SMT, 2016 1190 Adv S, 2016 1290 GT,QUESTION: I know they are a decade apart and so technology wise very different - but has anybody had the 990 and a 790?.
Just academic interest.
2018 1090R,2019 790 Duke. So have got to learn a lot about repairing and modding the LC8.
The 990 Duke was a fun very reliable bike. Power compares fairly well, I think the 790 is a better road handler though, and much lighter. My 990 weighed in at 460, where my 790 right now is at 413,but feels much lighter than the differences show.
3 months ago i test rode the 1290 890 and the 790, the 1290 was banana's a total fruit cake and you had to be on the ball with it all the time and it was just not a nice ride as i was expecting it to try and kill me on every throttle change ! i ride my bikes like a hooligan always have probaly always will and at 62 this 1290 was just too much ! nice bike but is more a track tool than a relaxing go anywhere road bike,
the 890 was also nice bit more go than the 790 better brakes and suspension apart from that there was not a great deal of difference so i went for the 790 as it was £4k less than the 890 and the 890 in my eyes is not £4k better than the 790.
the 890 was also nice bit more go than the 790 better brakes and suspension apart from that there was not a great deal of difference so i went for the 790 as it was £4k less than the 890 and the 890 in my eyes is not £4k better than the 790.
As stated above. I had a 2016 Beast. It is ludicrous and over the top. If you had discipline you could ride it sanely. But eventually you'll be pushing the envelope. It will wheelie at any speed or gear. Now I'm older (52) But the 1290 was the 1st bike that was faster than my abilities. It was at the next corner before I could even think about the correct gear. It is also a bit larger than the 790. I prefer the size & power of the 790. I've owned every USA Duke available. The 390. Too small. Not enough go. 690. Perfect size. Good motor but way too buzzzzy. 1290 as above. Very happy with 790.
I spank all my bikes regular track days not bad on a bike even at the young age of 62 ! but the 1290 i could not ride it like i would want to ! not many bikes have made me thing F this thinf for a lark ! but the 1290 is 1 of them, yes i agree you can poodle around on it and its tame ish ! problem is thats not my riding style ! the 790 on the other hand i can spank it all day long and it does not intimidate me at all so much more fun to ride.
It is more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow...
I had the choice between the 1290 and 790/890 and went with the 890. There wasn't much of a difference between the 790 and 890 when I bought and I got a lot more bike with the 890 for not a lot more money.
I had the choice between the 1290 and 790/890 and went with the 890. There wasn't much of a difference between the 790 and 890 when I bought and I got a lot more bike with the 890 for not a lot more money.
One good reason is the 790 is tiny for a big guy.
I am 6'4" and when on the 790 it looks like I am on a burro rather than a horse.
The 1290 is much larger.
That being said, the 790 was the most fun I have ever had on a bike.
After getting burned on a new Ducati with reliability issues, it was the reliability issues reported here that kept me from buying.
That and the fact that the dealer is 1 1/2 hr. away.
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I am 6'4" and when on the 790 it looks like I am on a burro rather than a horse.
The 1290 is much larger.
That being said, the 790 was the most fun I have ever had on a bike.
After getting burned on a new Ducati with reliability issues, it was the reliability issues reported here that kept me from buying.
That and the fact that the dealer is 1 1/2 hr. away.
Looks like that 790 fits you just fine ... enjoy.
Several times I had the privilege of riding the beast and it definitely has the wow factor...but is way too expensive for my pay grade and more power than one really needs.
I picked up my new 2020 790 5 days ago and it continues to be love at first ride.
Hands down the most fun street bike I have ever owned or put a leg over.
It comes closest to being the perfect bike of anything on the market.
I picked up my new 2020 790 5 days ago and it continues to be love at first ride.
Hands down the most fun street bike I have ever owned or put a leg over.
It comes closest to being the perfect bike of anything on the market.
i fitted a booster plug to help richen the mixture a bit and also a K&N air filter and it does make a difference, i also last week removed the cat and put a cheap cat delete pipe on from china £35 lol and oh boy does it sound good now ! not too loud but it crackles and pops something wicked now, i have ordered a twin can LeoVince exhaust system but currently out of stock so the cat delete has made my mouth water waiting for the LeoVince system .
Having owned the 790 and 890, and ridden a few friends 1290's, the 890 is not TOO far off from the 1290, and generally quite a bit faster on tight, curvy roads, but will get blown away on straight, open roads.. Really depends HOW and WHERE you ride... The 790 isn't in the same Universe as the other two..
When i test rode the 790 and 890 same day off 1 straight onto the other both set on Street mode i didnt find a great difference at all between the 790 and 890 ! the 890 had a bit more dig mid range and felt a bit quicker reving its nuts off but certainly not as you say in a different Universe ! and that was 1 of the reasons i went for the 790 as i saved over 4k and dont forget with the 890 you get an EXTRA 10ish BHP ! sod all really ! then have to pay for the Track Pack ect which you already get with the 790 . so what i saved will go towards suspension to get fully adjustable, twin Brembo's for the front ,i am still waiting for my Twin Can LeoVince exhaust, the Brakes on the 890 are deffo better than the 790 and that i would say is the biggest difference between the 2 bikes the brakes ! the suspension so-so and you could live with the standard 790 setup but i have already gone past its limits and have it squirming and bucking around so fully adjustable setup will be better for the way i ride and the amount of track days i do, when all my bits and bobs have been fitted to my 790 its going on the dyno for ecu setup after that it will be a proper stonking little thing.
Question? Should you remap or do you have to remap after you de-cat. I just put the new scorpion serket on and I love the way it runs and sounds but I would like it a little louder was thinking about the decat...ing but didn't want to do any harm to the engine. Thanks in advance for replies.i fitted a booster plug to help richen the mixture a bit and also a K&N air filter and it does make a difference, i also last week removed the cat and put a cheap cat delete pipe on from china £35 lol and oh boy does it sound good now ! not too loud but it crackles and pops something wicked now, i have ordered a twin can LeoVince exhaust system but currently out of stock so the cat delete has made my mouth water waiting for the LeoVince system .
There has been a lot a dyno checks on the 790 with stock system,cat delete,slip ons,full systems,K&N filters ect ect so everything basicly, and what they all say is the euro strangled 790 runs a bit lean/weak due to the euro emissions on the bike, by fitting the Booster Plug that i fitted this richens up the mixture by 7% and you can smell the difference from the pipe straight away, im not saying this will sort out the lean/weak mixture perfectly but it certainly runs better along with the K&N, all the data i have seen from various dyno runs with the 790 in various exhaust configurations they all seem to come up with the same figures and that is below 4000rpm the engine runs slightly lean ! which we all knew anyways ! and they say that there is no configuration of exhaust mods done that would damage the engine in any way shape or form ! saying that they all reccomend the same thing and that is once you have your various mods fitted get it on a deno and get it remapped to suit YOUR bike, im just waiting to get my LeoVince system fitted then it will be going on the dyno and get remapped.
Sweet let us know how you make out time for me to start looking for a dyno in my area!There has been a lot a dyno checks on the 790 with stock system,cat delete,slip ons,full systems,K&N filters ect ect so everything basicly, and what they all say is the euro strangled 790 runs a bit lean/weak due to the euro emissions on the bike, by fitting the Booster Plug that i fitted this richens up the mixture by 7% and you can smell the difference from the pipe straight away, im not saying this will sort out the lean/weak mixture perfectly but it certainly runs better along with the K&N, all the data i have seen from various dyno runs with the 790 in various exhaust configurations they all seem to come up with the same figures and that is below 4000rpm the engine runs slightly lean ! which we all knew anyways ! and they say that there is no configuration of exhaust mods done that would damage the engine in any way shape or form ! saying that they all reccomend the same thing and that is once you have your various mods fitted get it on a deno and get it remapped to suit YOUR bike, im just waiting to get my LeoVince system fitted then it will be going on the dyno and get remapped.
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
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