Ktm 890 Duke Review

Used Buyer Review

The 890 Duke is the sweet spot KTM has been chasing for years — enough motor to embarrass sportbikes on a back road, light enough to actually enjoy the twisties. That 889cc parallel twin pulls hard from 4,000rpm and just keeps going, and the chassis is genuinely telepathic. Used examples are compelling value right now, but do your homework before handing over cash. Check the throttle bodies for carbon buildup — it's a known quirk causing rough idle on earlier bikes, and dealers charge real money to sort it. Inspect the orange frame closely for stress cracks around the headstock, and verify service history religiously. KTM reliability has improved dramatically, but neglected examples bite hard. The WP suspension is excellent stock but check for leaking seals, especially on bikes that've seen track days. Get one with full service history, ideally dealer-maintained, and you're buying one of the most exciting naked bikes of the last decade. Skip proper pre-purchase inspection and you're gambling with Austrian engineering.