KTM 790 Duke 2025
The scalpel returns as the value play of the middleweight class.
62.3/ 100
Scored within naked, methodology here
€8,999
list price
- power
- 95 hp
- wet weight
- 184 kg
- tank range
- 311 km
The short version
The reborn 790 Duke undercuts the middleweight naked establishment on price while keeping the agile chassis and cornering electronics that made the original a hit. The suspension is basic, but the package is the cheapest route to a genuinely sharp 95 hp twin.
Where it wins
- Cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control at a budget price
- 87 Nm twin with a flat, usable torque curve
- Quick steering chassis that earned the scalpel nickname
Where it loses
- Non-adjustable fork is the obvious cost saving
- Runs out of composure at track pace where rivals stay planted
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
21.4 / 25Handling and chassis
13.2 / 20Value
7.4 / 20Practicality
5.4 / 15Technology
8.3 / 10Reliability and ownership
6.6 / 10The full review
The scalpel, reissued at a discount
The original 790 Duke earned the scalpel nickname for its steering, then disappeared while KTM chased bigger numbers. It returned built alongside CFMOTO in China at a price that made the middleweight establishment visibly uncomfortable, and the reviews of the reborn bike all reach the same slightly surprised conclusion: it is still sharp, still agile, and easier to ride than its reputation suggests.
The press went looking for corners cut in the new production arrangement and reported back empty-handed: fit and finish judged as good as the Austrian-built original, and long-term testers logging thousands of miles without a fault. The first-generation engine's documented top-end troubles have so far stayed in the first generation, where I am happy to leave them.
How the 790 Duke rides
Testers rank the twin above everything in the class for punch, with a flat torque curve that makes the middleweight Japanese competition feel polite. The chassis changes direction on a thought, and the cornering electronics give it a safety net most budget middleweights simply do not carry.
Push to track pace and the budget surfaces, as every review eventually notes: the non-adjustable fork and preload-only shock run out of composure where the 990 Duke stays planted. On the road, at road speeds, testers admit they struggled to find that edge.
Where the money went
The suspension is the visible saving and the quickshifter costs extra. In exchange, service intervals of 15,000 km with valve checks at 30,000 quietly refund some of the difference in running costs, which is not the trade most manufacturers offer.
As the cheapest route to a genuinely sharp 95 hp naked, the 790 Duke is the value call of the middleweight class. The reviewers keep reaching that verdict reluctantly, which is how you know it is true.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | LC8c parallel twin, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 799 cc |
| Power | 95 hp at 9,500 rpm |
| Torque | 87 Nm at 8,000 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.52 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 184 kg |
| Front suspension | WP APEX 43 mm open cartridge, 140 mm |
| Front adjustability | Non-adjustable |
| Rear suspension | WP APEX monoshock, 150 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload only |
| Front brake | 300 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Cornering ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 825 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1475 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14 L |
| Claimed consumption | 4.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 311 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €8,999 |
| Service interval | 15,000 km |
| Valve check | 30,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Optional |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | Yes |
Compare the 790 Duke
KTM 790 Duke vs Suzuki GSX-8S
95 hp vs 82.9 hp / 184 kg vs 202 kg
Honda CB750 Hornet vs KTM 790 Duke
91.8 hp vs 95 hp / 190 kg vs 184 kg
KTM 790 Duke vs Yamaha MT-07
95 hp vs 73.4 hp / 184 kg vs 184 kg
KTM 790 Duke vs Triumph Trident 660
95 hp vs 81 hp / 184 kg vs 190 kg
KTM 790 Duke vs Yamaha MT-09
95 hp vs 119 hp / 184 kg vs 193 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the KTM 790 Duke A2 licence legal?
- Not as delivered: 95 hp is 69.9 kW against the 35 kW A2 limit. Because it stays under 70 kW, dealers can supply it restricted to 35 kW for A2 licence holders, and the full power returns with a dealer derestriction once you upgrade.
- How fast is the KTM 790 Duke?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 3.0 seconds, from 95 hp moving 184 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the KTM 790 Duke?
- About 311 km on paper: a 14 litre tank against a claimed 4.5 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the KTM 790 Duke?
- The KTM 790 Duke seat sits at 825 mm, which is about average for the class, manageable for most inseams with a little practice. At 184 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the KTM 790 Duke cost?
- €8,999 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 7.4 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your 790 Duke
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.