One of the best fun bikes I’ve ever ridden. Perfect ergos, light weight, ample power everywhere and bucket loads of character. So sad they stopped making them.
Great to see a new review of the Duke 690! I bought a 2017, best decision I ever made. Fantastic bike full of character. Nothing beats it for smiles-per-mile
Had the pleasure of 690 in the alps for a bit. Most fun ever had on a bike. Ground down my toe sliders, never worried it would kill me. Wonderful on the alpine turns. Left all the bmws behind that were on our tour. That's the 690s playground.
I bought my -17 690 Duke in july -21 and have done 53000km on it. And loved every inch of it! A Motoproworks decal kit, Evotech tailtidy, ridingmodes, DNA stage 2 airfilter, Leovince midpipe (no cat) and a Mivv endcan. With a Powercommander 5 and a dynorun it has 78bhp and the same in Nm on the tyre. Together with lightweight battery and no cat, it's under 150kgs full tank. And the PC made it smoother. 24km/ltr average. I've been riding for 40 years now and this is the best ever! Did more than 700km in 10 hours, incl. petrol- pee- coffee- and ferry breaks, and could go on for a few hours more. I you want to keep it standard buy a Boosterplug. Helps alot on lowrpms. Thanks Mark!
This is the bike I wish KTM still did. I know they have a supermoto and the Vitpilen/Svarpilen, but I prefer this. More practical than the others. And I reckon it looks better.
@@TH-cam_Globetrotter I'm sure it is, but I like singles. I am thinking of getting the supermoto for use in Portugal. I prefer the Huskie 701 to the KTM 690.
Great review Mark, I own a Husqvarna 701SM which has the same motor and agree that they are way punchier, way quicker and way smoother than you’d ever believe. Usually anyone criticising these bikes hasn’t actually ridden one. You can get more powerful bikes for sure, but probably not more fun👍
So why did KTM stop making it given that it seems a good entry point to the range? It appears to be a good commuter, short distance motorway blaster. Quality piece of kit, not cheap but you won't get bored with it either. Something you can hang on to for some time.
Since recently been riding a 2012 690 Duke, coming from a VFR 800(since long term travel is out of the books anywayz). So much fun to ride around the area to clear your mind !
11:45 the manufacturer says they like Motorex, as they've got some business relationships with them. According to the KTM technician I spoke to though this isn't the best for those engines. He highly recommended Motul 10W60 7100 over Motorex as he's multi- year experience was Motul engines were more stable and reliable.
Love my 2014 Duke 690. I'm not young and think the light feel and manoeuvrability just great. Enough power to scare the pants off me when I feel like some excitement. Will need to investigate the fuel dongle.
Owned mine for 2 years and with hand on heart this is the best bike I have ever owned, the two best things are it's super light and the power band reminds me of the 350 yam ypvs of the 1980s, feels like your riding a supermoto, great for a sunday afternoon blast, decat soon as you get one.
I have a 2017, loads of giggles and fun! Bought used 4 months ago with 1550 miles on it, needed a more comfortable bike than my 2002 RC51 that I still have from new. I have modified it out extensively, 20 pound lighter than stock. 8 more rwhp, suspension at both ends, seats etc. Running Metzler M9s. Will probably be my last motorcycle as my riding days are mostly in the rearview. Only issues are the stock cheap exhaust clamps, and parts take a while to get sometimes.
Hi rich ..no worries I didn't say it's the face lift model which is 2016 onwards ....this bike was registered 2018 so I guess one of the last ones Cheers mark
Hi 👋 Beautiful bike .I have one since 2013 and it’s really a 100% fun bike .It’s a very good engine LC4 690,mine has 78000km and is still in a perfect shape.Nice review 👍
Bought KTM 690 Duke recently (2024) the 2016 version as reviewed, and find it to require a lot of setting up to have it feel right for me. The front steering is really light. Over rough ground the bike can lose composure. Suspension is firm, almost too firm, but that's normal for ktm (390 duke also). The gear selector on mine is not great. Easy to get into neutral which is nice. But clunky getting it into 1st especially. 2nd not great either. (Remember, I bought this second hand. 4000k. So not old in Ks). 1st and 2nd gears are short ( kind of normal) but third is very forgiving. Hardly can ever use 6th! Have to do 120k for 6th to be comfortable. Riding position is comfortable. Plenty of torque. Gets you up to speed quickly. Don't love the gearing ratios. Sprockets wouldn't help.
I'm astounded by how well these hold their value! Some for sale are 11 years old, and still up at circa £4k! Never ridden one, but very much want to own! Will keep my eyes out!
NEED OPNIONS. I’m thinking of getting this bike for my first bike. I grew up riding dirt bikes and have a calling for a sport. It’s been years since I have been on a motorcycle but I feel the reckluse clutch , good seat height, I’m 5,10 , and not to mention the easy and intermediate options of power. I know that my right hand is the most important tool on the bike. I am 22 and beginning the starting safety course soon. I feel I can handle it but have gotten negative feedback. Please give me your feedback.
I own a 690 Duke 2017 and love it but am I the only one feeling weird metal clicking when pulling the throttle while the RPM is below 3500 ? I swear it feels like my license plate is being shred by intense vibration or that some plastics are breaking and knocking on the frame ? It happens for a brief instant but I'm still worrying everytime and really go smooth on the throttle below 3500 RPM to avoid that.
Great all round review Mark. The 690 Duke is clearly a fantastic bike and I’m so tempted to get a pre-owned one to sit alongside my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. The Duke would be a lot faster with it’s better power to weight ratio and I think it would be a great second bike to have fantastic fun on just like the Inty but in a different kind of way👍
I absolutely love my Interceptor. With a few performance upgrades it’s a fantastic bike. Not crazy fast but that’s not what this bike is about. Just be ready to spend time talking to admirers who think you’ve got a bike from the 60s. I actually bought a 2020 Suzuki GSX S1000F a couple of weeks ago as a stable mate. Now that is a different beast 🤪
I have a 2013 690 Duke. It's the white plastic one. I bought it on Father's Day 2020 from the original owner. He was a guy with money so I am pretty sure he had it service regularly. And I have tried servicing it regularly and when I can't afford it, I hop on my triumph thruxton 900. I get scared to death every time I ride the 69 they Duke because it sounds like the motor is going to grenade every time. I was really coming to this video to see how hard you can actually ride this thing because I ride the s*** out of it and I'm afraid I'm going to tear it up. Is it safe to go up to 6,7 and 8000 RPM?
Hi mark thanks for the wonderful review spot on I’m currently riding KTM duke 125 would you consider the 690 naked for someone who has just pass his full license as beginner friendly? I really wanted to continue my journey with KTM instead of going with Suzuki sv650 lol thank you once again
I have the 21 Duke 390 and im 6feet 1 and its perfect hight for me. Upright as you said which is perfect for my bad back. Unfortunately ktm now Duke wise in Australia goes from 390 to 890 and being in my 60s i don't want or need that type of power . I put a 14 tooth sprocket on the front recently wich has given me quicker acceleration which im really enjoying. I am such a ktm fan now because of the power to weight its hard for me to get a more powerful bike of a different brand. Enjoyed your video and will subscribe. Hi from Brisbane Australia 🎉🎉🎉
@@rencoz5568 if you know for sure its been taken care of, and it hasnt seen to much traffic in hot weather , then yes , for a good price , i have close to 30,000, and like everyone says , its not even broken in , also it corners really well , have fun and stay safe ...
Again another great review Mark.. I want one of these babies 😊, obviously they don't make these anymore, would you know if these are very reliable Mark, now they've been out a few years. Thanks again for another great review Mark 😊
Hi Vince the engine is very reliable... they can have teething issues with the electrics initially but if you get one with say 10 k miles and it's well looked after I'd say you'll be fine and yes they are awesome fun!! Cheers mark
We didn't get the R so I upgraded the fork cartridges and shock so i could attack the bumpy little roads. A few issues in 10k miles but nothing to cause regret its a super fun bike. The facelift as you refer to it was also a new lc4 including a second counter balancer to reduce vibration.
6'1" and very comfy on board. The seat is low and the pegs are very forward, with straight bars you sit very upright. It's a well padded seat and even without a screen is comfy enough for 100+ motorway miles.
Tiny bike just spoke to a guy who’s purchased one he’s got gasket leaking on the engine and other issues it is covered by warranty but outside that second hand terrible. Great review buddy
okay, let me lay it on yous... the cons first. In traffic its a nightmare , especially in the hot summers here in Crete, very long gearing , it will overheat in a blink of an eye , and then it starts to stutter abit. you can't go slow , always trying to over take the cars so that you dont slow down and need to downshift...if you're driving noon and the suns ontop , you cant see shit on the display, guess the pitch of the display is bad ... sometimes at the light if you put it in neutral then when the light goes green , it just wont go into first gear for nothing , you gotta press it 5-6 times before it locks first gear, all the while the cars behind you are honking and bitching. Did I mention long f..king gearing , can rarely use 6th gear. the seat is pretty high, need long legs to step down solidly. and ...expensive cost me 8700 euros, and bouncy on the damn roads full of potholes . but it is fast and pretty , and not japanese...
Nice review! Very positive. My 2015 690R came stock with LED indicators and tail lights, but I like the standard bulb headlights, as it's less blinding to oncoming traffic (less cars flash at you). The R model also has more suspension adjustment at both ends. I understand that the 2017 and later models have the revised motor which has less vibrations from the engine than the earlier models. Really cool bikes, ideal power-weight ratio for a sensibly sized bike, loads of fun. Shame KTM doesn't make their bikes with a big single anymore.
Very nice bike KTM sounds lovely mark great review thanks for sharing later on can you do a review on the Yamasaki f50 50 cc if you can like that bike as know one done a road test on it yet mark thank-you safe riding👍
Great bikes (and an honest review!). I bought mine new three and a half years ago. No issues with it. My top mods are a Pirate Racing gear lever detent return spring - never missed a gear since fitting it; EvoTech tail tidy (I think your review bike has something similar); 2015 seat - more comfortable for me (strange shape backside?). I also had to weld a small tab on the side stand as my foot kept slipping off it when wet and I couldn't get the stand up when sitting on the bike! (I'm even more vertically challenged than yourself!).
Welcome back. Very good thorough review. You pretty much captured everything that comes to mind. Yes, wheels look good. Would love a ride on one of these as it looks so light and chuckable. Proof you don't need oodles of power to have a great fun bike. KTM do the 790 and now 890 Duke but I guess heavier propositions. So many good bikes to choose from now, it's seriously hard to know what to get next. It definitely has to be one in, one out ...... Do you have an idea of what bikes you will be reviewing as lockdown eases and dealers open once again? Thanks again.
Hi Alex ...yes I'd really like to ride the 790 duke......bike reviews will be all the new yamahas ,honda rebel 1100 and crf300l ,and whatever updated models Kawasaki bring out ... hopefully a busy year Cheers mark
You got that right, on your point about so many awesome bikes being made , and in the last 5ish years, that is is ridiculously difficult to pick what I want to make mine for a while. I have a dealer for every brand , near me...the furthest one being 39 miles. I've gone around and just checked out so many bikes in the last few months that my head spins when I think about it. There are some that stand out above the rest, those being a used Duke 690 and a new Duke 890R, '21 Triumph Street Triple RS 1200 and a 22 Kawasaki z1000. They are all so damn nice. They are light, fun, sound great and the power to weight ratio is absolutely ridiculous. They aren't too ridiculously priced, either... which makes the decision that much harder. The only bike I have a big itch to test ride is the Super Duke and there are none around me and my KTM dealer is apprehensive to order one in, for some reason lol. Sorry for the long comment, haha. Can't help but to rave about the amazing state of motorcycles lately. Cheers, mate. Enjoy the ride, whatever you go with/have and stay safe
And thank you for not adding the “watch me put my gloves on” portion. It’s a fair bet we all know how to do that and if you don’t you shouldn’t be near a bike anyway
@@markpulling12 2 months on. Loving it! Very impressed all around. The handling is so much more confidence inspiring than anything else I've ridden, so light and flickable. Not crazy power, but never felt like I need more. Only issue is motorways - 65-75 is fine without a screen/fairing but anything more is windy and a bit of an effort. Guess it keeps it sensible and legal
10:22 that's gonna be the first impression but trust me, after a year or so a few more ponies would definitely do. Compared it directly to 790 and yeah, more is better :P
One of the best fun bikes I’ve ever ridden. Perfect ergos, light weight, ample power everywhere and bucket loads of character. So sad they stopped making them.
Great to see a new review of the Duke 690! I bought a 2017, best decision I ever made. Fantastic bike full of character. Nothing beats it for smiles-per-mile
Definitely agree with you on that mark !
Had the pleasure of 690 in the alps for a bit. Most fun ever had on a bike. Ground down my toe sliders, never worried it would kill me. Wonderful on the alpine turns. Left all the bmws behind that were on our tour. That's the 690s playground.
I bought my -17 690 Duke in july -21 and have done 53000km on it. And loved every inch of it!
A Motoproworks decal kit, Evotech tailtidy, ridingmodes, DNA stage 2 airfilter, Leovince midpipe (no cat) and a Mivv endcan.
With a Powercommander 5 and a dynorun it has 78bhp and the same in Nm on the tyre. Together with lightweight battery and no cat, it's under 150kgs full tank.
And the PC made it smoother. 24km/ltr average.
I've been riding for 40 years now and this is the best ever! Did more than 700km in 10 hours, incl. petrol- pee- coffee- and ferry breaks, and could go on for a few hours more.
I you want to keep it standard buy a Boosterplug. Helps alot on lowrpms.
Thanks Mark!
Love this bike. Just bought a used 2017 this week. Thanks for the video. A very authentic review.
The best review of this bike. Nice quality and everything I wanted to know. Thumbs up and subscribed. Great job Mark!
Many thanks Adrian 😊
This is the bike I wish KTM still did. I know they have a supermoto and the Vitpilen/Svarpilen, but I prefer this. More practical than the others. And I reckon it looks better.
Yes I agree ... shame they stopped making it cheers mark
Buy the 890R it's a blast
@@TH-cam_Globetrotter I'm sure it is, but I like singles. I am thinking of getting the supermoto for use in Portugal. I prefer the Huskie 701 to the KTM 690.
Great review Mark, I own a Husqvarna 701SM which has the same motor and agree that they are way punchier, way quicker and way smoother than you’d ever believe. Usually anyone criticising these bikes hasn’t actually ridden one. You can get more powerful bikes for sure, but probably not more fun👍
One of the best reviewers on TH-cam 👍🏻
Ahh jack ...how much do I owe you lol !
Many thanks Mark
Possibly the best..
So why did KTM stop making it given that it seems a good entry point to the range? It appears to be a good commuter, short distance motorway blaster. Quality piece of kit, not cheap but you won't get bored with it either. Something you can hang on to for some time.
Since recently been riding a 2012 690 Duke, coming from a VFR 800(since long term travel is out of the books anywayz). So much fun to ride around the area to clear your mind !
Yes leo ...these are so much fun :)
Big fan of the 690 motor on my 2019 Enduro R. Surprisingly smooth and lots of go even with a stock setup.
Yes Paul what a fantastic motor ...I totally get what all the fuss is about now !! Cheers mark
Definitely a fun torquey engine in a small package.
I've owned my for 6years and use it daily. Love it 🤟👊
11:45 the manufacturer says they like Motorex, as they've got some business relationships with them. According to the KTM technician I spoke to though this isn't the best for those engines. He highly recommended Motul 10W60 7100 over Motorex as he's multi- year experience was Motul engines were more stable and reliable.
Ok Michal thanks for the info re motul 10w60
I own a 2017 Duke. It’s a great bike and raising the gearing really wakes this up. 6th gear is not very useful at 100kp/h on the stock setup
Totally agree
Love my 2014 Duke 690. I'm not young and think the light feel and manoeuvrability just great. Enough power to scare the pants off me when I feel like some excitement. Will need to investigate the fuel dongle.
Yes re the fuel dongle ....have a look at smart moto or rottweiler performance
Regards mark
Thanks Mark. That's really helpful.
Owned mine for 2 years and with hand on heart this is the best bike I have ever owned, the two best things are it's super light and the power band reminds me of the 350 yam ypvs of the 1980s, feels like your riding a supermoto, great for a sunday afternoon blast, decat soon as you get one.
I have a 2017, loads of giggles and fun! Bought used 4 months ago with 1550 miles on it, needed a more comfortable bike than my 2002 RC51 that I still have from new. I have modified it out extensively, 20 pound lighter than stock. 8 more rwhp, suspension at both ends, seats etc. Running Metzler M9s. Will probably be my last motorcycle as my riding days are mostly in the rearview. Only issues are the stock cheap exhaust clamps, and parts take a while to get sometimes.
Hey richard! i found a 690 duke 2017 recently as well about 1600 miles on it, What do you think is a good price? its in good shape.
@@chaseohara9269 5 to 6k
Hi Mark what year is this bike? Apologies if I missed you saying it!
Hi rich ..no worries I didn't say it's the face lift model which is 2016 onwards ....this bike was registered 2018 so I guess one of the last ones
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Cheers Mark for the swift reply! Great review as always :)
@@markpulling12 Thats also answered the question i was about to ask , great review
Best regards Shaunj
Hi 👋 Beautiful bike .I have one since 2013 and it’s really a 100% fun bike .It’s a very good engine LC4 690,mine has 78000km and is still in a perfect shape.Nice review 👍
Thanks George ....wow good mileage 780000 :)
Picked up a 2015 690 last year and it is such a fun bike to ride. Great review
Thanks kane ...yes agree ..these are so much fun to ride
Cheers mark
Bought KTM 690 Duke recently (2024) the 2016 version as reviewed, and find it to require a lot of setting up to have it feel right for me.
The front steering is really light. Over rough ground the bike can lose composure. Suspension is firm, almost too firm, but that's normal for ktm (390 duke also). The gear selector on mine is not great. Easy to get into neutral which is nice. But clunky getting it into 1st especially. 2nd not great either. (Remember, I bought this second hand. 4000k. So not old in Ks). 1st and 2nd gears are short ( kind of normal) but third is very forgiving. Hardly can ever use 6th! Have to do 120k for 6th to be comfortable.
Riding position is comfortable. Plenty of torque. Gets you up to speed quickly. Don't love the gearing ratios. Sprockets wouldn't help.
I'm astounded by how well these hold their value! Some for sale are 11 years old, and still up at circa £4k! Never ridden one, but very much want to own! Will keep my eyes out!
NEED OPNIONS.
I’m thinking of getting this bike for my first bike. I grew up riding dirt bikes and have a calling for a sport. It’s been years since I have been on a motorcycle but I feel the reckluse clutch , good seat height, I’m 5,10 , and not to mention the easy and intermediate options of power. I know that my right hand is the most important tool on the bike. I am 22 and beginning the starting safety course soon. I feel I can handle it but have gotten negative feedback. Please give me your feedback.
I own a 690 Duke 2017 and love it but am I the only one feeling weird metal clicking when pulling the throttle while the RPM is below 3500 ? I swear it feels like my license plate is being shred by intense vibration or that some plastics are breaking and knocking on the frame ? It happens for a brief instant but I'm still worrying everytime and really go smooth on the throttle below 3500 RPM to avoid that.
it's normal, does the same for me, also 2017 duke
single piston high torque engines don’t really like low revs, i have a drz400 and it does the same
I had a 690 Supermoto & it was an absolute hoot. You know how there's always one bike you wish you'd never sold....?
Yes hugh... those 690s are awesome ;)
Excellent review Mark. Do you intend to review the cousin of the KTM - the new (ish) Husqvarna Vitpilen 701?
ill have a look where my nearest husky dealer is darren :)
Great all round review Mark. The 690 Duke is clearly a fantastic bike and I’m so tempted to get a pre-owned one to sit alongside my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. The Duke would be a lot faster with it’s better power to weight ratio and I think it would be a great second bike to have fantastic fun on just like the Inty but in a different kind of way👍
Thanks mark ....the interceptor is great but these are literally on another level for fun ....get a good used one ..they are generally reliable
Cheers
Thanks Mark. Keep up the great work as I love your reviews👍
Funny! I have a -17 690 Duke thinking about getting a RE Interceptor as a second bike!
I absolutely love my Interceptor. With a few performance upgrades it’s a fantastic bike. Not crazy fast but that’s not what this bike is about. Just be ready to spend time talking to admirers who think you’ve got a bike from the 60s. I actually bought a 2020 Suzuki GSX S1000F a couple of weeks ago as a stable mate. Now that is a different beast 🤪
Considering this as my 2nd bike. I have drz 400s now. Its fun everywhere except the highway.
I have a 2013 690 Duke. It's the white plastic one. I bought it on Father's Day 2020 from the original owner. He was a guy with money so I am pretty sure he had it service regularly. And I have tried servicing it regularly and when I can't afford it, I hop on my triumph thruxton 900. I get scared to death every time I ride the 69 they Duke because it sounds like the motor is going to grenade every time. I was really coming to this video to see how hard you can actually ride this thing because I ride the s*** out of it and I'm afraid I'm going to tear it up. Is it safe to go up to 6,7 and 8000 RPM?
Oh yes bike engines are built to rev high ...they are bench tested to the red line for 1000s of miles
It will be fine ..best wishes mark
Did not included this bike in my list as possibility for replacing my current one, thanks for the test Mark.
This is a must own bike ... highly recommend this jay :)
Hi mark thanks for the wonderful review spot on I’m currently riding KTM duke 125 would you consider the 690 naked for someone who has just pass his full license as beginner friendly? I really wanted to continue my journey with KTM instead of going with Suzuki sv650 lol thank you once again
Hi Tarek yes definitely this would be great for you ..a fun machine for sure
Cheers mark
Always like your reviews on motorcycles. Has the KTM 690 balanced crank. With another crank working in the opposite direction....:):)
Yes colin it has a balance shaft to smooth out the vibes ,:)
@@markpulling12 Actually two!
I have the 21 Duke 390 and im 6feet 1 and its perfect hight for me. Upright as you said which is perfect for my bad back. Unfortunately ktm now Duke wise in Australia goes from 390 to 890 and being in my 60s i don't want or need that type of power . I put a 14 tooth sprocket on the front recently wich has given me quicker acceleration which im really enjoying. I am such a ktm fan now because of the power to weight its hard for me to get a more powerful bike of a different brand. Enjoyed your video and will subscribe. Hi from Brisbane Australia 🎉🎉🎉
I've had mine for 6 years 2016 , so you can ask me anything , pros and cons
Is a 2016 with 32k kilometers on the clock worth it to buy?
@@rencoz5568 if you know for sure its been taken care of, and it hasnt seen to much traffic in hot weather , then yes , for a good price , i have close to 30,000, and like everyone says , its not even broken in , also it corners really well , have fun and stay safe ...
Again another great review Mark.. I want one of these babies 😊, obviously they don't make these anymore, would you know if these are very reliable Mark, now they've been out a few years. Thanks again for another great review Mark 😊
Hi Vince the engine is very reliable... they can have teething issues with the electrics initially but if you get one with say 10 k miles and it's well looked after I'd say you'll be fine and yes they are awesome fun!!
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 thanks Mark, this was most helpful 😊
We didn't get the R so I upgraded the fork cartridges and shock so i could attack the bumpy little roads. A few issues in 10k miles but nothing to cause regret its a super fun bike. The facelift as you refer to it was also a new lc4 including a second counter balancer to reduce vibration.
Thanks for the comment michael
Cheers mark
6:37 - it's great possibly for a 5'4" guy who's not overweight but anything outside of that is just terrible. Very bouncy suspension for me
6'1" and very comfy on board. The seat is low and the pegs are very forward, with straight bars you sit very upright. It's a well padded seat and even without a screen is comfy enough for 100+ motorway miles.
Just bought one 2nd hand in SA loving it❤
Tiny bike just spoke to a guy who’s purchased one he’s got gasket leaking on the engine and other issues it is covered by warranty but outside that second hand terrible. Great review buddy
Oil and coolant leaks on KTM’s nothing new there 😬
okay, let me lay it on yous... the cons first. In traffic its a nightmare , especially in the hot summers here in Crete, very long gearing , it will overheat in a blink of an eye , and then it starts to stutter abit. you can't go slow , always trying to over take the cars so that you dont slow down and need to downshift...if you're driving noon and the suns ontop , you cant see shit on the display, guess the pitch of the display is bad ... sometimes at the light if you put it in neutral then when the light goes green , it just wont go into first gear for nothing , you gotta press it 5-6 times before it locks first gear, all the while the cars behind you are honking and bitching. Did I mention long f..king gearing , can rarely use 6th gear. the seat is pretty high, need long legs to step down solidly. and ...expensive cost me 8700 euros, and bouncy on the damn roads full of potholes . but it is fast and pretty , and not japanese...
Thanks George great info
Cheers mark
Nice review! Very positive.
My 2015 690R came stock with LED indicators and tail lights, but I like the standard bulb headlights, as it's less blinding to oncoming traffic (less cars flash at you).
The R model also has more suspension adjustment at both ends.
I understand that the 2017 and later models have the revised motor which has less vibrations from the engine than the earlier models.
Really cool bikes, ideal power-weight ratio for a sensibly sized bike, loads of fun. Shame KTM doesn't make their bikes with a big single anymore.
Cheers Samuel 😊
Like you sidi boots, they comfy?
Yes jake sidi mag ... fit perfectly
Cheers mark
By far my favorite single beast from them that should never have been discontinued.
Thanks yes I agree ...ktm 390 duke review coming soon 😊
Sounds fun. Thinking about one. Used 2017-2018 around 8 grand plus here in USA. Think that’s too expensive?
Yes sounds bit expensive to me
Cheers mark
I paid $7000 Canadian for mine, $8000 American seems a bit high unless it's like new
What are they like with pillion ?
Hi Craig it's a decent passenger seat so all good 😊
@@markpulling12
Thanks, really enjoy your videos
Very nice bike KTM sounds lovely mark great review thanks for sharing later on can you do a review on the Yamasaki f50 50 cc if you can like that bike as know one done a road test on it yet mark thank-you safe riding👍
I'll have a look at that 50cc Andrew
Cheers mark
Great bikes (and an honest review!). I bought mine new three and a half years ago. No issues with it. My top mods are a Pirate Racing gear lever detent return spring - never missed a gear since fitting it; EvoTech tail tidy (I think your review bike has something similar); 2015 seat - more comfortable for me (strange shape backside?). I also had to weld a small tab on the side stand as my foot kept slipping off it when wet and I couldn't get the stand up when sitting on the bike! (I'm even more vertically challenged than yourself!).
Great stuff stevie ....glad yours is going well cheers mark
Nice review. I'm looking at the 890R twin... a bit heavier but a fair bit more power too with 120hp.
Hi Paul great choice...the 890 duke r is one of the best bikes ever ....I have reviewed it cheers mark
@@markpulling12 Awesome, I'll check out your review.
Yep great bike i've got the 2017 year
Welcome back. Very good thorough review. You pretty much captured everything that comes to mind. Yes, wheels look good. Would love a ride on one of these as it looks so light and chuckable. Proof you don't need oodles of power to have a great fun bike. KTM do the 790 and now 890 Duke but I guess heavier propositions.
So many good bikes to choose from now, it's seriously hard to know what to get next. It definitely has to be one in, one out ......
Do you have an idea of what bikes you will be reviewing as lockdown eases and dealers open once again?
Thanks again.
Hi Alex ...yes I'd really like to ride the 790 duke......bike reviews will be all the new yamahas ,honda rebel 1100 and crf300l ,and whatever updated models Kawasaki bring out ... hopefully a busy year
Cheers mark
You got that right, on your point about so many awesome bikes being made , and in the last 5ish years, that is is ridiculously difficult to pick what I want to make mine for a while. I have a dealer for every brand , near me...the furthest one being 39 miles. I've gone around and just checked out so many bikes in the last few months that my head spins when I think about it. There are some that stand out above the rest, those being a used Duke 690 and a new Duke 890R, '21 Triumph Street Triple RS 1200 and a 22 Kawasaki z1000. They are all so damn nice. They are light, fun, sound great and the power to weight ratio is absolutely ridiculous. They aren't too ridiculously priced, either... which makes the decision that much harder.
The only bike I have a big itch to test ride is the Super Duke and there are none around me and my KTM dealer is apprehensive to order one in, for some reason lol.
Sorry for the long comment, haha. Can't help but to rave about the amazing state of motorcycles lately.
Cheers, mate. Enjoy the ride, whatever you go with/have and stay safe
Great Review again Mark, always enjoy your content but loose that intro music buddy, way too loud and annoying
And thank you for not adding the “watch me put my gloves on” portion. It’s a fair bet we all know how to do that and if you don’t you shouldn’t be near a bike anyway
Excellent review Mark, subscribed.
Great thanks for the sub stuart :)
I wish this bike comes to India
Just bought one second hand today. Bit of an upgrade from a 20 year old GS500. So looking forward to riding something with a bit of soul :D
Great choice Daniel...it's got soul ....what a bike !
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 2 months on. Loving it! Very impressed all around. The handling is so much more confidence inspiring than anything else I've ridden, so light and flickable. Not crazy power, but never felt like I need more. Only issue is motorways - 65-75 is fine without a screen/fairing but anything more is windy and a bit of an effort. Guess it keeps it sensible and legal
Sportbike look do not belong on this bike, first generation 690 Duke is one of the best looking supermoto ever. What happend to that design????
Love this bike - must get a test ride - great review, thanks - Love light bikes !!!!
Thanks Thomas ....I just can't believe how good these are ....so much fun :)
Great review.. all the 690's are awesome to ride so light and flickable. :) you should try a 2019+ SMCR ;)
yes pete my friend has a husky 701 hopefully reviewing that soon
regards mark
@@markpulling12 awesome you'll love it.. ;) subscribed to your channel
Duke690 price??
About £5k gbp for a decent one
It’s gorgeous
Definitely .... Great fun to ride :)
Best regards mark
Nearly bought one on a few occasions, rather regretting it....might still do yet...
I'm amazed how good these are ...so much fun;)
Been there too! Back and forth since 2016. And now I might buy one!
Me 3
miles ahead of an mt07 from same period
7777 views...i was there! Great review
Many thanks :)
10:22 that's gonna be the first impression but trust me, after a year or so a few more ponies would definitely do. Compared it directly to 790 and yeah, more is better :P
I follow you on that one, but at the same time, I do not agree. More power means more weight. But hey, it's smiles/miles.
I want the r version...
Very nice that version :)
Ride on single lane country lanes and smile
Great Bike. Get rid of the cat n' put the DNA airfilters.
Wakes it up, 10% more everywhere until top end.
Thanks for the info mark :)
be way more fun without the ridiculous traction control that rips the front end down when ever you try to wheelie!!
There's my headlight.
If I owned one of these I would slap on a 2017 Duke 125 light mask. Because the light is a f-ing joke
Bought a 690 from the KTM dealership last weekend. Is this easy to do to change the light mask?
@@MrRacer333 idk check if it's legal or not
This is the kind of bike to get one in serous trouble.
i would agree !
😍🤘
You just sold me. I will be new owner come Monday.
Thanks great choice 💯
KTM 690 Duke with 692cc, fun little bike... jeez 692cc a little bike, yeah try a 125cc bike... LOL
Yes I know my previous four videos are all 125s ... great fun :)
Regards mark
@@markpulling12 the struggle is real on 125cc... lol
💖💖👏🏼👏🏼
Worst decision KTM could have made by ceasing the 690 production
Yes agreed ....at least they still make the 690 smc r and Enduro
Cheers mark
@@markpulling12 that seats only one though doesn’t it?!
@@bretleversha yes it's a supermoto with a very tall thin long seat but I think that you may be able to buy passenger foot pegs for it
just such a ugly bike