Back in the early 2000' MZ was making the MZ 1000S and MZ Streetfighter bikes with a 999cc parallel twin that was making about 120bhp. I always liked an oddball bike so I was looking at one of them. Sadly, no one wanted to buy them at the time because they were parallel twins. Now we live in the age of the parallel twin. And everyone is raving about them. I know this KTM is a blast to ride and will sell well. I just hope KTM can get their build quality and reliability in check. Cause I know a lot of people that would like a KTM but they just feel that it won't be very reliable.
It's strange because the old KTM's of that era were built like tanks. Never had a single (excuse the pun) with my 2002 KTM 640. And that bike was abused, neglected and just kept going like a champ. My expeience with KTM reliability has been superb. I can't speak for the newer bikes or anyone else tho. And yeah, MZ were ahead of the game with several things, the 'Baghira' springs to mind. An MZ supermoto, when maybe only three other manufacturers were making supermotos and maybe only 30 people worldwide knew what a supermoto was.. 😂 Sold fairly well too from my understanding, given the niche.
A grown up bike glad it’s got bigger, and room to move around. Really enjoyed the ride along, you obviously had a lot of fun . At the end of the day ,that’s why we ride. Looking forward to putting a leg over one , when they arrive. Great video Chops thanks for your time .
can’t wait to see the 990 R version! Almeria is a fantastic track and surrounding roads, sublime. Cracking vid chops. looking forward to the 1390 vid! 😁🤘🏻😎
Let's hope that they have fixed ALL the issues from the 790/890. Like the constantly leaking valve cover gaskets and thermostat housings and insanely horrible sounding brakes . Oh, and the cases the actually weep oil straight through them.
I've had the 790 the the 890, have covered over 30,000 miles on the in about 3 years. I had none of the problems you mentioned in your comments. I did have 3 years of fantastic fun riding them all over the UK.
I had the original 990 Superduke with underseat exhausts back in 2010. No electronics, not even ABS. I remember it being a bit of a dull ride but was great for wheelies.
The 890 Duke R had problems with false neutrals shifting 1 through 4. I also owned the Super Duke R Evo and it had one of the best transmissions of any bike I have owned.
Good job. Explaining riding impressions and character traits of a new bike, while riding with the billy big balls road train is impressive. If I tried to ride like that and give riding impressions at the same time, it would end with gravel, blue sky and then ambulance.... Nice bike though. Thank you Chopsy.
Hi LC!...I'm the guy who's had 5 Superdukes & lives in S/W France & Spain.....I decided to break my Superduke addiction with the new rs 765, very different but a lovely bike apart from the dash. Going to try the new 1350 & 990 next week. Also might sell the 701 Husky because very interested in the new Ducati mono 698..... & don't forget if ever you want to come down this way I can show you some of the best roads in France & especially Spain.
Ha ha brilliant roads yes. You rode past my place near the track. "Haven’t seen a car" so true. I cycle there lots, if I go for a 25 mile ride regularly and rarely see more than 10 other vehicles. Absolutely fab roads.
Great effort Chopsy trying to keep up with the big boys...the Gorilla chasing the whippets excluding Statham of course who is a baby gorilla ❤️ ya Al 🤣 can't wait for the 1390 review! And some more hoonage! 👍👍
Thanks for puting this out there . Pace a bit higher than I would find comfortable riding on unknown roads....especially if wanting to enjoy the ride & get a feel of the bike....You don't hang around as a rider albeit sounded knackered. Maybe the others had radar to see around some of the bends😉
Although I prefer the real-world UK test rides, its great you get the chance to take part in these launches on great roads with the top UK journalists. Looks a riot!
Hi Chopsy, many thanks for putting this video out , which is surely the first real test out there ! Great quality work always a pleasure to watch. I own a Duke 890 R and was wondering if changing it for this 990 was worth it. I think the 890 R suspensions are better stuff especially the shock without speaking about the brakes and the MCS master cylinder. Since it's heavier and about the same hp and torque I'm not that sure that the 990 is superior to the 890 R. I'd like to know your thoughts about that !
I would say most of the changes are asthetic and more customization for the electronics. It would be more of a sidegrade imo, definitely a downgrade in terms of brakes, suspension, and master cyclinder
890R is fantastic and there is no need to rush out and change it. The 990 has a little more torque due to the extra capacity but it's not huge amounts. It's a definite improvement I think in looks and rider interface with the bike and the new tech is nice. But 890R is still a fantastic motorbike 👍
@LambChopRides Thank you for your answer. I'm in-line. The most obvious improvement is indeed the user interface and the electronic settings. This is definitely not sufficient to make me change my 890 R ! Did you hear anything about a potential 990 R ?
@@moulip the other thing is also price I got my 890r on discount for 10k usd out the door. 990 is rumored at 12.5k usd not including freight, dealer, charges, etc.
Chopsy, i often wouldn’t ask for anything but i would absolutely love to see you do a review of the new zx4rr im looking to buy one, and the internet has a lack of decent reviews on it, no better man for the job
Yeah I have a Monster SP (937), the D990 is 10 HP more and 10cc more, it's probably a wash for street riding. The SFV2 is going to be more high strung and less torque down low than D990 and M937.
Always enjoy a LCR video. We're of similar athletic proportions and its nice to see if a bike's going to fit. Well done with the vid, great to get an opinion from 44 teeth.
This bike is exactly what I need. Commute to work with it, then on weekends, have some fun with my son and his zx-6r. I can use most of the bike's potential vs 1290/1390 where I would be lucky to get into higher rpm of second gear without breaking the law. On the whole, ride a slow bike fast vs a fast bike slow. Not saying that this is slow at all. Time will tell how the electronics hold up against the gremlins. Great video.
I was stationed in Rota for a couple years. I didnt ride back then but ive driven a majority of Andalucian roads. Truely amazing place to drive/ride. You should visit Ronda next time you're there.
Very very nice view to EICMA the new headlight in person is amazing and futuristic and above all unique given that only the 1390 has it, the black color is beautiful even if with the orange rims it would have been the top price, a bit high also considering the brake package which is the same as the 790
Relatively new to KTM. Bought a 790, loved it, discontinued (albeit returned in A2 form). 890 arrives, so I bought Duke R. I love it. Now a 990 arrives and 890 is discontinued! I now have a problem with KTM! THEY MAKE THEIR BIKES OBSOLETE TOO SOON! Instead of refining and making their bikes more reliable, like most other manufacturers do, they just bring out another model. This makes residual values of their bikes rubbish. It also, IMO, shows a disconnect between them and existing customers. Oberon must be laughing in their boots, as they're going to make even more money.
Chopsy, I recall your vlog on the Monster SP, you really liked that, would you say the KTM offers more smile per mile (or will the inevitable R version be the one to compare the SP to?)
Brilliant stuff real nice bike ride and not everyone is up for the next level super duke,,must be nuts if fagan is saying it is a perfect road bike,, and you can ride well,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland good on ya Chopsy
The changes they made sound awesome (except the headlight ofc, and price), I just wish the 890 capacity engine would have stayed, 790 is too little and 990 is too big for middle weight, 890 was the sweetspot
@@LambChopRides Yeah, actually the power output is ok but the price is far from middle weight, I was also thinking about the future 990R because of better suspension and stylemas and it should have about 140 hp which to me seems a lot for middle weight (but maybe its still alright, I never ridden such a powerful bike) and the price will surely be sky high 🙈
I really struggle with the KTMs, everyone says how good they are so I don’t doubt it, but I just don’t like the looks or the colours…I wish I did because the Super Ds sound like great bikes and I feel like I’m going to miss out! I’m thinking about getting a s1000r but should I take a look at the KTMs? They just don’t visually appeal to me at all 😕
my gf had a S1000R for 4 years: bike is nigh perfect but to me boring as hell; the exhaust sounds raspy and gets annoying after 30 mins; gen2 SDR was very comfy to me but, like some describe it, a bit agricultural. I'm probably biased but I'm sticking with Aprilia... the true V4 sound is eargasmic, the power delivery addictive and it handles extremely well
Great review & bike. I don't reckon much of the looks but haven't seen it in real life yet so I'll reserve judgement. Although m regardless of that, it's clearly a weapon. The R version will probably make the Super Duke irrelevant for most road riders. Good to see Al & looking forward to the next installment.
I love the idea of it being bigger but that Alien mouth looking light just kills it forme. I love my 890R .. i think the only thing I'll change it for at this point is a SMT'R if they make one.
If you want a bigger bike, buy the 1390. Some of us like a mid-size bike. I have an 890 Duke R. Best all round bike I’ve ever owned. Best handling bike ever and a fantastic touring bike. All it needed was an updated TFT and a slightly softer seat.
Only 123hp? My 890r Duke is pushing 123.92hp at the rear wheel with full exhaust system. I wonder what the rear wheel hp is on the 990. I think I like this model in black. I’m sure this bike will get better when the r version comes out. But is it really worth near 20k for a middle weight? Anyway Nice of you to be the first out with the 990 video Chopsy. When will the 1390r be released?
Great video as usual 👍 But it made me think where could we ride like that at home,stop start cars in the way I think I need to move to a sunny climate 😂
I like SD 1290R, but when I read about problem and reliability issues, and MSN long-term tester denying he would buy one for himself, I rather want to keep my reliable Speed 1050RS. Sad, 1290R is a really fun ride even at lowish speeds, that instant torque is smile-inducing, but dealing with leaks, electronic problems and fearing being stuck in the mountains on a sunday ride is too offputting.
My gen 3 1290 is 3 years old now and only had a power switchgear issue when caught in a down pour. Admittedly mine is not a daily used bike like the bike jurno’s use and abuse them. I wouldn’t think twice about owning another KTM…. Infact I bought a second one. 690 SMC R and it’s a right hoon 😁
Reliability concerns are overblown and 90% user error. The guy testing the 1290 GT on MCN that had the keyless fuel tank issue was a user error due to not closing the fuel cap properly. KTMs are very finnicky and because they have to "boot up" and do a full suite of checks when you start the bike, if you rush and don't let the startup procedure finish, or don't do things as it's outlined in the manual (eg Preload adjustment on electronic shock whilst being OFF the bike) that's when you start running into issues. The other big killer is the battery, these things really really don't like weak batteries, and even a battery that's normally fine, can drop voltage so low starting that huge V-twin that the error detecting systems and canbus can throw a fit, leading to a lot of the errors that come up when you start the bike. Outside of this they're mechanically rock solid, never had 1 mechanical failure on my 1290 and things like suspension, brakes, levers, etc are tight as the day it rolled off the factory floor.
@@AntaresSQ01 Totally agree with you regarding the battery voltage. These bikes really don’t like it when the battery is low. A dealer mechanic told me that they can throw up all sorts of error codes that are just false flags. I swapped mine out for a slightly more powerful lithium one and keep it on the charger.
Chopsy, how do you make your videos so smooth and "fast"? I find difficult to find GoPro configuration to give me this real sense of speed. It always seems slow.
Swapped the fireblade for the brand new RS for the perfect road bike. I think this is even better than my Street however i cant get passed the looks of the thing. I really want to like it but i just can't 😢. Great vid chops 👍👍👍
Nice 👌 think I bought the wrong bike the 1290 tend to ride slower on more powerful bikes as keeping eye on holding it bk on the roads . Does the 990 have cruise Control or panniers option? I used to have 2nd home in Spain 15years ago all the sport bike used to come out when got cooler early evening . Great place to live . It’s not a nanny state . Empty road it was great in a car never mind on motorbike . bull runs in the town streets your life your choice county love it . Not so easy to go bk full time now the uk not in the EU . 😕
has a face only a mother could like. It may be a blast on the street. but I'm not going with KTM again. Reliability issues coupled with dealing with their dealers and corporate is more than enough to convince me to look at other makes like the 09
I couldn't agree more, I'm an old git, old enough to remember when 750s were super bikes and a middleweight was 350 to 500.
It’s no longer in the same middle weight class as the Street Triple. It’s a litre bike now!!
Pretty much yes.
In my country it’s closer in price to a S1000R / MT-10 than it is to a MT-09 / Street Triple R.
Well, it's more fun than s1000, mt10 and mt09 are outdated.
Because of Euro 5
@@Sanisani9You must be joking 😂
@@SirMountainpass nah, for street 990 is more fun, in my opinion
Back in the early 2000' MZ was making the MZ 1000S and MZ Streetfighter bikes with a 999cc parallel twin that was making about 120bhp. I always liked an oddball bike so I was looking at one of them. Sadly, no one wanted to buy them at the time because they were parallel twins. Now we live in the age of the parallel twin. And everyone is raving about them. I know this KTM is a blast to ride and will sell well. I just hope KTM can get their build quality and reliability in check. Cause I know a lot of people that would like a KTM but they just feel that it won't be very reliable.
It's strange because the old KTM's of that era were built like tanks. Never had a single (excuse the pun) with my 2002 KTM 640. And that bike was abused, neglected and just kept going like a champ. My expeience with KTM reliability has been superb. I can't speak for the newer bikes or anyone else tho.
And yeah, MZ were ahead of the game with several things, the 'Baghira' springs to mind. An MZ supermoto, when maybe only three other manufacturers were making supermotos and maybe only 30 people worldwide knew what a supermoto was.. 😂
Sold fairly well too from my understanding, given the niche.
I still go looking for a MZ1000 for sale every so often...loved those
Mz1000 had a 180 crank...
Coming 'round full circle back to the 990 once again!
Very impressive - pushing things to their limit. Amazing the build quality of modern-day zippers ;)
Bloody hell Fagan makes an appearance
Chopsie - the new leathers look fantastic! Great review too!!
Much appreciated! I love them, so comfortable even if they look a little snug 😁
You were having a blast on the 990 I know that I was being in the moment on the great road you were riding thanks Chops , it looks like a great bike
I have just bought a 1290, can’t wait for the trackdays to get in full swing!
Super Duke? Which year, Bro?
I just test rode one today. Didn't even think about buying it. After that test ride, I now have to have one. It is that good!
A grown up bike glad it’s got bigger, and room to move around. Really enjoyed the ride along, you obviously had a lot of fun . At the end of the day ,that’s why we ride. Looking forward to putting a leg over one , when they arrive. Great video Chops thanks for your time .
chris northover really knows how to handle a bike damn 😂 that wheelie was impressive
Still prefer mossey
Mossy is a fantastic rider but he's no Chris Northover and he would probably admit that himself
He’s a beast on anything he climbs on
Bit of Junior Statham and Lamb Pops on a Saturday morning? Oh yes.
can’t wait to see the 990 R version! Almeria is a fantastic track and surrounding roads, sublime. Cracking vid chops. looking forward to the 1390 vid! 😁🤘🏻😎
Let's hope that they have fixed ALL the issues from the 790/890. Like the constantly leaking valve cover gaskets and thermostat housings and insanely horrible sounding brakes . Oh, and the cases the actually weep oil straight through them.
I've had the 790 the the 890, have covered over 30,000 miles on the in about 3 years. I had none of the problems you mentioned in your comments. I did have 3 years of fantastic fun riding them all over the UK.
@bubba9r agreed. the consensus on their reliability needs to change for these things to catch my interest again
Not a single issue with my 890R 😊
If you compare the engines of the 890 and the 990, they seem to have changed a lot of the problem places. Lets see how well the changes worked
I guess they already fixed it for the later generations of the 890. More than 20000km with my 890 R in two years and not a single problem. 👍
Being 6'3 and 250lbs it's nice to see there's still a few bikes out there that fit me. Excited for the 2025 990 rc
I had the original 990 Superduke with underseat exhausts back in 2010. No electronics, not even ABS. I remember it being a bit of a dull ride but was great for wheelies.
15:18 "Little Ol me" 😂
I owned the 890 Duke R and its biggest flaw was the gear box. If the 990 is 96% new, did KTM fix the transmission?
I didn't notice any issues at all with the gearbox, plenty of shifts at pace from 5th to 6th too 👍
The 890 Duke R had problems with false neutrals shifting 1 through 4.
I also owned the Super Duke R Evo and it had one of the best transmissions of any bike I have owned.
the headlight looks like it could be a pain to clean and a trap for bugs
Yeah maybe.. Good point
Finally, something I'm interested in being reviewed lol.
Just about had enough of tourer videos and GSX8-R videos for a lifetime lol.
The bizz that is 🙌 ... I hope this gives KTM the credit they deserve ... im a definite Duke fan, these bikes are awesome 🧡 ✨️
…not the worst day ever, was it. 👍👍👍 fantastic stuff chops, roll on the ‘24 season.
Good job. Explaining riding impressions and character traits of a new bike, while riding with the billy big balls road train is impressive. If I tried to ride like that and give riding impressions at the same time, it would end with gravel, blue sky and then ambulance.... Nice bike though. Thank you Chopsy.
Hi LC!...I'm the guy who's had 5 Superdukes & lives in S/W France & Spain.....I decided to break my Superduke addiction with the new rs 765, very different but a lovely bike apart from the dash. Going to try the new 1350 & 990 next week. Also might sell the 701 Husky because very interested in the new Ducati mono 698..... & don't forget if ever you want to come down this way I can show you some of the best roads in France & especially Spain.
Thanks buddy appreciated 👍
awesome vid and just watched 44,s vid also and I am collecting my black 990 tomorrow for the weekend. many thanks for the top review.
Wow! How the roads...brilliant!
Fitting it with a slip on Akro is a little bit cheeky.
looking forward to a more in depth review on that machine. Thanks for the sneak peak.
As a kid growing up in the 80s, Saturday mornings were for watching Tiswas. Now they're for LCR vids which are as equally enjoyable in their own way.
From phantom flan flinger to phantom pie eater
Great video. You looked to be having a blast 😀
Ha ha brilliant roads yes. You rode past my place near the track.
"Haven’t seen a car" so true. I cycle there lots, if I go for a 25 mile ride regularly and rarely see more than 10 other vehicles. Absolutely fab roads.
Like Franchoek pass in the Cape Town !
Think this just took 1st place for my next bike! Thanks for the video!
Great effort Chopsy trying to keep up with the big boys...the Gorilla chasing the whippets excluding Statham of course who is a baby gorilla ❤️ ya Al 🤣 can't wait for the 1390 review! And some more hoonage! 👍👍
Great vid, loved the Fagan appearance. I think I'd have just been leaving the track when the first guys were coming back after the ride...
Haha thanks buddy 😁😁👍
Thanks for puting this out there .
Pace a bit higher than I would find comfortable riding on unknown roads....especially if wanting to enjoy the ride & get a feel of the bike....You don't hang around as a rider albeit sounded knackered.
Maybe the others had radar to see around some of the bends😉
Gorgeous bike, love the headlight. Just needs an Austin racing exhaust.
Although I prefer the real-world UK test rides, its great you get the chance to take part in these launches on great roads with the top UK journalists. Looks a riot!
Brilliant, well done. Looking forward to the other vids from out there.
Hi Chopsy, many thanks for putting this video out , which is surely the first real test out there ! Great quality work always a pleasure to watch. I own a Duke 890 R and was wondering if changing it for this 990 was worth it. I think the 890 R suspensions are better stuff especially the shock without speaking about the brakes and the MCS master cylinder. Since it's heavier and about the same hp and torque I'm not that sure that the 990 is superior to the 890 R. I'd like to know your thoughts about that !
I would say most of the changes are asthetic and more customization for the electronics. It would be more of a sidegrade imo, definitely a downgrade in terms of brakes, suspension, and master cyclinder
890R is fantastic and there is no need to rush out and change it. The 990 has a little more torque due to the extra capacity but it's not huge amounts.
It's a definite improvement I think in looks and rider interface with the bike and the new tech is nice. But 890R is still a fantastic motorbike 👍
@LambChopRides Thank you for your answer. I'm in-line. The most obvious improvement is indeed the user interface and the electronic settings. This is definitely not sufficient to make me change my 890 R ! Did you hear anything about a potential 990 R ?
No mention, but it's 100% coming 👍
@@moulip the other thing is also price I got my 890r on discount for 10k usd out the door. 990 is rumored at 12.5k usd not including freight, dealer, charges, etc.
Any oil leaks 😂
Spain the roads incredible well done CHOPS
Wow! You can tell how much you like it as you couldn't finish your sentences... This is...This is... Great job again Chopsie.
I like the new headlight IMO.
Randomly found Al's dads channel. Instant sub
Chopsy, i often wouldn’t ask for anything but i would absolutely love to see you do a review of the new zx4rr im looking to buy one, and the internet has a lack of decent reviews on it, no better man for the job
Yes plan to test one when available 😁👍
Nice to see the Almond trees in their pink or white bloom… oh and Chops on a KTM of course 😇
What a quality video chopsy none stop entertainment. waiting for the next one...👌👍
I loved my old 990
Like a Sunday morning out with you fast mates and you’re not “feeling it” ha ha
Well done LCR - we’ve all been there 😂
Nah - never happened to me
Duke 990 or Streetfighter V2? ✊🔥🔥
Yeah I have a Monster SP (937), the D990 is 10 HP more and 10cc more, it's probably a wash for street riding. The SFV2 is going to be more high strung and less torque down low than D990 and M937.
Delicious problem!!!
Very nice that! ‘Great location and scenery!’ Perfect in My opinion.
Always enjoy a LCR video. We're of similar athletic proportions and its nice to see if a bike's going to fit. Well done with the vid, great to get an opinion from 44 teeth.
Thanks buddy, I might be making a cameo in the 44teeth superduke vid.. 🤞
This bike is exactly what I need. Commute to work with it, then on weekends, have some fun with my son and his zx-6r.
I can use most of the bike's potential vs 1290/1390 where I would be lucky to get into higher rpm of second gear without breaking the law. On the whole, ride a slow bike fast vs a fast bike slow. Not saying that this is slow at all.
Time will tell how the electronics hold up against the gremlins.
Great video.
@Lamb Chop Rides Sorry, a question for you. If you were going to get an all-rounder bike, would you get this or the new MT09?
44teeth need to do a collab with you LCR. Two of the absolute greatest.
I was actually in the 44teeth Superduke video quite a bit 😁😁👍
@@LambChopRides oooooo. I haven't watched yet. Will for sure add to the watch later list 👍👍
I have a canyon very similar to that near me that I have been riding for over 40 years..Del Puerto Canyon. Patterson Calif.
Amazing review 👌🏻👌🏻cant say no more👍🏻
Glad you liked it! 😁👍
I was stationed in Rota for a couple years. I didnt ride back then but ive driven a majority of Andalucian roads. Truely amazing place to drive/ride. You should visit Ronda next time you're there.
Yes been to Ronda before, amazing place
Looks and sounds a great bike based on your thoughts.Thks.
That was super mr chops ❤
You're Infront of the pack by at least 24 hours..... No one else has posted review yet .....👍
Yeah thought I would try and get in early! 😁👍
Nice one Chops, how do you think it would stack up against an Aprilia Tuono ?
Very very nice view to
EICMA the new headlight in person is amazing and futuristic and above all unique given that only the 1390 has it, the black color is beautiful even if with the orange rims it would have been the top price, a bit high also considering the brake package which is the same as the 790
LCR and 44teeth play date. Nice.
Great vid Chops, your joy about this bike was infectious
Glad you enjoyed it 👍👍
Best test so far 👍
No matter the other guys drives away…
I mean this is not a race track.
A mistake could be Game Over…
How is a 1000cc twin a middle weight? So my gen 2 tuono is a middle weight now ?
Yup, in two years a 1290 is middle weight as well 🤣
Moooore of this!
As a rule, I don't like super/naked bikes at all, but KTM's styling makes me want to buy one. I even love the KTM orange
Relatively new to KTM. Bought a 790, loved it, discontinued (albeit returned in A2 form). 890 arrives, so I bought Duke R. I love it. Now a 990 arrives and 890 is discontinued! I now have a problem with KTM! THEY MAKE THEIR BIKES OBSOLETE TOO SOON! Instead of refining and making their bikes more reliable, like most other manufacturers do, they just bring out another model. This makes residual values of their bikes rubbish. It also, IMO, shows a disconnect between them and existing customers. Oberon must be laughing in their boots, as they're going to make even more money.
I agree with you. KTM cranks out new models like people changing underwear. So depreciation hits owners hard.
Yup exactly right and ktm need to sort the issue as it is getting worse as time goes on
Chopsy, I recall your vlog on the Monster SP, you really liked that, would you say the KTM offers more smile per mile (or will the inevitable R version be the one to compare the SP to?)
Thoughts on this motor in the SMT choppsy? Or this vs the SMT?
Brilliant stuff real nice bike ride and not everyone is up for the next level super duke,,must be nuts if fagan is saying it is a perfect road bike,, and you can ride well,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland good on ya Chopsy
Thanks Cecil 👍 😁
The changes they made sound awesome (except the headlight ofc, and price), I just wish the 890 capacity engine would have stayed, 790 is too little and 990 is too big for middle weight, 890 was the sweetspot
Don't get hung up on capacity, this makes less peak power than the 890R. Its the power output that makes it a middleweight not the CC
@@LambChopRides Yeah, actually the power output is ok but the price is far from middle weight, I was also thinking about the future 990R because of better suspension and stylemas and it should have about 140 hp which to me seems a lot for middle weight (but maybe its still alright, I never ridden such a powerful bike) and the price will surely be sky high 🙈
I am a larger rider too, so this or a KTM 890 SMT?
I really struggle with the KTMs, everyone says how good they are so I don’t doubt it, but I just don’t like the looks or the colours…I wish I did because the Super Ds sound like great bikes and I feel like I’m going to miss out! I’m thinking about getting a s1000r but should I take a look at the KTMs? They just don’t visually appeal to me at all 😕
my gf had a S1000R for 4 years: bike is nigh perfect but to me boring as hell; the exhaust sounds raspy and gets annoying after 30 mins; gen2 SDR was very comfy to me but, like some describe it, a bit agricultural. I'm probably biased but I'm sticking with Aprilia... the true V4 sound is eargasmic, the power delivery addictive and it handles extremely well
Strange. Exact opposite for me. They have created their style, unique, different. I like it. Orange and black? This is a classic color combination...
Great review & bike. I don't reckon much of the looks but haven't seen it in real life yet so I'll reserve judgement. Although m regardless of that, it's clearly a weapon. The R version will probably make the Super Duke irrelevant for most road riders. Good to see Al & looking forward to the next installment.
I love the idea of it being bigger but that Alien mouth looking light just kills it forme. I love my 890R .. i think the only thing I'll change it for at this point is a SMT'R if they make one.
If you want a bigger bike, buy the 1390. Some of us like a mid-size bike. I have an 890 Duke R. Best all round bike I’ve ever owned. Best handling bike ever and a fantastic touring bike. All it needed was an updated TFT and a slightly softer seat.
Were you able to update/swap out the TFT? As far as the seat i much prefer the 790 version, would love that on the 990
Holy twisty action Batman!!
Nice inspire Orangutan front light. But i like it.
Even i thought so...both orangutanny and I like it too
Only 123hp? My 890r Duke is pushing 123.92hp at the rear wheel with full exhaust system. I wonder what the rear wheel hp is on the 990. I think I like this model in black. I’m sure this bike will get better when the r version comes out. But is it really worth near 20k for a middle weight? Anyway Nice of you to be the first out with the 990 video Chopsy.
When will the 1390r be released?
I'm considering this or the 2023 MT10 SP, which would you choose? 1390 is priced too high here..
How was it compared to the 890r?
At that price, id go straight for the 1390
that's like an extra 10k, isn't it?
Great video as usual 👍 But it made me think where could we ride like that at home,stop start cars in the way I think I need to move to a sunny climate 😂
I like SD 1290R, but when I read about problem and reliability issues, and MSN long-term tester denying he would buy one for himself, I rather want to keep my reliable Speed 1050RS. Sad, 1290R is a really fun ride even at lowish speeds, that instant torque is smile-inducing, but dealing with leaks, electronic problems and fearing being stuck in the mountains on a sunday ride is too offputting.
I have had no probs with my 1290, it would not start once but a battery disconnect fixed it
My gen 3 1290 is 3 years old now and only had a power switchgear issue when caught in a down pour.
Admittedly mine is not a daily used bike like the bike jurno’s use and abuse them.
I wouldn’t think twice about owning another KTM…. Infact I bought a second one. 690 SMC R and it’s a right hoon 😁
Reliability concerns are overblown and 90% user error. The guy testing the 1290 GT on MCN that had the keyless fuel tank issue was a user error due to not closing the fuel cap properly. KTMs are very finnicky and because they have to "boot up" and do a full suite of checks when you start the bike, if you rush and don't let the startup procedure finish, or don't do things as it's outlined in the manual (eg Preload adjustment on electronic shock whilst being OFF the bike) that's when you start running into issues.
The other big killer is the battery, these things really really don't like weak batteries, and even a battery that's normally fine, can drop voltage so low starting that huge V-twin that the error detecting systems and canbus can throw a fit, leading to a lot of the errors that come up when you start the bike.
Outside of this they're mechanically rock solid, never had 1 mechanical failure on my 1290 and things like suspension, brakes, levers, etc are tight as the day it rolled off the factory floor.
@@AntaresSQ01 Totally agree with you regarding the battery voltage. These bikes really don’t like it when the battery is low. A dealer mechanic told me that they can throw up all sorts of error codes that are just false flags.
I swapped mine out for a slightly more powerful lithium one and keep it on the charger.
3 KTM’s now. No issues. Relax.
I just bought a z h2 se and I need an agile bike, looking at those roads
Sounds like an absolute hoot, but a little bit more grown up than the 890 ? Nice review Chopsy 🍻
Chopsy, how do you make your videos so smooth and "fast"? I find difficult to find GoPro configuration to give me this real sense of speed. It always seems slow.
Swapped the fireblade for the brand new RS for the perfect road bike. I think this is even better than my Street however i cant get passed the looks of the thing. I really want to like it but i just can't 😢. Great vid chops 👍👍👍
One thing is that these big twins aren't smooth like the smaller triple. Both have their charms.
Great video as usual. Just a quick question. What is the curved component on the end of the handlebars by the front brake lever?
Break protector
@@Rocketboy-qg6ts why doesn't the clutch lever have the same thing
I'm sure you can keep up with the other's, just got to remember they aren't taking nonstop, they're concentrating on what they're doing, Riding.
That was awesome, I'm waiting on the 390 review though. The 990 is a bit to much in Thailand on the dangerous roads here!!!
Something weird about the looks, I think it’s the back end is quite bulbous?
New mt09 2025 model is going to be 10k in UK , you need to be crazy to spend nearly 4k more on this bike
Nice 👌 think I bought the wrong bike the 1290 tend to ride slower on more powerful bikes as keeping eye on holding it bk on the roads .
Does the 990 have cruise Control or panniers option?
I used to have 2nd home in Spain 15years ago all the sport bike used to come out when got cooler early evening . Great place to live . It’s not a nanny
state . Empty road it was great in a car never mind on motorbike .
bull runs in the town streets your life your choice county love it
. Not so easy to go bk full time now the uk not in the EU . 😕
It has cruise Mark but no idea on panniers sorry 👍
has a face only a mother could like.
It may be a blast on the street. but I'm not going with KTM again. Reliability issues coupled with dealing with their dealers and corporate is more than enough to convince me to look at other makes like the 09
Was that mountain pass actually closed for you all?