A Street Bike That Belongs on Track

Cycle World

The 2026 KTM 990 Duke R pushes the middleweight naked bike class further toward track performance while still claiming everyday usability. Powered by KTM’s updated 947cc LC8c parallel twin, the Duke R produces a claimed 130 horsepower with a strong midrange and rev-happy character that shines both on canyon roads and at the racetrack. Premium components including WP Apex suspension, Brembo Stylema brakes, and Michelin Power Cup 2 tires give the bike serious track capability straight from the factory. But there is one catch. KTM sells the full electronics suite as an $899 Tech Pack add-on, unlocking features like Track Mode, adjustable traction control, launch control, cruise control, and onboard telemetry. We ride the new 990 Duke R on the streets near Idyllwild, California, and at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway to see whether KTM’s latest naked bike is the perfect balance of daily practicality and track performance.  Become a Channel Partner: https://octanemedia.co/home/become-an-advertiser/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/ Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld

Transcript

00:00KTM 990 Duke R is the type of motorcycle that tells you exactly what it wants the moment you

00:05get on it sharp stiff aggressive and super polarizing the question here isn't how much

00:10performance this bike has the question is does this level of intensity make sense on the street

00:15or only on the track let's find out okay but before we get going let's talk about the features

00:21of this bike and what separates the R model from the standard model starting off with the engine

00:25this is the same power plant as the standard model nothing really different here except this bike

00:30makes a little more horsepower acclaimed 130 about seven horsepower more than the standard model

00:35KTM has done that just through mapping the chassis is the same as well the frame and the subframe are

00:41unchanged from the standard model but the suspension the brakes and the electronics package are different

00:47so starting off with the suspension the standard model comes with a 43 millimeter fork this R

00:51comes with a 48 millimeter inverted WP apex fork that is fully adjustable KTM says that this fork is 38

00:59percent stiffer than the 43 millimeter fork on the standard model this also gets its own tuning

01:04the shock is different as well right here look at that this is the first dupe to use linkage

01:09so this is a WP apex shock with linkage and a linear spring rate other chassis upgrades include these

01:16brembo stylima monoblock calipers with the brembo mcs master cylinder major upgrade to the braking

01:24package on the r model versus the standard model and the wheels are upgraded as well these are pulled

01:28off of the super duke evo so they're a little bit lighter than the standard model and of course the

01:33electronics package and 8.8 inch tft display is unique to the r model versus the standard model this is

01:40a

01:40pretty extensive electronics package especially if you opt for the tech pack which will give you things like

01:45the optional cruise control the optional quick shifter and all the other fancy modes like track mode

01:52launch control wheelie control all types of stuff that we'll jump into a little bit later rubber has

01:58been upgraded as well these are michelin power cup 2 tires according to michelin this tire is rated for

02:0390 track use we're going to be using dunlop slick tires tomorrow so we're not going to get an opportunity

02:08to see what these are like on the track another cool unique feature is that the airbox is integrated

02:13into the subframe not only does it look cool but it's functional as well make your air filter changes

02:18just a little bit easier and then of course as you can see led lighting all the way around this

02:23bike

02:23also has bluetooth connectivity so you can hook up your smartphone and receive phone calls stuff like

02:28that so essentially this is ktm's new 990 rcr but completely naked without clothes so this thing promises

02:35super sport performance in an accessible naked bike package let's go see if this thing lives up to what ktm

02:41claims

02:47a unique feature about this 8.8 inch horizontally mounted tft is this bike has turn-by-turn navigation

02:55you got to unlock it with the tech pack if you get the full tech pack that includes the track

03:00pack

03:01the quick shifter cruise control more adjustments with the electronics as far as slip control and all

03:09those types of things that's the tech pack if you buy the full tech pack it includes everything it's

03:14going to cost you 900 bucks and all of all the bikes we're riding today include the tech pack and

03:19everything all the add-on accessories but for 900 bucks so far it seems like it would be worth it

03:24if i was

03:24buying this bike it'd be hard to imagine not getting the navigation the additional track packs and stuff

03:30like that obviously we will be going to the track tomorrow where the track pack and the performance pack and

03:36all the stuff that goes along with the add-on electronics should really shine tomorrow in the

03:43street on your morning commute the quick shifter will be very beneficial something like navigation

03:48turn-by-turn navigation will be very beneficial um adjusting ride modes cruise control so you know

03:56they kind of twist your arm a little bit with uh the tech pack the price without the tech pack

04:0113 500

04:03bucks or 13 400 bucks another really cool thing about this new dash is it seems to be the first

04:09dash

04:10that i've used that really works like a smartphone or a computer because you can just drag and adjust

04:17it's pretty spiffy we'll go through some of the menus later but it kind of reminds me of like a

04:22video

04:22game loading screen the way you select your modes and all the options when you get into the dash through

04:27the menus it's it's pretty impressive looking and something else ktm has done with this dash is they have

04:32uh improved the readability a little bit more crisp a little bit more clear than uh the five inch tft

04:39that

04:39they've had on the standard 990 and other bikes for a long time the seat height is right around 33

04:45inches

04:46and i will say at five foot seven it's a little bit tall i can get one foot flat footed

04:52but i cannot reach

04:53both feet i can't flat foot on both feet the seat height's slightly taller than the standard model that's

05:00from suspension and these different tires so there's tons of different ways i still haven't figured out

05:06every way but there's tons of ways to configure this dash um it's you know very customizable it seems

05:15and how you can navigate the dash you can use the joystick you can use it as a touch screen

05:20there's this

05:21mode dongle that you can switch through modes and as we'll talk about tomorrow on the track in track mode

05:26with the tech pack included you can use the cruise control switch up here to select different traction

05:36control settings on the fly so in track mode you can use this button as a quick traction control button

05:42which is super sporty and racy super cool so just honestly i'm still figuring out all the ways that

05:49you can configure and navigate and play around with this dash it seems like a new smartphone or something

05:54that takes a couple days to fully familiarize yourself with all the settings and adjustments

06:00and how to navigate and all the different ways you can kind of personalize the interface of this 990 duke

06:07r in rainbow this is very relaxing that was one of the big questions i had for the 990 duke

06:13r coming

06:14into this is i figured the performance would be there as with almost all our models that we've ridden

06:19they're pretty sporty and they're pretty spicy and they're a lot of fun to ride but they're not always

06:25enjoyable when you're not you know trying to be a hooligan but this motorcycle has proved to be very

06:32relaxing and comfortable when you're just riding like a normal civilian riding through the city

06:37commuting not trying to lift the front wheel everywhere this is a easy motorcycle to ride it still

06:43has a good character of this lc8c engine but very usable for casual and city riding

06:52as you'll see pulling away from a light right there in rain mode got the quick shifter you have a

07:00cable

07:00actuated clutch i will say that the quick shifter it works really great when it works really great

07:06other times it's a little bit sloppy just depending on where you are in the rpm range

07:11where the throttle position is you can't kind of ham fist it up a little bit but when you're really

07:18screwing into the throttle and upshifting it works really well the quick shifter on the yamaha mt09 sp

07:24is one of the best quick shifters i've used in recent years that's the same quick shifter that'll be on

07:30the r9 and that's really what this bike this package from ktm is competing against the 990 duke r and

07:37the 990 rcr are competing against yamaha's mt09 sp and the new yzf r9 if you're looking at this bike

07:46or that bike you're definitely looking at the yamaha's so i will say that the quick shifter on

07:51the yamaha from what i remember feels a little bit more refined it can be a little bit sloppy with

07:55your

07:55your shifts up and down and it's more forgiving the quick shifter on the yamaha this one on the ktm

08:02when you get it right it works really well and it has a really nice note to it when it

08:07cuts the

08:07ignition real quick to allow that next gear to grab it sounds awesome so right now we've got cruise control

08:14set to 71 over here obviously that's that add-on accessory but it's really nice this bike is

08:20comfortable we're going 71 miles per hour let's see let's slowly adjust it 80

08:30easy riding i don't know why but i expected this bike to be not as comfortable even though it is

08:35a

08:36naked it's all the material that ktm provided us with talks about how this is a compact package

08:42and a more sporty on its nose style naked bike the ergonomics on this bike are comfortable i mean it's

08:50a naked bike that's the whole story here with this 990 duke r is essentially it's the new ktm

08:57990 rcr but without body work and a flat handlebar and uh that's exactly what makes naked bikes

09:03especially high performance naked bikes so exciting that's why at cycleworld we've always loved

09:08naked bikes especially ktm naked bikes because they push that envelope of performance in the

09:13naked bike class the seat is flat and wide it's got tons of room to move back and forth on

09:19the handlebar reach is comfortable it's lower it's not too far above the triple clamp but it's flat in the

09:25bend it doesn't put a lot of weight on your wrist and although there's not a whole lot of wind

09:30protection as this is a naked bike i have to say my body feels pretty well protected with the the

09:36big

09:36led headlight and this eight and a half inch dash it uh i really am just feeling wind probably right

09:42where this gopro is mounted and above so hopefully it's not too windy but so far i think this is

09:48a bike

09:48with cruise control with this comfortable ergonomics package the bend of my legs it's not too aggressive

09:54i think i could throw cruise control on and ride back to the office for a couple hours and be

09:59totally

09:59fine i wouldn't prefer any other middleweight naked bike to ride on the freeway for two hours over this

10:06one that the vibrations are not extreme you know this engine is riding very relaxed we're going almost

10:1380 miles per hour and we're below 5000 rpm it's got a real fat mid-range so if you got

10:19to get on the

10:19throttle to pass the car so far this 990 duke r is proven to be a good street bike all

10:26right rolling onto

10:27the freeway what's it like fat mid-range to get you up to speed with top gear i'm trying to

10:34like this

10:35990 duke r as much as i like the super duke and for similar reasons comfortable good performance and an

10:42engine with a fat mid-range perfect for passing cars having fun at 80 miles per hour this bike has

10:51very

10:51little vibration i mean very little i'm squeezing on the handlebar pushing into the seat and the foot

10:58pegs and i barely feel the engine pulses just like good character i think this thing would be about just

11:04as comfortable for slaying highway miles at this speed as yamaha's mt09 sp buttery smooth yamaha engine

11:12i think this thing could go toe-to-toe for smoothness at this rpm anyways we're headed up into the

11:17mountains to ride some twisty roads let's throw it into sport mode

11:24this bike feels so planted on the side of the tire wow

11:36all right so we're gonna just stay in fourth gear for a little bit show you what this fat meaty

11:41mid-range is like

11:46just screw on the throttle and

11:49with this upgraded chassis upgraded suspension this thing really follows the road really well

11:55wow this thing has no problem getting its thrills out here in the twisties

12:01i can't imagine needing much more engine than this out here

12:07this mid-throttle right here spot your exit

12:22this is fun these tires are providing good grip the suspension and the chassis is just giving really

12:28good feedback on this road i can feel every little bump but it's not overwhelming we just spent a little

12:34time flogging these things on that twisty road and i have to say when you ramp it up to 11

12:39when you

12:40want to ride at a spirited pace this ktm 990 duke r really responds that's not that surprising that's

12:47what this whole package has been built around that's why it's an r unlike the standard model which would be

12:52less willing to go that speed safely at least and comfortably on these back roads with the standard

12:58model where this one the upgraded suspension a little bit more horsepower more extensive electronic

13:03sweep better braking package better tires better wheels a lighter package this is the bike designed

13:09for riding at a spirited pace on these back roads so i will say for the viewers that are maybe

13:14hesitant

13:15that this bike is too on edge so far we have not experienced that on the 990 duke r this

13:21bike is light

13:21one of the things ktm mentioned is that they are aiming for a middleweight naked that has best in

13:26class power to weight ratio i have to say this thing's very powerful and it feels very light ktm

13:32claims 130 horsepower about 76 pound feet of torque and a wet weight of 419 pounds this lchc engine is

13:42a

13:42perfect example of why we love parallel twins because they're so usable you have a lot of torque in a

13:48meaty mid-range which works great in the city or to get you out of a hole like that you

13:54can be a gear

13:55high and roll under the throttle and it has no problem getting up to speed it's a it's an engine

14:00that's very flexible you can kind of set it in fourth gear and forget about it as we've done a

14:04lot

14:05today it works best if you shift it in the mid-range around 7 000 rpm but on these twisty

14:10corners when you

14:11need to connect one turn to the next this thing doesn't have an issue running right up to the rev

14:16limiter

14:17but what this bike has going for is that it really is a jack of all trades so far

14:22very sporty but also very comfortable and usable for a day-to-day street bike this is a motorcycle

14:27that's going to compete against yamaha's mt09 sp ducati street fighter v2 or maybe even bikes like

14:34aprilius tuono 660 factory or triumph street triple rx these are middleweight nakeds but with an emphasis

14:43on performance if you're looking for something more standard maybe the 990 duke the standard 990 duke

14:50is the way to go save a little bit of money that bike's a little less expensive more around the

14:5511

14:5512 000 price range where this one's going to cost you more than 13. but you get a lot performance

15:01for

15:01that extra couple thousand dollars as we'll get to find out tomorrow when we get to the racetrack

15:05we're out here at chuckwalla raceway is this our bike really ready for the track let's go find out

15:18all right here we go we're at chuckwalla we're in track mode right now which is included in the tech

15:23pack like we talked about yesterday this is our slip adjuster we're at level three right now zero is off

15:30nine is the most intrusive we're at three and using the cruise control hardware you can

15:38on the fly cycle through your level of slip so nine being the most intrusive

15:46we're gonna go we've been doing mostly three so let's go

15:56this engine is so flexible both on the track and on the street as we experienced yesterday third gear

16:03whoa hard on the brakes these brakes are very responsive very strong great feel great modulation

16:18this bike is so agile it has a low claimed wet weight

16:26around a 58 inch wheelbase and tons of power

16:36whoo

16:39it just leans into the corner so easily and changes direction no problem

16:45wp suspension is taught and it allows you to unleash

16:52full performance of this r bike fully adjustable we've made adjustments already

16:58we're running the sport setting recommended by ktm i have added one turn of preload to the shock

17:04and that has made a world of difference getting this bike a little bit more up on its nose

17:09the front wheel is so planted

17:17quick shifter working amazing watch this double down shift

17:26oh this bike is glued it sounds awesome

17:34i can ride this chuck wallow racetrack almost completely in third gear just using fourth and

17:41fifth on the straights third gear

17:47this engine for a parallel twin has impressive top end power obviously the mid range is super meaty

17:54which we've expect which we expected from this bike as we know this engine this engine's been around

18:00for a while and the 790 the 890 and now this 990

18:06whoo trail braking hard into the corner the front end is stiff and top and it has amazing feedback you

18:13can just trail brake real hard even when i make mistakes and overcook a corner i can just really get

18:20hard on that front brake to get it back in and this bike handles it so we're not running stock

18:27tires

18:27we have dunlop slicks r7 front r8 rear and these things are hooking up

18:39the electronics package has saved me a couple times today when when traction control kicks in

18:47oh hard on the brake there these brakes are very powerful you have multiple levels of abs we're

18:56running supermoto abs now so we can lock up the rear

19:02the chassis feels so planted this bike when it's under load whether it's on the throttle or on the brakes

19:09you miss my apex

19:13this bike is just easy to ride whether you're going fast trying to catch guys on the track

19:19going fast in the canyons having fun with your buddies or you're just trying to get to work

19:24this bike just allows you to focus on what's ahead

19:28all right that's a wrap on the new ktm 990 duke r coming into this we knew the bike would

19:33be sportier

19:34than the standard that's the whole idea behind this r package better suspension more horsepower

19:39a more extensive electronic suite more powerful brakes this is essentially a naked version of ktm's

19:44new 990 rcr motorcycle we loved when we rode it last year out of the launch in spain for the

19:50same

19:50reasons that we love this duke it has tons of performance for the middleweight class it's super

19:55comfortable performance is easily extractable whether you're on the street or on the track it's a 900 plus

20:01cc parallel twin with a meaty mid-range an extensive electronic suite that allows you to extract the

20:07performance anti-wheeling control slip adjust traction control multiple levels of abs these are

20:13electronic rider aids that will keep you safe on your morning commute but also allow you to come out

20:18here on the racetrack and push a sporty pace and that's why we could argue that the duke r is

20:22even a

20:23better motorcycle than the 990 rcr because it's even more accessible more comfortable with almost the

20:29same level of performance i didn't get to ride the rcr today or at the launch in spain but what

20:34i

20:34can tell you is that this 990 duke r offers a lot for thirteen thousand four hundred dollars you have

20:39a motorcycle that truly is race ready off the dealership floor we were using dunlop slick tires

20:45today the r7 for the front r8 for the rear so of course take that into consideration that's the only

20:50aftermarket part or feature that we had today on the bike but other than that the brakes the

20:56suspension the electronics this is a motorcycle that allowed me to probably go the fastest i ever

21:02have at this track or on any track because for me with a dirt background and not a whole lot

21:07of sport

21:07bike experience the upright flat handlebar neutral ergonomics of a naked instantly give me confidence

21:13and comfort when i swing a leg over it this engine is just so flexible third gear fourth gear it

21:18doesn't

21:19really matter i was able to just kind of throw it in third or fourth gear and get around this

21:23entire

21:23track so this is a motorcycle that offers high performance and it's super accessible because of

21:27its level of adjustability as we talked about on our street ride soften up the suspension throw it in

21:32street mode or even rain mode which i really preferred riding around on the street and it rides like a

21:37standard motorcycle similar to an mt07 soft comfortable but still a little spicy that's how this ktm 990r

21:45is you can really tune it to your level of spicy sporty or comfortable so that's going to wrap up

21:51this

21:51review of the new ktm 990 duke r of course if you enjoyed the video hit the like button comment

21:56subscribe and check out the link in the description where you can find my full written article on this

22:01bike and really dive deep into all the features and adjustability of this motor cycle thanks for

22:06tuning in and we'll see you in the next one

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