KTM DUKE 690 R TESTDRIVE & REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Yet another fantastic bike from KTM. It really is good.
But the pricing kills it dead.
It also vibrates like japan... (too soon?)
Facebook: / cagerontwowheels
Intro music is "Black Suit Zombie" by Phazer.
Go check 'em out here:
/ gophazer Wanna see me on a KTM RC390? Vote here!
www.rc390.com/#...
I really love your accent and your sense of humour
Thank you for this video Cager. I saw it like a year ago and now I've got one!
+CagerOnTwoWheels I love it. Its my first bike so maybe I'm not that objective...
The weight has saved me from dropping it. I'll make a 20.000km review soon!
Vibrations are noticeable, but not uncomfortable. If you have questions on the bike let me know.
Hi Cager ,i did the smart thing and bought my 690 duke second hand with 3000 miles on it at £5000.
Am in love with this bike ,i use it for commuting and fun,makes me smile every time i take it out .isn't that what biking's about .Great video Dave
i just test drove it with the standard 690 stock. OMG. what a bike. You are right on every aspect you have given in this review. I saw this review after I have done the test ride. Amazing well balanced bike and even on bumpy roads it is just awesome.
So nice you're doing all these reviews!! Another amazing bike!
Your reviews are the best on the web, fact
You know, the difference between Duke and Duke R is way more. Better WP suspension, better Brembo brakes, Racing Rear sets, Akra Slipon, Crash bars. All this is worth wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more than the price difference of the two models.
Oh, also a better handlebar.
*****
The engine is 100% the same from standard to R, but yea it have more bling on the handlebar + nicer triple clamp. The output effect is the same (slipon does nothing as long as the cat is still there)
Excellent ride review Cager. Thanks for making and posting the review.
Despite being such a fun bike, and high horse power (for a single), it's pretty easy on fuel (depending on wrist I am sure). It would be a great commuter, and weekend twisty bike. The torque is what makes a bike like this so fun.
Im so happy to own this , i know i am late to the party but KTM is on another level.
With your review and some of the reviews I really love the sound of the engine on this. Another engine I really like is the Triumph Street Triple, lower CC model.
I hit subscribe after hearing your reaction when you reached 185 kph! Awesome video and hilarious commentary!
The 690 Duke feels like an MX / ROAD BIKE. Lovely machine. 👍
Fits me like a glove.
Not for powering down motorways.
My guess would be that the very forward seating position is making your elbow more bent which makes it feel easier to lean and more stable.
The price of bike is equivalent to 12,000 Euro here in Malaysia. All big cc bikes are very expensive here.
If you think this one vibrates, you should try the Duke II (640cc LC4). The one you're riding is smooth as butter.
Cager love your videos and I'm always cracking up from laughter...can you please review the 2016 Duke 690 or Duke 690R...keep up the good work and stay upright :-)
Love to see you get a ride on a Suzuki SFV650 and an ER6N/F and then do a little comparo to the other 'middleweights' you've tried.
Anyone getting one of these duke r with the akropovic all you need is a de-cat pipe and then the sound is amazing even with the decibel killer in. The dry weight 145.5 kg and you get lots more with the duke r like fully adjustable WP suspension. They are extremely fun to ride and 9 years since this review was done you can find them for a petty good price now.
Thank you for this great review. It's indeed very expensive, even if it seems to be a very cool bike. This is also because it's the R version, and the price difference between the standard and the R is too important. The standard version costs 7,890 euros in France. It's still a bit expensive compared to the MT-07 Abs (6,190 euros), but it's more reasonable!
Duke 690 review! hurray! But why didn't you talk about the standard 690 version ? It's just under 8000 euros. But even if you can put 8000 euros in a bike you got a lot of choice.
Personnaly I bought an Mt07. Fun review.
Hope the 1290 super duke video can be done in better weather!
Cool video! I just bought one thanks to your review!
Yeah I love your reviews!
Thanx for sharing, you seems to get alot more bike with similar performance if you shoose the mt07 instead.
This bike compared to the MT-07, in 0 to 100, and in overall handling, which bike seems better & faster ? Not considering the price. I think others would like to know as well. Thanks for another good review. yl
Thanks ! Had a feeling it would be better because of the weight being lower, when it came to the breaks, it has Brembo on the front, even if it's just the one, and seeing it's 59 lbs or so lighter, would help with the cornering also. You have helped in my assumptions, of the 2 bikes. But for a everyday bike the Yamaha MT-07 still would be my choice. I so wish we could test ride new bikes like you can, it would help in the buying process. You do that as well. Many thanks. yl
+CagerOnTwoWheels
Means you like the MT-07 better?
I'm having hard time deciding which bike I'm going to get next, it's either a second hand 690 from 2014, or a "like new" 2015 MT07.
I ride around town for the most part. I'm currently riding a baby Duke (200) and traveled around 8k kms for the year and a half of owning it.
What I do know is that KTM brings the entire package, a strong motor (1 cylinder, less refined, but not horrible) with awesome suspension to back it up, while Yamaha gives you a kickass motor with a sharp-japanese gearbox but cuts costs on everything else, means I'm going to suffer from shitty brakes and crappy suspension, unless I spend another 2k upgrading it (which I won't do)
What do you guys think?
+CagerOnTwoWheels
I totally agree with KTM's aweful pricing. That's why I mentioned the duke is going to be a 2n, or even a 3rd hand. In my country, street KTMs tend to lose their value extremely quick, unlike their offroad line, so it's more practical\economical to buy one off a kid who thought it was cool, got tired of it and soaked it's major inital drop in value.
I will definatly give both bikes a test ride.
Just for the general idea, a brand new 07 costs 14.5k euros here, and a 690 is 15.5k, R version costs 2-2.5k extra (but you do get an akra pipe + extra 50cc in displacement, somewhat fair)
BTW, do you think adding a top case or side bags to either bike is going to harm it's fun factor?
not talking about looks, just performance, since both bikes are pretty lightweight.
Oh, and of course, thanks for replying, nothing is taken for granted.
the 690 is like over 20kg lighter with almost the same power, you cant compare those two.
I am think about getting a duke R 690 or Super Duke 1290.
Which one will you buy?
I had a Buell and a cb1300 now....
GDA GDA i would buy only superduke r... why? because it has at least 2 cylinders... with one cylinder, there is no power when you go out of corner... if you want motard buy 690, if you want sometimes go to circuit, or have more sport riding, go for 1290 :)
+fredericenkos Oh sure please go ahead, and call me when you cry yourself to sleep from the insurance cost....
thats why i wrote would, not will ... ;)
i bought a 690 at the end.Very happy with it.
GDA GDA Did you try the fz07 ?
Entertaining and informative review, thanks so much! You're very funny, now I'm going to look for more of yours
6 minutes in and i will give you a thumbs up and sub! You seem as a genuine real fun guy! Safe riding =)
Why a big displacement engine with just one cylinder? Well, the sound and character of course. :) Having gone from a 125hp four to a 50hp single, I can say that there's something really different in the style and I've loved them both.
On a side note, singles are easy to work on.
I have a little thumper, a 125 Gas Gas Randonne, so I know about vibration. I think maybe there is a limit on 1 pot bike for the road, and the KTM 390's 373cc is near the limit. After that it makes sense to move to a twin like the MT07 when going to 600cc+ for a smoother ride. The 690 is made in Austria hence the price vs. India for the 390. Here in Spain the 390 is EUR4897 and the 690 is EUR7599. The 390 makes a lot of sense for the price especially as it includes ABS, it blows away the CBR500F (@EUR5499). The 690 is competing with many bikes like the MT09 (EUR7899), Ducati monster etc.
Wow you have very low prices in spain, I bought my cb500f for €6000
ripmax333 I think India may be the cheapest place to buy the KTM 390 @ 191,468 Rupees -- or about EUR2350.
mikeinmadrid1
Damn!! O_O! That's steal!
i would love to ride over in your country.looks beautifull there.someday i'll make it over there
I've got the 390 and was looking at the 690 but - there is a 790. I'm waiting for that review pls.
Motorpacing bicycle at 5:22! He's hiding under the Mini's "spoiler".
really nice and detailed video as always! Could you please do a proper testride and review of a ktm 690 smc/r(or enduro)? There is no proper review on youtube...
compared to mt 07, which one do you think got more acceleration, torque and maneuverability? I really would appreciate your answer. Bye
I know you said 10k is a lot for this, i agree. But now that its a few years old I can get one for $6500-$7000. Would you say it's worth it for that price? I'm either gonna get a naked bike or a supermoto for my first bike.
What did you think of the KTM 690 compared to the MT07 you reviewed more recently? Which would you prefer? I am not sure which will be better for me.
Gonna get the MT-03 660cc, seems about the same but cost about 2-3k as a second.
Also a beautiful bike and especially for that price, as long as its not a lemon then one can go for it without bad feelings i think.
As you said tho, it only seems about the same as the duke has ~50% more power and is 30kg lighter.
Other differences would be USD Fork and the Radial Mounted brake in front, even on the duke 3 (which i would also check out in your case)
I personally would not rly go for the R version of any duke tho, as the differences are too small for the price and i do not rly care for their "KTM powerparts".
That road is amazing..
I was riding 70 on a 45 road, and got passed by a pickup truck. I saw them coming from the rear view mirror in the dark, saw their headlight through the late night fog. They must have been going 100 past me. I don't push my luck by going that fast in the dark, many wild animals running around at night we could hit.
The "duke R" have bigger brakes and WP adjustable suspension if im not wrong:)
For ladies 690 is like one really expensive vibrator...So next one is 1290 :) can wait to see that one. It would be great if you can do then S1000R and give your thoughts about differences...Just suggestion.
add duke in the title. Great video!
OMG! This bike is SICK! :D Duke 690 R like a lion so aggressive and wonderful! :) I love it!
maybe not worth the extra 800-1000. I like the crash bars but unlike many single cylinder bikes, this one is seemingly able to handle a passenger. It would be worth more to get the regular 690 and add my own crash protection, i'd think. I haven't explored the idea yet, just a hunch.
+Cameron ZY the crash bars have been known to cause damage to the frame....better of without them.
I like this bike but for the money I think the MT-07/FZ-07 is the better choice.Fuel mileage looks to be similar and in the US the 07 is $2000 cheaper.That's a lot of fuel and gear.
i like ur review so much....
WOW for that price i think you can buy the MT-09, It's amazing tough how they manage to keep the weight of the bike so low less than 150 kg! i think the secret is that they keep insisting to use single cylinders.
Can wait to get mine:)
Great vids....you HAVE to test the new Yamaha MT10 and try the roll on 4th gear wheelies !! scared....you will be :)
Love your accent dude you make I laugh out loud!
hey CagerOnTwoWheels now that you rode the Honda 650f, this or the Honda? they are both the same price where I live and I can get 0% APR on the KTM burt 3.9% APR on the Honda
Hi all is this a good bike for beginners? I visited the KTM dealer where I stay and even though there was a Duke 390 few bikes over, he said the 690 was good for new riders. What do you recommend?
Sheldon Joy Ofcourse he'd say that lol... Its always good to start out on a smaller capacity bike with linear torque. Get a used one at that as well so that even if you drop it, it won't hurt your wallet. As soon as you get comfortable with the bike and develop that rider's instinct, you can trade the small one in for something a little bigger.
Nice review
I love the way u laugh..anywz awesome vuclip.greetings from India
I still love you..
:)
Hello!! Is there any chance to see test on your channel of Honda 1200 vfr? It would be great!!
CagerOnTwoWheels
I ve been thinking about Honda VFR1200F. I would like to tell you that i love your channel and the fact how you expres yourself when you getting speed on a bike. Each time watching your videos i have smile on my face.
how to u compare this to the 690 smc or enduro r? (same engine)
Cager can you please review the Suzuki Inazuma 250!
Good honest review, but as you say pricey :-(
Some great second hand deals out there though :-)
I'm looking to buy my first street bike. But I don't know where to start. One of my friends recommended this bike (the R version). My question is this a good starting bike? I have roughly 10k. (Been saving for a bike) but are there better "first" bikes I should look for? *Thanks for any information. I appreciate anything.* (Note: my friend has been riding for about 2 years more than me and more on the road. I started on dirt, until I was good enough for the road.)
Hey there. Going with the 690 Duke for your first bike is definetly not the worst choice you can make. But I wouldn't buy the R model to be honest. Sure the R has a lot of cool features but do need stuff like more suspention travel? Nope, you don't. I went with the normal 690 Duke and put some Powerparts on it like the crashbars, Akrapovic Slip-on and the LED indicators. So my version is still a lot cheaper than the R model and I didn't have to pay for useless gimmicks that NO ONE (except for professional race use) cares about.
So, why is the 690 Duke a good bike for beginners? 1. It's safe. ABS on both wheels is amazing. That doesn't mean you can drive like a maniac and get away with it, but it saved me from crashing countless times. You don't have to worry about the right amount of pressure on the breaks in case of an emergency. Also the 4 cylinder break at the front slow the bike down rapidly without beeing to aggressive so newbies don't flip over.
2. Power. 700 cc, 70 HP, 70nm. Who cares about driving on the highway with 250 km/h when you can have 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in a little over 4 secs EVERYWHERE. It's the strongest single-cylinder bike available and it really packs a punch.
3. Service. Although service are going to be more expensive than on other manufacturers you can to drive 10.000km between them.
I own my Duke for almost 2 years now and I have to say that I've never been happier with a bike. Sure, there a cheaper bikes in that range but quality has it's price. Also you can customize it with Powerparts to fit your visual needs (the stock licence plate holder is the ugliest thing ever).
***** Hi did you had any serious issues like oil leaking or any other type of issue?
I love this bike and I would like to have the simple not the R version :))))
I just worry because they're made in india so as the 390 which I crazy love but this is not any more in my [ want to buy list ] because of the many problems....
I wonder if the 690 is more reliable.
***** Thanks man. I was still thinking what to buy but this advice was good. I think I'm going to buy the 690 not the R.
how is it compared to the mt07? or the 09? they seem to be pretty similar
The duke is a Ktm supermoto dressed as a roadster. Very light, very agressive. Its engine, even though it's a single cylinder, comes alive at high rpm. It's a Hooligan machine like Cager use to say.
The MT07 is a pure roadster, it's very light but not "supermoto light". Its engine is a twin and has a very flat torque response, it is happy in the mid range. It's very esay and you don't need to drive like a mad man to enjoy it.
MT09 is a whole different world. It's dangerously fast.
***** Kill The Man (KTM)?
They don't even compare. This has 69hp. The MT09 has 115 hp.........
Mojo Agreed - different bikes. I considered the MT09 but was put off by the higher weight, lack of ABS and less-than-average suspension. The 690 Duke is a special machine and not for everyone. That's why I love it!
KTM 690 or MT07?
i like your vid !! Nice Job !!
Get rid of that cat converter....
Hey cager betewn an Yamaha MT 07 and a Ktm Duke 690 R wich is better?
Grizzly Bear ktm by a long way, same power but far better suspension
Please, make a test with the Ducati Hypermotard 821
:D
How would you compare it to the Fz07? Im thinking of trading my FZ for this
+Jorge Borbolla pretty much the same bike similar torque similar hp which looks do you like more this ones abit lighter so maybe more hooligany
+genelode Im gonna test ride the 2016 R next weekend, im pretty sure its a different experience, but in the whole sense it might be " the same bike "
How tall are you?
that thing is 11 000 € in my country. ..and that left mirror on the highway LOL!
and you forgot to say it -.- IT CAN BE MAPPED FOR A2 RIDERS
ps that supermoto feeling comes form the engine its the same engine of the smc 690 LC4
Nice bike, i have it and I like it 😎 But can someone explain me this ishhh in every sentence? What that’s actually means?
"The 1290 insanity, I can't handle that!" Moments later... KTM 1290 TESTDRIVE & REVIEW XD Overcomming your fears I see
Y u no do this with MT-09?
he did it.He has a test-video of it
He didn`t full throttle for that long. That`s what i meant, my bad :P
Because he wants to live
with is the chanel in portuguese?
Mirrors are on backwards
This one needs an A license right?
ITZAK14 In the EU you need an A license to ride it unrestricted or an A2 license to ride it restricted to around 45hp due to the low weight.
I rarely go over 70 on my bikes, to many cops around.
Is it´ Borat that are making a new mowie or what?? The guy is toltaly lost!
Come on man, you are use to a kind of a trail bike, so it's only natural that you can not see the dash without looking downwards!!! I´m very use to a naked bikes, so for me the high dashes are weird! that depends of what kind of bike you want for you...
Yeah, I wouldn't spend the money on the 'R' version. Losing a passenger seat is not conducive to picking up chicks. The exhaust sucks because it's just a slip-on, not a full system. The db killer IS out, hence the big black hole back there in the shot. Why so expensive? Because it has no real competition. You know anyone else putting out a single cylinder in that displacement? Nope. Vibrations? That's what you pay for! Thump, thump, thump, baby. Wind? Buy an aftermarket wind screen. You never said if the riding position and seat were comfy?
FAZ UMA REVIEW À HUSQVARNA NUDA 900R
Do KTM 790
speedometer kph or mph?
i mean kph
I wish I could like this more..
no cager, its not to soon for a japan joke, atleast not that one THATS HILARIOUS
Why would you buy this if you can have a MT09 (cheaper) or the triumph street triple (about the same €) which are a looooooooooot better in every single way? (Specially the triumph) I don't understand KTM prices...
Did you realise that you are the only one that is extremely hating about KTM in the comment section of EVERY KTM video from cager ?
Get your shit together dude !
lol... My bike was bought from a KTM dealer so I tested a lot of them and here in Portugal they are way more expensive than they should be. I don't even have an Yamaha so... no hating.. just FACTS
Well I already have a Speed Triple and I don't need what it has so much of the time.... which is why I ride the KLR 250 all the time LOL. Thumpers rule.
stringi le screws on the mirrorbehind the rubber!
All KTM bikes from that salesman came with broken parts on the left, what the hell xD
I want.
Arfat Ahmed The Yamaha MT07 is faster and is half the price!!PS Looks better too!
OperationFoxley19441 i love mt 7 too
OperationFoxley19441 If you are into true nakeds sure, but if you like them sm with a single cylinder Duke 690 is the way to go ... or better yet Husky 701 ;)
OperationFoxley19441 But the MT07 has shit suspension
The Kruxed
Nothing is perfect I suppose.
I'd really want to know if women like the vibrations of this bike :P
that laugh though is hilaious
Looks much like a supermoto.
690cc is just too big for 1 piston. We call those "Thumpers".
Double the price of the 390, not double the bike. Buy the 390 and spend the rest on sticky tyres ;)
390 Duke. The 690 Duke's weird little brother that nobody likes.
But 690 is more fun.
gsxkatana If you are over 6ft you cannot ride the 390
gsxkatana dude, engine size.... twice the size.
it's better to get an Mt-09
+Slorm Raptor yea only about a 50 hp difference... why not go for a hayabusa straight away
MT 09 has a stunning engine but suspensions are terrible. Also weighs 30 kgs more... I'd go with the KTM personally
Good no super good
I've seen some of you'r videos Mr. +CagerOnTwoWheels and i like them but man i would like them alot more if you quit saing that " 'ISH " a few times in every of you'r videos.
I bet you lost your Mohawk on the highway ;) .