The electronics package is the main reason I bought an 890 over a Street Triple this year. Just had a track day this past weekend, and the KTM is a track bike off the showroom. Amazing brakes, tires, electronics, engine power, "flickable" chassis, peg clearance. The areas where KTM still fall behind Triumph is reliability and the sweet sound from the 3 cylinders.
Guys... guys... (to the Cycle world dudes).. the KTM is a jumped up supermoto bike.. its what KTM is known to be.. come on... and the 765 RS is a race bike with high handlebars... thats IT! Nothing about one being modern and the other being outdated.. I know you're trying to draw comparisons but you're being a bit harsh I think. I reviewed both of these bikes on my channel and I think I was fair in my assessment for what the bikes really "were" meant to be. On one end you have a hooligans wet dream (the 890 Duke R) and on the other, you have a racebike with street ergonomics. Hooligans love 890 Duke R because of the down low power and racers and track day enthusiasts love the Striple because of the top end.. And the fact that the Striple has remained unchanged for so many years pays homage to the cherished Daytona that to this day people still love.. some may even call it the BEST middle weight sportbike of all time.. But yes, I realize, its not modern looking to todays standards.. but thats where the new Trident will change things in the years to come.. Look for a new Striple with Trident body style to come out in the next year or two. For now... Lets go back to judging them for what they are meant to be. One of them being a jumped up supermoto and the other a street race bike. 👍
Best comment/comparison. Should subscribe to your channel instead. 👍 Picking a winner between the two is like saying one ice cream flavor is better than another. I feel many professional reviewers tend to like the KTM more because of it's hooligan fun factor. But both bikes have their pro's and con's depending on what you look for in a bike. Neither is a bad pick and i always tell people to check out both and decide yourself. For me personally the Triumph is the better bike.
@@RutgerMulder I own the 2020 Street Triple RS and I have ridden the 2020 890 Duke R.. you can find both on my channel and a fair comparison of the two for what the bikes are meant to be. I don't judge which is better or worse.
@@PetroHead I had a look at your vids, nice channel! Subbed. I've been enjoying my own 2020 Striple RS for the past 7 months but winter season is coming up to end the fun now.
@@RutgerMulder Awesome bro! Thank you.. My Striple is still bone stock but that will change very soon... channel will get busy with lots of triple content soon. Enjoy and safe riding! PS: Just because I own a triple I am not advocating whats better. They are two very different bikes for different audiences. This is what I wanted to convey in my initial comment to the reviewers.
Glad you choose these bikes for a review. Would like to see maintenance and reliability records of these brands compared to Japanese and Italian brands.
@@nicofonce There are tons of engine failure's for the ktm 890 Duke R. At least the 20 models is even less reliable than other KTM's are known for (Oilleaks, coolingleaks, leaking shocks, diplay failures as standard). I've bought one and can't get rid of it, even with very low price. That Streety RS may be less entertaining on twisty roads (on track it's way better) , but at least it is not in the dealers repair shop.
@@nicofonce Hi Nico. It's the KTM i'm refering to. I've bought a 21 890 R and am concerned about engine failures. Triumph motorcycles can be concidered reliable i guess.
The problem with the MT09 is the suspension. Even with the SP model. It's just not setup properly. But the again the yam is much less in cost so it is forgivable. If you want similar performance invest in some upgrades and the cost would be similar.
Humbly disagree. The quality of the same as with the Triumph. Everything is well set. And the electronics of the KTM is much better set. And the KTM is even easier to ride and the motor is more powerful in street use.
@@cp4512 I've had 7 KTM within the last 10 years, never had a serious problem. And the German journal "MOTORRAD" has tried to make an endurance test over 50.000 km with the Street Triple RS two times and had two fatal motor crashes. Where's the qualtity?
@@kssi488 Sorry, I’ve probably been overly harsh on KTM. It’s from a terrible personal experience with a 790 Duke where I was let down by both bike and then customer service. And a few friends have had similar and will never buy another. But I do acknowledge there will be many riders who have had good experiences with their KTMs.
@@kssi488 the fit and finish on the ktm is aweful, cheap plastic everywhere, it creaked when I sat on it, the triumph is in another league in terms of build quality
@@frinto4771 12-year old mentality 🤦🏻♂️ So if he goes to an R6 is he going backwards because 650 is more than 600?... Going from a z650 to a 765RS is a different world!
@@showpuebla he will get used to, to his 765 fast and there will be nothing much to explore. And he will think of an upgrade too soon. If u have the money, look for the liter class.
@@frinto4771 Hi Frinto, the KTM is almost liter class and the much better bike than the Street Triple. I've had a 1200 Bandit, a K1300 R, a 1290 SD-R, a 2018 Tuono Factory and even though, I have decided for a KTM 890 Duke R, now. You know why? It's the most driveable motorcycle in the world. No high RPM, no uncontrollable owerpower, no overweight, no overnoise, no stiff handling! The KTM is the most likeable bike within the total Naked Bike class. Just as precise as a Tuono, more handy than a Street Fighter V4 and with just 125 HP enough power to beat all the others on curvy country roads and in the mountains. And all of that comes with a fuel consumption of 4,5 liter per 100 km and a price of about 13.000 € with equipment. The is definitely the best price/performance ratio in the total class.
It really is for people who actually uses the bikes in full capacity You just can't do that with liter bikes I don't buy a 170hp plus bike to always ride in 6 gear or some shit I want to use all it got
A. Waheed is such a great motojourno; his casual but highly informative takes on subjects (motorcycles, of course!) could provide enlightened thoughts to viewers when they might be subjectively leaning toward the product being discussed about. Great piece, Cycle World!
@@LMo-bm6ol Nah, my MT-09 only *sounds* like a 50cc scooter on account of the terrible stock exhaust. Anyway I'm not talking about him 'having fun'. Zack when he was doing this had fun on many rides. Unlike this dbag however he didn't constantly cut people off, speed in residential, and otherwise ride like an ass. It's one thing that he does it on his private time. But when it happens in these videos then gets posted for people, potentially non riders too see it's terrible optics for riders as a whole. I'm not saying the guy is like Yammie noob (though some of his early, less heavily edited rides certainly show they're cut from the same cloth), but it still ain't a good look.
@@remigusker6024 i got ya! we all know that no matter you do in this life: some would appreciate, but some would despise. But at least, can we agree to disagree? 🖖🏼🕊
Great review. I have watched several on both of these bikes, and a couple that compared the two, and this is by far the most informative. You both gave impressions of all aspects of the bikes, and went into detail often missing in reviews.
What the hell was Triumph thinking with the color options on the RS? The Satin black with red accents looks gorgeous on these bikes, but you can only get than on the R. Who the hell would rather have satin black and high viz green?
Excellent comparison of 2 brilliant bikes that I’d love to get my hands on. Unfortunately KTM’s are too busy catching the low cc segment (390 n below) market in India so I’d have to go for the Street triple. In a way its a good thing for me as an intermediate rider coming from a 400cc bike to have a well balanced and neutral bike until i get more experience to go on tracks and enjoy a KTM to its fullest.
I’ve ridden the Triumph for a year now on track and roads and agree with everything you said. But whereas my old Speed Triple R had all the same positive attributes it also had a great personality that I loved. This Street I really want to love but I just don’t. It’s very good, it’s just missing that spark. Last week I spent 3 hours on a borrowed Duke and fell head over heels. It’s everything the Triumph isn’t as far as character, and I already have one on order!
Is it possible you’re just remembering the buy differently thank you would if you rode it again too ? If you get a chance test that theory for me and let me know
I’ve ridden both and these KTMs are slowly taking over my garage. Zero brand loyalty, just better feel and confidence in the chassis when really on the pipe.
Last year I was making this exact same comparison. I was very much leaning towards the 890R but my local Triumph dealer put a 2019 765rs on sale for $9,999. While it doesn't have the LED lighting it does get to skirt around some of the Euro 5 regulations. Plus I was looking once a week for 6 months for a 890 to come in stock around a few major metropolitan cities and they never arrived until the last few months of 2020. As much as I love and wanted the 890r, Triumph was able to get me on their competitor a half year before the KTM dealership even knew if they would have a bike to sell me. Get your stuff together KTM, I straight up wanted to give you my money.
I had the opposite impression when I tested these bikes. The Triumph had a fantastic chassis and loads more character. The KTM is more like a supermoto. I come from a sportsbike background and like the excitement and noise of a screaming triple engine with higher revs.
Cool bikes. Myself, I hate that transformer headlight look...but I guess I’m in the minority as all manufacturers seem to be embracing it on many of their products. 🏍🔥
On the Duke? Yeah, you get used to ignoring it. On the bright side the Duke headlight is AMAZING. Like… easily the best headlight of any motorbike I’ve ever owned. It’s so good. SO GOOD!
It's hilarious how much Adam looks and sounds like Paul Shore! They've gotta be brothers! He's a Hell of a rider though! LOVE watching him wring a bike out!
I had the 2010 all go done love it . got tired sold it not a hwy bike no much torke . Kim much more fun . like my 02 ducati monster 916 . ktm made the Duke = monster . ducati started the hole game !! But they are a relic now . grate collector bikes . I shure beat the 916 monster for 10 years no a single problem . Y just did not want to pay 6 k for a complete valve job ! . thank you guys for all ypur videos
I have a 2017 street triple r a 675 tho and a fellow rider in my crew has an 890r and from a 60 mph roll on the highway that bike is very very fast..I usually catch him in the very high speeds but he takes off on me for a few seconds evertime and is faster then a 600cc from anything under 100 mph in my opinion if not just as fast.Extremly torquey bike.The engine intake noise of the triumph is better for sure but the exhaust note from the ktm is better.Both amazing bikes! The KTM is more snappy but the triumph is more like a 600 that once you rev it out the real power comes in passes 9000 rpm
No! I like the look of the KTM and love the orange. It is so agressive but then again I am Dutch😁. Motoproworks makes tons of different sticker kits for al kind of KTM models.
Didn’t 44 Teeth do this like 3 months ago? They managed to make it entertaining and funny as well. These guys definitely don’t hangout at the pub together, stale.
Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in because everyone is talking about the KTM reliability. I got the RS and it's had a few issues. I still love the bike but yeah. The headlights let water in (needed replacing), I had a porous cast cylinder head which leaked oil (also needed to be replaced), the matte paint is a nightmare to take care of, it has stalled 5 or 6 times while riding which seems to be a common problem due to fueling.
I read so much shit online about KTM's having shit warranty. I got a 890 duke R with full 5 year warranty on 100% of the bike for $700, seemed like a good deal to me. 10K miles later and no issues.
I bought a runout '18 790 Duke (that I heavily modded) due to the delay of the Aprilia RS660, then a low mileage 890 Duke R (hamburger with lot) came onto the market at a hot price needless to say I now own 2x Middleweight KTM Dukes and just loving both.
Looks are subjective, but my God I hate ktms styling... That's the biggest drawback for the brand in general to me. Give me the triples style with a v-twin or cp2 and I'm sold. Husqvarna 901 maybe?
Design is within the eye of the beholder, yes. But the Kiska Design of the seldom cases, where you may start by finding it ugly. And than you start cope with it. And afterwards, the more you see from it, you start to like it. And you end up loving it. With the Street Triple Design, it's the other way round. And the start, you like it and find it attractive. But the longer you look at it, the more boring it becomes and the more inexpressively. And if you compare both bikes on the road, you will get a lot more fun from the KTM. That's because of its laserlike preciseness, it's great stability and the SuMo like seat position! No other bike of its class lies as stable in curves. The KTM is much more emotional with its 890 ccm two cylinder, that is the best mate for country road use. The Triumph is obviously also a good bike, precise and stable. But its a bit boring in comparison. And feels less powerful.
I agree. The KTM is horrific to look at and isn’t classic so will age really badly; it will probably hurt resale values when it isn’t the latest model too. The Triumph is classically beautiful.
Nice review! How do non performance versions (non S and R respectively) compare to these? Is the ultimate result the same: DUKE is better or something changes with cheaper models?
What is interesting is that in Cycle World (and pretty much any other journal) the Street RS made about 9-10hp more than the 890 Duke R, whereas on motorcycle.com they made the same power. How is that possible?
There is no immediacy with the Triumph, you have to get it in the right RPM range for it to respond. The KTM is more like a sharp race engine, hit the throttle and it's instant performance.
Hi very nice comparison. You did not talk about beautifulness. I am Italian and I see this too. KTM is ugly, it is white only and it has a lot of plastic. Triumph is very well made and it is beatiful. Ciao
so can we get a link to the related article, please? you say go to the web site and read the whole story, but there's no link to go there. just a general link to the main page. and i'm not even going to try to search for the specific article because i've gone through that before and that web site is garbage. i literally don't even see a search function, ffs.
.. bought the 890 R as my first streetbike.... didnt care so much when i first rode it, as time goes on i like it more and more, more comfortable i get at riding on the street the more i love the bike..... it doesnt like to go slow or straight.... seems to like aggressive riding tbh
Ugly is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I'm far from convinced on the styling, but I'd say that they really do look very different in the flesh, and anyway, when you're riding these things, unless you watch yourself in shop windows, it really is irrelevant. The plasticky thing I also get, but it is by far the easiest way to get the weight down, and it also means that the price can be kept down as well. Not sure about the prices of spare parts, but it does mean that there are more options for spares. If you look at the off-road scene, there are plenty of manufacturers that make spare plastics, so prices vary from the scandalously expensive to outlandishly cheap. Having seen these models in the flesh, I'd say that the Katoom really looks fresh, unfortunately, the Trumpet is really starting to look dated. And I'm a Brit. and predisposed to the Triumph. Fact is that the Triumph has been the pick of the class for a long time, it seems that KTM have moved the class on. For anybody who loves bikes, I think that has to be a good thing.
@@mtrideron167 I haven't heard of any issues with the 790s or 890s. The 2015 1290s had issues with play in the rear hub and the tail light mounts cracking. There have been some issues with their singles, such as the 390s head gasket/warp issues and the mainshaft bearing on older LC4s. I've got a gen 2 Super Duke (2018) and no issues so far (only got it recently mind you). Their warranty isn't an issue either, although I've heard something about the electronics not being covered in the US. That wouldn't be legal here (Oz) though due to consumer law.
I've had both the 790 and currently the 890, 2 oil leaks on the 790 and 3 with the 890 plus there was a recall on the 890 since they put the wrong oil in at the factory. No mechanical issues but if you check out the 790/890 forums you will see the platform is plagued with oil leaks and coolant leaks.
La garantía cumple almenos en Europa y en mi caso con 300km cambiaron el motor por el aceite equivocado que comentáis. Una vez cambiado solo puedo decir que la moto va espectacular sin ningún tipo de fallo y no hay día que no me saque una sonrisa. La triumph era la otra opción que quería, y pienso que cualquiera se compre serán geniales
Love the KTM and KTMs generally. But I have hated their orange origami styling for a long time. Put this motor in a classic SuperMoto package in something other than racer-boy orange please and I'm in. Or even better, this motor in a classic retro scrambler/enduro package drawing on KTM styling themes from the 70's. Or get Husky to do it.
First I was going to buy the Triumph, but that was before the i knew about the 890r. I ended up buying the KTM last year. I allways wondered if I took the right bike.
It's always refreshing to see and get Adam's perspective of any motorcycle. You two gel very well. 👌👌✔️✔️ That said, Im still not sure the brand KTM and reliability can be read in the same sentence in 2020. Especially if it's your daily work-horse.
I like the way the Triump looks and sounds, but having never actually rode the KTM or the Triump, I guess I would have to take your word, plus here in Mexico the KTM is about 1500 USD cheaper.
The Fact that KTM's Warranty, for their BRAND NEW motorcycles, does not cover Electronics says volume about their quality, how are they even allowed to be sold in North America when in Europe their warranty does cover Electronics?
This isn't entirely true. It may state that in their documentation, but I've read about numerous people who have had electronics covered by warranty on the 790.
@@blackoutblaze I asked the question when I was at a Dealership, the Salesman said that the only way to cover Electronics on a KTM is to buy an external warranty from the Dealership itself. I would be curious to know how those people you are referring to got one.
@@Kareem_Alcindor Salesmen aren't the most knowledgeable people in my experience. Every experience I've had at a dealership, I know a lot more than they do and I have to tell them what's going on. I've read about 790's with dash issues getting replaced under warranty without any problems.
@@blackoutblaze Bro, I appreciate your reply but what you're saying does not make any sense. KTM North America says that their New Bikes do not come with Electronic Warranty, the Dealership confirms that only with an external warranty will those Electronic component be covered and yet, you know more than them? The Electronic System of a KTM Duke is much more elaborate than only the Dash turning off and having them repair it as a courtesy.
@@Kareem_Alcindor I understand that's what the warranty says, but I know for a fact that some 790's with cracked dashes have had them replaced under warranty at a dealership. I do know more about a given product when I go to buy something, I do my research (which is usually months and months) and when I buy it from where ever (dealership, private party, etc) I am the one informing them about the ins and outs of the product. I did that exact thing when I bought my 890 from the dealer, they knew some stuff but I had to tell them certain things about the bike that they didn't even know.
I had a 2014 Street Triple R, which I loved! bought that one used at a great deal, and teh 790 DUke at the time didn't do it for me. Now, that Triumph's been killed by a truck in a parking lot =( so I think the 890 DUke R is the one I'd get over the Street Triple RS.
@@ghostrider4544 I have both a 2010 675 and a 2020 RS. I will not buy another bike as long as Triumph is making a Street Triple. That being said, the 765 packs a hell of a lot more punch than the 675, but the 675 still feels more alive with the midrange and grunt. If you go with a 2020 or newer 765 in the RS package, the first time you wrap your wrist you're going to have poop coming out of your bum. That is unless you've ridden a superbike.
Two great bikes competing in the fugly contest unfortunately. Both super fun to ride though, in their own way. And you’re not looking at them when you’re riding them. Nice review gentlemen!
I love my 890 but KTM really needs to address the oil leaks, 3 so far on the bike. Not to mention 2 on my previous 790. Other then that it's the most fun bike I've owned or rode for that matter.
None on mine at all, I've not had a single issue. The forums may be 'plagued' with people complaining about oil/coolant leaks, but usually people don't post about not having leaks so it may seem like there's a lot but in reality it's really not that many people. The sample size is very small, not a ton of these bikes are out there.
Agreed but it does not give me much confidence when two bikes of the same platform have problems back to back. Plus my 890 was one of the ones recalled by KTM because they put the wrong oil in at the factory.
@@MistressDarkTruth Every single bike manufacturer has issues with their bikes, just like KTM. I bought my 890 and broke it in with the oil that came from the factory, changed the oil and continued to put miles on it. I now have almost 4k miles with absolutely no issues at all. I got a call from the dealer I bought it from the other day saying there's a recall with the bike and I need to take it in to get a free oil change.
@@blackoutblaze yeah I have 4,500 miles on mine also. No mechanical issues except for a random check engine light. But still 3 oil leaks is unacceptable and parts are severely backordered because wait for it.... So many of them are having the same leaks lol. And yeah it sounds like you have the same wrong oil at the factory recall. They did the same "free" oil change to mine as well.
@@MistressDarkTruth Parts are backordered because of Covid and the fact that they made a small initial run of the 890, so parts support (and support in general) isn't setup properly. The 890 was supposed to be released in the fall of 2020 as a 2021 model year but due to popular demand, they released it early in the spring with a very limited number: www.newsbreak.com/news/1535951476527/ktm-north-america-announces-early-availability-for-ktm-890-duke-r
If the KTM wasn't so ugly to me I might have got that over my Triumph but I'm definitely very happy and pleased I got my Triumph. I feel like I would have had buyers remorse if I got the KTM lol
They put it on the dyno which measures power at the tire. Manufacturers measure power at the motor which doesn’t deal with parasitic losses from the transmission, chain, wheel & tire weight, etc. Also no two dynos are exactly the same due to humidity, temperature, elevation, etc.
KTM for me rode both and the Triumph is kinda boring compared to the KTM. The handling and brakes of the KTM are just incredible, the Triumphs were really good as well but just the torque and fun factor of the KTM did it for me. I can agree with how the Triumph does have a more premium feel but on looks well that's just personal preference and I think they both look decent. Just a shame KTM doesn't offer another color on the 890 R, not the biggest fan of all that orange.
The KTM is a nice bike.. I reviewed both on my channel and have done a comparison video as well. The Striple feels quality and is not lacking like the way these guys describe it. All good.
This is a review from professional testers who want to be hooligans. The 765 RS is the better street bike and the best Street Triple yet. You can’t go wrong with either of them. It’s just the KTM reliability that would make me nervous, especially with electronics apparently not covered by warranty.
@@cp4512 I can imagine if reviewing bikes is your job, one may become bored with the next and next street triple. The KTM is probably a nice change in the game.
Triumph! Pure finesse and that sound from the triple engjne!!!
The electronics package is the main reason I bought an 890 over a Street Triple this year. Just had a track day this past weekend, and the KTM is a track bike off the showroom. Amazing brakes, tires, electronics, engine power, "flickable" chassis, peg clearance. The areas where KTM still fall behind Triumph is reliability and the sweet sound from the 3 cylinders.
New street triples have 6 axis imus now
Guys... guys... (to the Cycle world dudes).. the KTM is a jumped up supermoto bike.. its what KTM is known to be.. come on... and the 765 RS is a race bike with high handlebars... thats IT! Nothing about one being modern and the other being outdated.. I know you're trying to draw comparisons but you're being a bit harsh I think. I reviewed both of these bikes on my channel and I think I was fair in my assessment for what the bikes really "were" meant to be.
On one end you have a hooligans wet dream (the 890 Duke R) and on the other, you have a racebike with street ergonomics. Hooligans love 890 Duke R because of the down low power and racers and track day enthusiasts love the Striple because of the top end.. And the fact that the Striple has remained unchanged for so many years pays homage to the cherished Daytona that to this day people still love.. some may even call it the BEST middle weight sportbike of all time.. But yes, I realize, its not modern looking to todays standards.. but thats where the new Trident will change things in the years to come..
Look for a new Striple with Trident body style to come out in the next year or two. For now... Lets go back to judging them for what they are meant to be. One of them being a jumped up supermoto and the other a street race bike. 👍
Best comment/comparison. Should subscribe to your channel instead. 👍
Picking a winner between the two is like saying one ice cream flavor is better than another. I feel many professional reviewers tend to like the KTM more because of it's hooligan fun factor. But both bikes have their pro's and con's depending on what you look for in a bike. Neither is a bad pick and i always tell people to check out both and decide yourself. For me personally the Triumph is the better bike.
@@RutgerMulder I own the 2020 Street Triple RS and I have ridden the 2020 890 Duke R.. you can find both on my channel and a fair comparison of the two for what the bikes are meant to be. I don't judge which is better or worse.
@@PetroHead I had a look at your vids, nice channel! Subbed.
I've been enjoying my own 2020 Striple RS for the past 7 months but winter season is coming up to end the fun now.
@@RutgerMulder Awesome bro! Thank you.. My Striple is still bone stock but that will change very soon... channel will get busy with lots of triple content soon. Enjoy and safe riding!
PS: Just because I own a triple I am not advocating whats better. They are two very different bikes for different audiences. This is what I wanted to convey in my initial comment to the reviewers.
I’m not even finished watching the video and I’m already saying you guys have to do way, way more of this. GOOD STUFF!!
Glad you choose these bikes for a review. Would like to see maintenance and reliability records of these brands compared to Japanese and Italian brands.
Exactely. This is NEVER discussed anywhere, yet such an important decision factor.
The 765 engine is a tank. Platform is well versed and still used in moto 2
@@nicofonce There are tons of engine failure's for the ktm 890 Duke R. At least the 20 models is even less reliable than other KTM's are known for (Oilleaks, coolingleaks, leaking shocks, diplay failures as standard). I've bought one and can't get rid of it, even with very low price. That Streety RS may be less entertaining on twisty roads (on track it's way better) , but at least it is not in the dealers repair shop.
@@donaldduck9424 I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. When you say "Streety RS" to which model you refer?
@@nicofonce Hi Nico. It's the KTM i'm refering to. I've bought a 21 890 R and am concerned about engine failures. Triumph motorcycles can be concidered reliable i guess.
Well produced video on my favorite bikes. I appreciate the engine sounds of the bikes and the lack of annoying music.
Would be interesting to see how the updated mt09 fair
The problem with the MT09 is the suspension. Even with the SP model. It's just not setup properly. But the again the yam is much less in cost so it is forgivable. If you want similar performance invest in some upgrades and the cost would be similar.
@@andrewspooner8146 he said updated and he means the cyclopse mt-09 or the venomed mt-09
You mean that Decepticon/ Cyclopse looking thing...
New mt09 look like a 125 🤮🤮
The 2021 MT09 SP, along with these bikes are in the running for my track/2nd bike.
I have ridden both, Triumph for me everytime. The build quality and styling of the KTM is dissapointing to say the least.
Humbly disagree. The quality of the same as with the Triumph. Everything is well set. And the electronics of the KTM is much better set. And the KTM is even easier to ride and the motor is more powerful in street use.
I humbly agree. Triumph definitely better quality. I still hear horror stories from friends who have bought KTMs and now swear they never will again.
@@cp4512 I've had 7 KTM within the last 10 years, never had a serious problem.
And the German journal "MOTORRAD" has tried to make an endurance test over 50.000 km with the Street Triple RS two times and had two fatal motor crashes. Where's the qualtity?
@@kssi488 Sorry, I’ve probably been overly harsh on KTM. It’s from a terrible personal experience with a 790 Duke where I was let down by both bike and then customer service. And a few friends have had similar and will never buy another. But I do acknowledge there will be many riders who have had good experiences with their KTMs.
@@kssi488 the fit and finish on the ktm is aweful, cheap plastic everywhere, it creaked when I sat on it, the triumph is in another league in terms of build quality
Planning to upgrade from my z650 to the 2020 street triple rs as my next bike
Make your upgrade to a liter class, since you have a 650.
@@frinto4771 12-year old mentality 🤦🏻♂️
So if he goes to an R6 is he going backwards because 650 is more than 600?...
Going from a z650 to a 765RS is a different world!
@@showpuebla PREACH! 🔥
@@showpuebla he will get used to, to his 765 fast and there will be nothing much to explore. And he will think of an upgrade too soon. If u have the money, look for the liter class.
@@frinto4771 Hi Frinto, the KTM is almost liter class and the much better bike than the Street Triple. I've had a 1200 Bandit, a K1300 R, a 1290 SD-R, a 2018 Tuono Factory and even though, I have decided for a KTM 890 Duke R, now.
You know why?
It's the most driveable motorcycle in the world. No high RPM, no uncontrollable owerpower, no overweight, no overnoise, no stiff handling! The KTM is the most likeable bike within the total Naked Bike class. Just as precise as a Tuono, more handy than a Street Fighter V4 and with just 125 HP enough power to beat all the others on curvy country roads and in the mountains. And all of that comes with a fuel consumption of 4,5 liter per 100 km and a price of about 13.000 € with equipment. The is definitely the best price/performance ratio in the total class.
the RS is a much nicer looking machine
I humbly disagree. The KTM is much less boring!
looks is a personal preference
Triumph looks 👍😍 KTM looks 🤢🤮
not for me
Middle weights where the action is. Plenty of power and lighter weight vs liter bikes
It really is for people who actually uses the bikes in full capacity
You just can't do that with liter bikes
I don't buy a 170hp plus bike to always ride in 6 gear or some shit
I want to use all it got
Nice detailed comparo.Brilliant.
For me its the RS.
A. Waheed is such a great motojourno; his casual but highly informative takes on subjects (motorcycles, of course!) could provide enlightened thoughts to viewers when they might be subjectively leaning toward the product being discussed about. Great piece, Cycle World!
I can't stand him personally. He rides like a douche and every commute video has at least 3-4 citation worthy and asinine moves.
@@remigusker6024 are you a 50 cc scooter rider? The guy can ride! Of course, he’s going to sometimes go for a little giggles.
@@LMo-bm6ol Nah, my MT-09 only *sounds* like a 50cc scooter on account of the terrible stock exhaust.
Anyway I'm not talking about him 'having fun'. Zack when he was doing this had fun on many rides. Unlike this dbag however he didn't constantly cut people off, speed in residential, and otherwise ride like an ass. It's one thing that he does it on his private time. But when it happens in these videos then gets posted for people, potentially non riders too see it's terrible optics for riders as a whole. I'm not saying the guy is like Yammie noob (though some of his early, less heavily edited rides certainly show they're cut from the same cloth), but it still ain't a good look.
@@remigusker6024 i got ya! we all know that no matter you do in this life: some would appreciate, but some would despise. But at least, can we agree to disagree? 🖖🏼🕊
Great review. I have watched several on both of these bikes, and a couple that compared the two, and this is by far the most informative. You both gave impressions of all aspects of the bikes, and went into detail often missing in reviews.
What the hell was Triumph thinking with the color options on the RS? The Satin black with red accents looks gorgeous on these bikes, but you can only get than on the R. Who the hell would rather have satin black and high viz green?
Excellent comparison of 2 brilliant bikes that I’d love to get my hands on. Unfortunately KTM’s are too busy catching the low cc segment (390 n below) market in India so I’d have to go for the Street triple. In a way its a good thing for me as an intermediate rider coming from a 400cc bike to have a well balanced and neutral bike until i get more experience to go on tracks and enjoy a KTM to its fullest.
Can't go wrong with either
I’ve ridden the Triumph for a year now on track and roads and agree with everything you said. But whereas my old Speed Triple R had all the same positive attributes it also had a great personality that I loved. This Street I really want to love but I just don’t. It’s very good, it’s just missing that spark. Last week I spent 3 hours on a borrowed Duke and fell head over heels. It’s everything the Triumph isn’t as far as character, and I already have one on order!
Is it possible you’re just remembering the buy differently thank you would if you rode it again too ? If you get a chance test that theory for me and let me know
I’ve ridden both and these KTMs are slowly taking over my garage. Zero brand loyalty, just better feel and confidence in the chassis when really on the pipe.
What's with all the hate on the looks of KTM? I think it looks aggressive and rather unique.
Those are older men i think lol. Ktm is for young spirited people who want fun and character. In real life the ktm looks so much sexier, trust me😁
Best motorcycling journalist by far! Thanks for the content!
No lap times ?
Street triple looks amazing.
.... amazing boring, from my point of view. But I am a KTM driver.
KTM looks.... 🤮🤮🤮🤮
@@cp4512 built cheaply. Everything leaky leaky after a while
890 Duke all day and twice on Sunday
Last year I was making this exact same comparison. I was very much leaning towards the 890R but my local Triumph dealer put a 2019 765rs on sale for $9,999. While it doesn't have the LED lighting it does get to skirt around some of the Euro 5 regulations. Plus I was looking once a week for 6 months for a 890 to come in stock around a few major metropolitan cities and they never arrived until the last few months of 2020. As much as I love and wanted the 890r, Triumph was able to get me on their competitor a half year before the KTM dealership even knew if they would have a bike to sell me. Get your stuff together KTM, I straight up wanted to give you my money.
It’s the global KTM shortage. I ordered the flyswatter windscreen for my duke in June, still waiting.
The content is informative, entertaining and spot on, Image quality is fantastic. Great work.
I've ridden both, watched so many videos saying the KTM is better, I'm still buying the Triumph....just feels better personally.
Not everyone is track oriented rider..so most of the people go with triumph
I had the opposite impression when I tested these bikes. The Triumph had a fantastic chassis and loads more character. The KTM is more like a supermoto. I come from a sportsbike background and like the excitement and noise of a screaming triple engine with higher revs.
Great review, nicely done guys.
Would be good to know the lap times for each bike.
Adam's hair has a mind of its own.
Would also be interested to see these compared to the new RS 660...same price, etc
Cool bikes. Myself, I hate that transformer headlight look...but I guess I’m in the minority as all manufacturers seem to be embracing it on many of their products. 🏍🔥
24james Yeah, they drive me nuts too. If I got the Triumph the 1st thing I’d do is replace the headlight with a standard, round one
On the Duke? Yeah, you get used to ignoring it. On the bright side the Duke headlight is AMAZING. Like… easily the best headlight of any motorbike I’ve ever owned. It’s so good. SO GOOD!
"Comfortability"... hmmm
Thank you for this review. I really enjoy reviews of this format. You guys provide real down to earth information for us viewers.
Great review as always. Thx for extra input Adam.
It's hilarious how much Adam looks and sounds like Paul Shore! They've gotta be brothers! He's a Hell of a rider though! LOVE watching him wring a bike out!
Would you say the triumph is “well polished”?
So you're saying that the Ohlins suspension on the Triumph isn't as good as KTM's WP?
Year old comment but the Triumph has Showa front and Ohlins rear not full Ohlins, however the spy shots on the new 2023 model show Ohlins front!
I had the 2010 all go done love it . got tired sold it not a hwy bike no much torke . Kim much more fun . like my 02 ducati monster 916 . ktm made the Duke = monster . ducati started the hole game !! But they are a relic now . grate collector bikes . I shure beat the 916 monster for 10 years no a single problem . Y just did not want to pay 6 k for a complete valve job ! . thank you guys for all ypur videos
I have a 2017 street triple r a 675 tho and a fellow rider in my crew has an 890r and from a 60 mph roll on the highway that bike is very very fast..I usually catch him in the very high speeds but he takes off on me for a few seconds evertime and is faster then a 600cc from anything under 100 mph in my opinion if not just as fast.Extremly torquey bike.The engine intake noise of the triumph is better for sure but the exhaust note from the ktm is better.Both amazing bikes! The KTM is more snappy but the triumph is more like a 600 that once you rev it out the real power comes in passes 9000 rpm
KTM needs to give us a Husky Vitpilen 890 - solves the ugly and orange problems
Vitpilen 901 would be a dream
No! I like the look of the KTM and love the orange. It is so agressive but then again I am Dutch😁. Motoproworks makes tons of different sticker kits for al kind of KTM models.
Vitpilen 901 🤙🔥
Didn’t 44 Teeth do this like 3 months ago? They managed to make it entertaining and funny as well. These guys definitely don’t hangout at the pub together, stale.
Excellent discussion/review/comparison.
I'm buying a new bike in few months. Only thing that's holding me back from buying the ktm is there reliability and warranty
Just get the triumph buddy ... my buddy has the ktm. 790 the quality sucks
I am riding a KTM Duke and every other bike owner asks me "it must be breaking a lot, right?". It gets boring pretty quick...
Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in because everyone is talking about the KTM reliability. I got the RS and it's had a few issues. I still love the bike but yeah. The headlights let water in (needed replacing), I had a porous cast cylinder head which leaked oil (also needed to be replaced), the matte paint is a nightmare to take care of, it has stalled 5 or 6 times while riding which seems to be a common problem due to fueling.
I had a KTM 950SMR. Solid bike. I think KTM gets the bad rap from the Bajaj built bikes.
I read so much shit online about KTM's having shit warranty. I got a 890 duke R with full 5 year warranty on 100% of the bike for $700, seemed like a good deal to me. 10K miles later and no issues.
Great one ! Good to see some nice comparison videos on Cycle World!!
I bought a runout '18 790 Duke (that I heavily modded) due to the delay of the Aprilia RS660, then a low mileage 890 Duke R (hamburger with lot) came onto the market at a hot price needless to say I now own 2x Middleweight KTM Dukes and just loving both.
Looks are subjective, but my God I hate ktms styling... That's the biggest drawback for the brand in general to me.
Give me the triples style with a v-twin or cp2 and I'm sold. Husqvarna 901 maybe?
Yeah I didnt liked the big plastic mountain between the legs. did go for the RS.
Yep, there's a lot of folks waiting for a Husky 901
Design is within the eye of the beholder, yes.
But the Kiska Design of the seldom cases, where you may start by finding it ugly. And than you start cope with it. And afterwards, the more you see from it, you start to like it. And you end up loving it.
With the Street Triple Design, it's the other way round. And the start, you like it and find it attractive. But the longer you look at it, the more boring it becomes and the more inexpressively.
And if you compare both bikes on the road, you will get a lot more fun from the KTM. That's because of its laserlike preciseness, it's great stability and the SuMo like seat position! No other bike of its class lies as stable in curves. The KTM is much more emotional with its 890 ccm two cylinder, that is the best mate for country road use. The Triumph is obviously also a good bike, precise and stable. But its a bit boring in comparison. And feels less powerful.
I agree. The KTM is horrific to look at and isn’t classic so will age really badly; it will probably hurt resale values when it isn’t the latest model too. The Triumph is classically beautiful.
@@kssi488 lol, I'd say I'll definitely be bored of the looks of 890, from its 125 to 890cc segments,all have the almost same looks
Nice review! How do non performance versions (non S and R respectively) compare to these? Is the ultimate result the same: DUKE is better or something changes with cheaper models?
Thanks guys - just bought a 21' KTM Duke R Real reviews by real riders. Peace !
Does anyone know the name of the song that starts at 0:27? :)
It's like indica vs sativa hell it's all weed have a good time!
Could u Tell me the Name of the Silver/ Blue Dainese Leathersuit?
when are you guuys reveiwing the mt-09 ..... eagerly waiting for that bike
@Justin Dawes why hasnt yamaha dropped features and benefits vedio of mt-09 they usually release that promo vedio to hype up the bike
Great review guys!
What is interesting is that in Cycle World (and pretty much any other journal) the Street RS made about 9-10hp more than the 890 Duke R, whereas on motorcycle.com they made the same power. How is that possible?
Different dynos read out differently so they’re not actually the best numbers to use.
How do the tank sizes/shapes compare in hard breaking? The KTM tank looks little thin...
You might as well have been testing them on dirt with the state of that track.
There is no immediacy with the Triumph, you have to get it in the right RPM range for it to respond. The KTM is more like a sharp race engine, hit the throttle and it's instant performance.
Great comparison video!
what about maintenance schedule and reliability???
How would the new Ducati monster compare to these 2? Would it be a better road bike for weekends?
I see a swingarm bolt in the frame missing on right hand
Finallyyyy some content its been forever...
Premium bikes no mods needed.
Hi very nice comparison. You did not talk about beautifulness. I am Italian and I see this too. KTM is ugly, it is white only and it has a lot of plastic. Triumph is very well made and it is beatiful. Ciao
so can we get a link to the related article, please?
you say go to the web site and read the whole story, but there's no link to go there. just a general link to the main page. and i'm not even going to try to search for the specific article because i've gone through that before and that web site is garbage. i literally don't even see a search function, ffs.
Good video I have been on the fence between these two bikes.
Ride both and your heart will tell you.
.. bought the 890 R as my first streetbike.... didnt care so much when i first rode it, as time goes on i like it more and more, more comfortable i get at riding on the street the more i love the bike..... it doesnt like to go slow or straight.... seems to like aggressive riding tbh
Pity the 890 is so ugly and plasticky, otherwise it would be the no brainer in this segment.
KTM dirt bikes are also "ugly and plasticky", if that matters ;-)
Ugly is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I'm far from convinced on the styling, but I'd say that they really do look very different in the flesh, and anyway, when you're riding these things, unless you watch yourself in shop windows, it really is irrelevant.
The plasticky thing I also get, but it is by far the easiest way to get the weight down, and it also means that the price can be kept down as well. Not sure about the prices of spare parts, but it does mean that there are more options for spares. If you look at the off-road scene, there are plenty of manufacturers that make spare plastics, so prices vary from the scandalously expensive to outlandishly cheap.
Having seen these models in the flesh, I'd say that the Katoom really looks fresh, unfortunately, the Trumpet is really starting to look dated. And I'm a Brit. and predisposed to the Triumph.
Fact is that the Triumph has been the pick of the class for a long time, it seems that KTM have moved the class on. For anybody who loves bikes, I think that has to be a good thing.
The only thing holding back the KTM is their questionable reliability.
That and their warranty, which is pretty much non existent!
lol has any one recently had any problem with KTM reliability wise?
@@mtrideron167 I haven't heard of any issues with the 790s or 890s. The 2015 1290s had issues with play in the rear hub and the tail light mounts cracking. There have been some issues with their singles, such as the 390s head gasket/warp issues and the mainshaft bearing on older LC4s. I've got a gen 2 Super Duke (2018) and no issues so far (only got it recently mind you). Their warranty isn't an issue either, although I've heard something about the electronics not being covered in the US. That wouldn't be legal here (Oz) though due to consumer law.
I've had both the 790 and currently the 890, 2 oil leaks on the 790 and 3 with the 890 plus there was a recall on the 890 since they put the wrong oil in at the factory. No mechanical issues but if you check out the 790/890 forums you will see the platform is plagued with oil leaks and coolant leaks.
La garantía cumple almenos en Europa y en mi caso con 300km cambiaron el motor por el aceite equivocado que comentáis.
Una vez cambiado solo puedo decir que la moto va espectacular sin ningún tipo de fallo y no hay día que no me saque una sonrisa.
La triumph era la otra opción que quería, y pienso que cualquiera se compre serán geniales
Loved the verdict, i'd choose KTM too anyday over that street triple
Love the KTM and KTMs generally. But I have hated their orange origami styling for a long time. Put this motor in a classic SuperMoto package in something other than racer-boy orange please and I'm in. Or even better, this motor in a classic retro scrambler/enduro package drawing on KTM styling themes from the 70's. Or get Husky to do it.
Which one is more reliable?
Triumph.
First I was going to buy the Triumph, but that was before the i knew about the 890r. I ended up buying the KTM last year. I allways wondered if I took the right bike.
It's always refreshing to see and get Adam's perspective of any motorcycle. You two gel very well. 👌👌✔️✔️ That said, Im still not sure the brand KTM and reliability can be read in the same sentence in 2020. Especially if it's your daily work-horse.
I like the way the Triump looks and sounds, but having never actually rode the KTM or the Triump, I guess I would have to take your word, plus here in Mexico the KTM is about 1500 USD cheaper.
The Fact that KTM's Warranty, for their BRAND NEW motorcycles, does not cover Electronics says volume about their quality, how are they even allowed to be sold in North America when in Europe their warranty does cover Electronics?
This isn't entirely true. It may state that in their documentation, but I've read about numerous people who have had electronics covered by warranty on the 790.
@@blackoutblaze I asked the question when I was at a Dealership, the Salesman said that the only way to cover Electronics on a KTM is to buy an external warranty from the Dealership itself. I would be curious to know how those people you are referring to got one.
@@Kareem_Alcindor Salesmen aren't the most knowledgeable people in my experience. Every experience I've had at a dealership, I know a lot more than they do and I have to tell them what's going on. I've read about 790's with dash issues getting replaced under warranty without any problems.
@@blackoutblaze Bro, I appreciate your reply but what you're saying does not make any sense. KTM North America says that their New Bikes do not come with Electronic Warranty, the Dealership confirms that only with an external warranty will those Electronic component be covered and yet, you know more than them? The Electronic System of a KTM Duke is much more elaborate than only the Dash turning off and having them repair it as a courtesy.
@@Kareem_Alcindor I understand that's what the warranty says, but I know for a fact that some 790's with cracked dashes have had them replaced under warranty at a dealership. I do know more about a given product when I go to buy something, I do my research (which is usually months and months) and when I buy it from where ever (dealership, private party, etc) I am the one informing them about the ins and outs of the product. I did that exact thing when I bought my 890 from the dealer, they knew some stuff but I had to tell them certain things about the bike that they didn't even know.
I had a 2014 Street Triple R, which I loved! bought that one used at a great deal, and teh 790 DUke at the time didn't do it for me. Now, that Triumph's been killed by a truck in a parking lot =( so I think the 890 DUke R is the one I'd get over the Street Triple RS.
I have tested both (and the yamaha mt09) but bought the 890R 2023 , the KTM gives me more umph than the Triumph 😉
Neither of them will get me off my 675
Why David...I am on a 675 r with 3 tooth up sprocket on rear...I am drooling on Duke and the new rs...you don't think it's worth it?
@@ghostrider4544 just feels like you're paying alot of money for all the electronic gizmos, and I don't feel like any of that is necessary on my bike
@@ghostrider4544 I have both a 2010 675 and a 2020 RS. I will not buy another bike as long as Triumph is making a Street Triple. That being said, the 765 packs a hell of a lot more punch than the 675, but the 675 still feels more alive with the midrange and grunt.
If you go with a 2020 or newer 765 in the RS package, the first time you wrap your wrist you're going to have poop coming out of your bum. That is unless you've ridden a superbike.
Two great bikes competing in the fugly contest unfortunately. Both super fun to ride though, in their own way. And you’re not looking at them when you’re riding them. Nice review gentlemen!
I love my 890 but KTM really needs to address the oil leaks, 3 so far on the bike. Not to mention 2 on my previous 790. Other then that it's the most fun bike I've owned or rode for that matter.
None on mine at all, I've not had a single issue. The forums may be 'plagued' with people complaining about oil/coolant leaks, but usually people don't post about not having leaks so it may seem like there's a lot but in reality it's really not that many people. The sample size is very small, not a ton of these bikes are out there.
Agreed but it does not give me much confidence when two bikes of the same platform have problems back to back. Plus my 890 was one of the ones recalled by KTM because they put the wrong oil in at the factory.
@@MistressDarkTruth Every single bike manufacturer has issues with their bikes, just like KTM. I bought my 890 and broke it in with the oil that came from the factory, changed the oil and continued to put miles on it. I now have almost 4k miles with absolutely no issues at all. I got a call from the dealer I bought it from the other day saying there's a recall with the bike and I need to take it in to get a free oil change.
@@blackoutblaze yeah I have 4,500 miles on mine also. No mechanical issues except for a random check engine light. But still 3 oil leaks is unacceptable and parts are severely backordered because wait for it.... So many of them are having the same leaks lol. And yeah it sounds like you have the same wrong oil at the factory recall. They did the same "free" oil change to mine as well.
@@MistressDarkTruth Parts are backordered because of Covid and the fact that they made a small initial run of the 890, so parts support (and support in general) isn't setup properly. The 890 was supposed to be released in the fall of 2020 as a 2021 model year but due to popular demand, they released it early in the spring with a very limited number: www.newsbreak.com/news/1535951476527/ktm-north-america-announces-early-availability-for-ktm-890-duke-r
If the KTM wasn't so ugly to me I might have got that over my Triumph but I'm definitely very happy and pleased I got my Triumph. I feel like I would have had buyers remorse if I got the KTM lol
Styling is subjective, performance is not
thought the 890 duke R has 121 hrsprs?
They put it on the dyno which measures power at the tire. Manufacturers measure power at the motor which doesn’t deal with parasitic losses from the transmission, chain, wheel & tire weight, etc. Also no two dynos are exactly the same due to humidity, temperature, elevation, etc.
@@fivespeed3026 ahhhhh okay, thanks bro for the info, now I know hehe thanks a lot
This was a very good review and comparison! I wish KTM's were reliable, they are not.
Waheed should have this guy ride pillion on MC Commutes...
Toss the 2021 MT-09SP into this test.
How in the hell do these two still appear so rigid on camera????
great vid
Street triple more racey✊🔥duke more supermoto ..
Rough and tumble ? That does not sound good on a motorcycle.
890r is next level. highest performance street or short/no straight track motorcycle you can buy today.
KTM for me rode both and the Triumph is kinda boring compared to the KTM. The handling and brakes of the KTM are just incredible, the Triumphs were really good as well but just the torque and fun factor of the KTM did it for me. I can agree with how the Triumph does have a more premium feel but on looks well that's just personal preference and I think they both look decent. Just a shame KTM doesn't offer another color on the 890 R, not the biggest fan of all that orange.
I feel ripped off honestly. Every year the street triple seems to take the middle class naked crown and the year I buy one KTM comes along. Hahaha.
Same.....
The KTM is a nice bike.. I reviewed both on my channel and have done a comparison video as well. The Striple feels quality and is not lacking like the way these guys describe it. All good.
This is a review from professional testers who want to be hooligans. The 765 RS is the better street bike and the best Street Triple yet. You can’t go wrong with either of them. It’s just the KTM reliability that would make me nervous, especially with electronics apparently not covered by warranty.
@@cp4512 I can imagine if reviewing bikes is your job, one may become bored with the next and next street triple. The KTM is probably a nice change in the game.
I think you’re right Oscar. Plus I know I’m not good enough to get the very best out of the bikes like they do.
Street is winner
I have the ‘19 STRS and have a deposit on next shipment of 890R. I want the IMU supported electronics and honestly, cruise control!
Rubber band on the throttle grip - push it over to the bar end - now you have cruise control
I dont like look of either bike so no matter how good they are it's a no deal from me.
And the winner is… mt 09 sp!