2020 KTM Duke 890R vs Triumph Street Triple RS
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- Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
- From the moment we first threw a leg over the KTM 890 Duke R, it was clear that it was going to be a contender for all kinds of awards and accolades. It’s a damn good motorcycle, highlighted by an engine that instantly put a grin on our faces. But there’s another motorcycle out there, similar in many ways to the KTM, also with a grin-inducing engine - the Triumph Street Triple RS.
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The battle of things I can’t afford
move yourself ! go where there is well paid jobs ! nothing is impossible in life !
U can get a loan!! It's not a ducati panigale v4 u know
Have a crash and let insurance pay for a new bike, that's how I did it, although no 890..
@Malcolm Reynolds how much hp? Is it faster than the super duke? ☺️
Buy a used street triple r, I ride a 2018, and I've also owned a 2012. The 2012 is almost as good as the 2018, and you can pick them up cheap.
The two bikes I debated in my head for some time, both amazing in their own way, ended up with the KTM. There's no wrong choice here, I wish I could have one of each.
I did the same debate, but decided to go with the Triumph. You’re right, really close decision 😃. There are some awesome bikes coming out from all the manufacturers at the moment, once we’re through winter the 2021 summer is going to be epic!
Miss you having the KTM Cuban Rider. Some of the best riding I’ve seen. Showed what this naked bike can do.
@Michael Tee There’s a reason every reviewer has picked the 890R in a head to head comparison, you obviously have no idea what that reason is, but we do.
@@freebehindbars8654 thanks bro, I missed a lot too on this last trip, but the new owner lives by the mountains so he will put it to good use.
Same. Comes down to what kinda attitude your drawn to.
The winner is the consumer having bikes at this price point and weight with this much handling and power. You can't go wrong here. Middleweight bikes are where it's at.
100% I have 1290 SDR and its great fun, the power is useable,
but I cant keep the throttle open for more than 2 seconds because
its so quick, and im stuck behind soccer moms and their SUVs,
the middleweights have useable power, AND you can keep more of the
throttle open, more of the time.
Not to mention the middleweights are much lighter and more agile.
I would happily take either bike. But on the street, 90% of the time, you're not pushing your bike to its limit. The KTM seems awesome, but the Triumph seems more composed and smoother. In most daily situations, it may be the nicer bike. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to take a rip on the KTM. I think you date the KTM, but you marry the Triumph. Or if you're poor like me, you settle with the Yamaha MT-09.
apart from the suspension that mt09 is AMAZING (for reference I ride a superduke)
In my country, mt09 is expensive as shit and the z900 is much cheaper.
@@vivekstreme1994 OK. Fair enough. Then go for the z900. I would. Out of curiosity, what country do you live in?
@@adamschoedel8829 India. Middle weight naked options we got here are the street triple, mt09, z900, gsxs750, Duke 790 and the bmw f900r. Believe it or not, the mt09 is the most expensive of them all and the most basic.
@@vivekstreme1994 Hey, thanks for the info. I live in Japan. As you might expect, the MT-09 isn't so expensive here. The Triumphs, KTMs, and BMWs are though. Weird world. But we're all bike enthusiasts, no matter where we live. Ride what works for you. Ride safely, and have fun!
Yeah, comes down to preference. Tested 20 bikes and triumph fitted me the best 🤷🏻♂️
Street Triple 765 owner here, so there's absolutely bias - I'll mention that upfront - but a few things I wished it was mentioned.
There is a rider mode for the RS model that you can adjust (or turn off) traction control to your liking. It is shitty that it's only on the RS model.
It's a small creature comfort for the street but worth mentioning is the TFT Screen is immensely adjustable - from a giant Rev bar for the track to large numerical indicator just for the street that inverts black & white depending on environmental lighting. Also! Triumph has bluetooth connectivity which pairs the screen with your phone, so you can have a sat nav right on your screen; which isn't a big deal on track but great for people like myself who just enjoy going to random twisties and the occasional day trips.
The handlebar mirrors on the RS tho is atrocious, it vibrates like a broken controller at higher revs and makes the view a blurry mess - which on the street matters a lot.
I do wish I could try the 890R, I have tried a buddy's 790 and that thing is a beast.
Strange, i don't have any issues with the mirrors on the RS. The 2020 has them updated with a different design which i guess works better.
Ummm so my 790 has bluetooth connectivity too... The TFT display also adjusts itself depending on lighting conditions. The 890 has the same TFT and modes etc that the 790 has or can add.
You can adjust traction control/turn off on all the street triples, and ABS can be adjusted on all. Only can turn off the ABS on pre Euro 5 models.
The KTM has all the Bluetooth stuff. The KTM has 9 stages of traction control including lean sensitive traction control. The Duke has ABS on and off including the ability to has ABS on the front and off on the rear. The Triumph is good but it's been overtaken. Also I don't believe the weight figures touted by the Triumph. Just looking at the size of the engine it's clear its alot heavier than the Duke. When it comes to engine noise the Triumph wins hands down. I personally think they tried really hard to find something to complain about the Duke. The gear thing is a non issue. I know from test rides. The stability on the lean? Never heard any review saying that. Maybe it was a bit too quick for them? KTM bikes are top of the class in my opinion. There's a reason they are the biggest European manufacturer by sales numbers.
RealOrbit - Australia triumph has GPS navigation and GoPro support and won’t be in the shop for a month getting repairs like the KTM.
I still would pick up that Triumph though
I was in the same boat of whtr 890 or StRs. Finally what sealed the deal was IMU. Cornering ABS was a must have for me. I wont claim that i am superhuman rider and dont need electronic nannies, i would rather be considered lame and have all the safety net i can get just like being atgatt while riding and keep pushing that envelope safely on the streets. Plus the 890 feels so much smaller and nimbler due to the narrow waist weight and chassis dynamics. Yes reliability wise KTM doesnt score as much as triumph, but in this day and age its a gamble no matter which direction you go with euro bikes. So if you have a KTM dealer close by, want to have the safety on modern day electronics and ride streets mostly with occasional track days hands down duke 890 wins. Take a chance, take a leap of faith, i know i did after many many bikes over many years this is my first ktm and i absolutely love it :D This is not me trying to validate my purchase. This i my honest advise as a fellow motorcycle enthusiast and aficionado, if your int he market for comfortable street ripper that can be fun at tracks try this motorcycle and then decide.
Respect!!! I’m going to be working at a Ktm dealership this Saturday hopefully they’ll let me ride one for a few minutes lmao
Man great bikes till they need maitance , i reallybdo hope youre dealership is clean cause ktm is well known to have very poor quallity standard as well as custumer service (is never their fault )
Did you pay the $800 extra to get all the unlockable goodies in the track pack?
fprintf yea, ktm does this highway “soft”ware robbery. Most of these knickknacks are charged extra. But tell me a middleweight bike out now that has such advanced electronics like 6 axis IMU cornering abs tc etc. Bmw coming with 900 now final price is comparable to this. If Yamaha would bring the R1 tech package to the fz09 I would have bought that no question asked and just pay extra for suspension upgrade. 👍 the IMU as of now no real aftermarket option.
Congrats on the new bike. I had the same considerations when I was looking for something more nimble. I picked a 790 over the Street R (the RS’s power is even more focused at high RPM) for the IMU, the torque advantage across the board, and the power advantage when the engine isn’t at screaming rpms (less attention from LEO). The only thing I don’t love about it is the lack of full adjustment on the suspension. The 890 gets full adjustment, a big reduction of unsprung weight, a ridiculous brake upgrade, and moar power. The folks at The Motorcycle Shop are expecting me..
Big advantage in the brakes for the KTM: spurts out the specs for each motorcylce... "theres not much of a difference that the average person could tell, we sure as hell didnt"
Litterally 45 seconds later: "you can really feel the difference in braking its quite astonishing"
Wow, could you make up your minds? xD
Sounds like a Paid review by KTM
This is a common problem with these bike reviews. They tend to be subjective & inaccurate and leave you with more questions than answers. Kevin Duke used to be the king of these half assed, mega casual, non-reviews: "It's got about, what, a hundred something horsepower... yeah it's not a slow machine but it's no superbike either..." Just do your damn homework and give your concrete opinion about the bike without changing it every minute. So, for example, are the KTM's brakes better or not? Yes or no?! It's simple! Because people are watching this 20+ minute video and not getting many real answers...
@@fatsharks Too true. I dont understand why in the current technology era with data acquisition devices being so cheap, why reviewers cant simply measure the braking distances from 30 - 60 -100 mph. Sure you cant measure braking FEEL, but putting a number can help express what these reviewers cannot.
Also i hate how people see a big brand like brembo and automatically assume it has stellar braking performance. As the current owner of a zx6r with nissin brakes i can say for sure that they are the best brakes ive ever had on a bike. Ive tested MT10s, street triples and Z1000s: all of them with inferior brakes. Just because its brembo doesnt mean its untouchable.
@@fatsharks subjective is ok but at least that should be consistent and descriptive. As in. When i rode Honda cbr600rr, ktm 950supermoto and street triple r they all had brutal brakes and none needed more than 2 fingers but... Not sure i remember right just an example, the ktm invited you to really just use one finger. Not better. Different. Or things how far yoy gotta pull it. And, as always for the ones that don't know how these brakes feel different to your bogstandard ok brakes where you better use your entire hand for a full stop in a hurry. They review in a way that assumes everyone knows these things.
I’m going to use my portion of the KTM payoff to buy the 320mm Galfer discs for my 790.
After riding both the 890 Duke and Street Triple rs today, I put down a deposit for the Triumph. There is simply no comparison in my humble opinion.
You are correct sir, and I don't even think that is a subjective opinion. Anyone that has decent eye sight can see the quality and fit and finish of the Triumph compared to the KTM. The KTM fit and finish is just crap and looks like one of those Chinese bikes you can buy of Amazon for like 6 grand.
@@Lex-Rex lol You are everywhere...
Of course it's a subjective opinion. And you don't need the whole world validating the RS because you prefer it. Just buy it, enjoy it, and realize the 890R is equal, and in some cases more advanced/optioned, especially for the cost. These things are very personal, emotional, environmental.
That makes two of us!!
@@Lex-Rex The Street Triple is a good bike but it is overpriced because it is made in a third world country where they can pay super low salaries
Finally! Was waiting for this for a while! I’m glad KTM stepped up their game with the 890 and made it the bike it as meant to be! Can’t wait to buy this bike! It’s the best street bike this side of the Tuono!
S1000r is the daddy..can even carry your damsel in comfort...
KTM is a hooligan bike, Triumph a proper and good street naked bike.
😂
Being hooligan is the only purpose these bikes exist for. Fun facotr wins buyer's heart
They should have compared the KTM to the Hypermotard 950. The Triumph is effectively a GSXR 750 with a handlebar and no fairings, but with excellent electronics and brakes as standard for the same price.
I own the KTM. I love it.
The triumph is more composed and stable in corners! And I like the sound.
Someone hasn’t ridden both. I’m sure he’ll chime in that he’s spent time on both, but obviously hasn’t. I traded my RS in after riding the 890R for a weekend. Not close. The torque of the KTM makes the completely different animals, with the Triumph in the rear view. I liked my Triumph, all of them but I love this KTM.
@@freebehindbars8654 No disagreeing that he probably hasn’t ridden both or detracting from your opinions regarding the KTM, but OP talking about the perceived cornering stability of the Striple, not its torque.
@@MultiVance123 Never ridden a bike that wants to be on it’s side more than this KTM. It’s effortless. The Triumph is a great bike, but there’s a reason everyone that’s had a side by side comparison has gone with the KTM. It’s something special. Reason it was chosen as Motorcycle.com’s motorcycle of the year for 2020, not just naked bike, but of any.
Need both, still have the Triumph to ride whilst the KTM is in the workshop haha.
I've owned two panigale 959's and I'm 5-6 seconds faster a lap around my local track on my 2020 street triple rs. It's the best all round bike I've owned. I've even owned a 2018 tuono factory and although that was incredibly fast it just wasn't as nimble as the RS and in all honesty was overkill for riding on the streets.
The street triple rs is such a pleasure to ride slow or fast. Quality components and build. It really hits the sweet spot
If it was my money it would be the Street triple RS I love that triple and the quality of Triumph bikes.
They made in India!( The UK factory closed last in 2020
@@Zloi_oi are you serious? Do your research before talking shit. UK factory still up and running, Triumph has no factory in India. Street Triple is made at Triumph factory Thailand, bikes are made there for more 15 years now.
@@Ha3731
UK factory is a museum kind of. Nothing's made in UK. At most may be assemble of high end line. The rest I'd Thailand.
Test drive both before deciding. Leave emotions out and the ktm is thre choice.
@@expatbiker6598 I tested the Street Triple RS for 1 hour, before the lockdown. Placed the order on the spot and paid in full. Now just waiting to be delivered.
I have the KTM 890 Duke R and it is an amazing bike, the fueling is defiantly not as good as my 2014 Street Triple R. Only real gripe I have with the bike so far is just build quality, the bike leaks from the oil pan on the kickstand side. Noticed it with 150 miles on the bike, it’s a small issue but when I pay for a brand new motorcycle I don’t expect it to leak oil.
Wesley C what did the dealer say?
My 790 does the same, dealer to fix at first service next week
jackmac66 Will get fixed next week at first service covered under the warranty.
Brenton Edwards Yea I knew the 790’s had the same problem but I was hoping they would have fixed it by now because I’m pretty sure this has been a recurring issue for the last couple model years.
@@Wescramer42 Mines '18 run out model one of the last few left here in Oz
Choice is pretty simple...If you want pure performance...you'll end up with the KTM. But if you want a smile on your face every time you twist the throttle in the street, Triumph is the way to go. A lot of reviewers are performance biased, but I feel that the triumph community is more on the "have pleasure" mindset rather than "I want to be the fastest". Reliability and build quality wise triumph beats KTM easy.
The Triumph is loads faster than the KTM when the KTM is in the shop.
Triumph Street Triple all day everyday hands down. I just cannot get over the cheapness and fit and finish on KTM street bikes. Triumph just destroys KTM when it comes to aesthetics and quality. I understand that is subjective, but I challenge anyone to look at fit and finish and tell me I am wrong. The only thing I dislike about the Triumph is the headlights, but I resolved that with a single headlight conversion and it now looks awesome. I rode the KTM duke and various years of them and I don't even think about it. I would pick a Monster 821 over the KTM and that is my thoughts although no one really gives a shit LOL.
Test road both of them last Saturday. Ended up buying the Street Triple on Tuesday. No complaints.
WHY NOT THE KTM
I feel like the triump is pure premium naked bike and far the best in my opinion 🤔😁
Street Triple won for me. I love everything about that bike. The biggest problem with the KTM, and what made the choice of buying the Triumph even easier, is having to look at it; I’m not a fan of the KTM styling. But I know lots of other people love the angular look. It’s just a personal choice.
This is the shootout I’ve been waiting for!
I find interesting the fact that the KTM won this test again, when it is ones again, the one with fueling and transmission issues, whereas no particular flows where mentioned on the Triumph! Good Stuff!
The KTM is having trans issues already, isn't as smooth, same power, nowhere near fit and finish or reliability levels, has bad fueling.... The Triumph looks outdated. WE PICK THE KTM 🤣
What a confusing review.
14 pound torque advantage KTM. NOT same power. Torque is the "power" one uses on the street every crack of the throttle. The KTM tranny loosens up after 600 miles. Still not 'buttery". Brakes: Advantage KTM. fueling is not "bad' at all. use your 4 throttle response options. I map every single bike I buy anyways and will this, as well. Especially as a simple stock-to-stock remap shows 8 HP gain and as much torque gain right around 5000 rpms where I swear I can feel a EPA designated torque "trough" in the KTM. The remap shows to fix lots of that as well. Reliability: NOBODY--on Planet Earth knows. ALL hearsay and wives tails--like that the KTM USA warranty doesn't cover anything. Utterly false and rubbish. Two best middleweights. Ride what you like.
They do say the KTM demo units they had are pre-production and some software will correct the transmission clunkiness.
Quickshifter calibration issues. The transmission worked just fine.
Preproduction transmission problems, and a fueling issue that’s fixable with a power commander. Ok. You can’t fix “missing an IMU.” The Triumph TC is heavy handed and slow to react by comparison. The cornering ABS is safer. Nowhere near the reliability? Maybe circa 2015.. not so much of an advantage, today. Triumph does have KTM beat on fit/finish. There’s no shame in wanting to ride the prettier bike, when it’s almost as advanced, and almost as safe as the alternative-especially if you don’t mind having a huge torque deficit
Can’t believe that Triumph went from symmetrical to an asymmetrical headlight arrangement. Why? Triumph, Why?
Because just as many would whine and complain about "old fashioned round headlight buckets".
LOCKDOWN COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS..😍😍😍
If you are riding in the dark, 890's headlight is one of the best in the market today..its so damn bright...
The Triumph actually has an excellent headlight as well. Of the 9 bikes I’ve owned, the 2014 Vstrom 1000 was the best, and the STRS is a close second. That’s a really important safety feature that reviewers always gloss over IMO.
Cracks me up how small you can have your registration plates in the U.S. and yet your turn signals are HUGE! Complete opposite to where I live. Our number plates are ridiculous!
Cracking breakdown as always 👍🏼
I really never understood the reasoning behind those massive plates of yours....lol
@@SteveWKk So the piggies can catch the plates easier as they go through all the nanny state speed traps that infest Europe.
Twin cylinder torque for the win. Twist the throttle at iddle and watch it pull to the readline. Tripples are nice but it'll always be a two pot for me.
I’ve had Buell, KTM 690 Duke, and 690 SMCR currently and they all vibrate pretty good. Of course, the 690 is single, so that’s to be expected.... but, this Triumph is a triple ... so what do you think about the vibrations coming from this? Would it be a lot less than the parallel twin 890?
How bout 890 vs 790 vs mt09 vs z9 vs triple vs bmw900 vs monster...
Aesthetics is a personal thing but to me the KTM ( in fact all KTM's ) looks are very dated , the "insect " thing has been done to death and done much better . The MV Brutale from a decade ago was a much cleaner design .
The finish is also an issue … I just think it looks cheap , really built down to a price .
Thank you. Triumph is king of fit and finish and I am getting to the point that it is not a subjective opinion. I ended up getting the Triumph primarily for the triple engine, but I had both bikes next to each other and pretty much everyone was like that KTM looks like a Chinese knockoff due to how cheap it looks.
Yes everyone has a different taste. I am also not the biggest fan of the KTM look but the Striple is for me one of the worst looking bikes on the market. I love the Bonneville, Bobber Black and the Speed Twin but i can't stand the look of the Striple..✌️
Once KTM get their build quality up to 1/2 of Triumphs, or any Japanese bike, then I'll start to be interested. Check out any KTM forum, I'm afraid they just aren't reliable yet.
Also, a quick peek at Triumph forums will show people complaining that their brand new 765s aren’t coming with advertised features
Hi guys! Nice video but ... the KTM is unfortunately not cheaper than the Street Triple RS when you add the shifter (not standard) and the optional driving modes (Track and Custom). That said, I would really love to see a big test between the Street RS, the Duke 890R, the MT-09 (or FZ-) SP and a comparable MV triple (Brutale or Dragster) standard or RR ... What do you think about this?
Love my RS!
I would like to see a comparison between the KTM Duke 890 (non R) and the Triumph Street Triple R to see how it performs in a day-to-day scenario.
Typical middle of the road, totally unhelpful, “we don’t want to annoy a dealer” review.
True and not true. Sometimes I agree that's the case but these 2 bikes are really close. Tested ride both eventually end with the 890 but I'd be happy with either. That's from someone downsizing from a Tuono 1100.
these "experts" are talking about tourque curves without considering gear ratios. These two aren't the sharpest tools, I'd say.
The KTM probably is better, after all it is a newer bike. If only it was not so ugly, the Triumph is so much more elegant and will stay so for a long time. The KTM has one of those designs which will feel dated very soon.
FINALLY we get som head to head again! Please please please more of these tests :)
That Triumph looks so good tho!!!
I’ve seen both bikes in person and the Triumph does look topnotch...in comparison the KTM looks a bit plasticky up close.
@@robertpowers1045 Yeah, the quality of finish is not even close. It's obvious even from the video. The Triumph looks much more premium. The KTM looks like a toy!
In person the build quality of Triumph is very clear, KTM has a lot of plastic feeling to it. Even the nuts and bolts of the Triumph are machined nicely. Once you put your leg over the bikes all this is irrelevant, but I do appreciate products that are built with higher quality finish.
You mean it's good or bad
KTM can't do cool like triumph. That triple is the coolest bike on the planet. I still don't know which I prefer. I've always loved ktm. But I honestly think if your not pushing to the limit like these pro riders the triple is a show stopper. A m8 at work has one and it's an event when he turns up on it and it draws a crowd. The ktm is invisible by comparison. This is a nerds review these guys know all the stats and ride better than me but they never mention style or cool and the triumph stomps KTM at that.
Still wish Suzuki would make a great superbike using their Vtwin
As a Suzuki rider I feel they are behind a generation. Really sad since Kawa and Suzuki are my favourite brands.
Me too, i wait after the GSX-T 700, with Suzuki we'll added the best price, the service and the reliability.
sky works the top notch gixxer isn’t but i agree with you regarding their other models. However, at the same time i don’t mind that either. I could go buy a gixxer 750 and be happy with it. I don’t even want a tft dash
@Ben Daulton it's a big rumor in France, a 700cc parallel twin (43 cub inch) with a little turbocharger ( the expérience come with Suzuki automobile ), have a good day Ben Daulton.
Yep but the GSX-S 750 has one of the best 750 motors ever produced. I know, it's not updated in electronics but it's cheaper too and very easily modified. You got to test ride it
Why anyone cares so much about smoothness of the quick shifter @ low rpms? Can't you use the clutch as it always been? Doesn't seem too much of a deal to me...
Maybe I'm just envious that my bike doesn't have one I guess.
Andrea Gelli i agree with you. But then again i also like driving manual cars as opposed to automatic
I'd still like to know the "easy remedy" in the software--like is it program adjustable? I dont think it is that bad--just not "buttery".
Put a quickshifter on any bike, factory or aftermarket, and the duration has to be calibrated to function with the setup currently on the bike. If it doesn't cut long enough, there will be some drag from gear to gear. If it cuts too long, there will be no resistance in the gearsets but there will be abruptness in the "feel" between shifts to the rider. It's a fine balance. When a transmission and clutch system break in, things also change. Gears mate their metal surfaces together over time, clutch plates wear a bit from the start, shift shaft/fork will change microscopically. If KTM has an updated ECU flash for better QS calibration, the behavior will hopefully be much improved.
You can put a upshift QS on any bike. Only throttle-by-wire bikes can have up/down shift, because a servo controls the engine throttle/rpm.
And let the comparisons begin. Tough to pick between the two.
Jose Ochoa Street Triple styling looks much better than KTM’s but that’s just us
Such a contradictory review. “We can’t tell the difference in brakes” “the breaks on the KTM are on a different level!”. “KTM is $800 cheaper” but fail to mention you need to pay extra for QS and riding modes?!?
Ktm sponsored
Biased as usual
and quick shifter
What no lap times from the tracks for each rider on each bike? That would be objective evidence of the capabilities of each bike and rider.
Everything the two speakers offer comes down to "a matter of taste" (subjective). There is no accounting for taste. Styling, feel, appeal of the engine sound, so and so forth . . . .
Lap times at a public track day aren't worth anything. No clear track for complete laps. For the times to be valid, both bike's laps would need to be in identical conditions, which is impossible at a track day.
@@EvansBrasfieldMotojournalist Thanks for the reply.
I assume the costs would be prohibitive to rent a track for a few hours (or a day) to tests bikes which you are seeking to compare; so that you can get some objective data to help decide which bike gets around the track better.
Farwalker2u Unfortunately, renting a track is prohibitively expensive.
For me I only need the street triple rs with stylema and 6axis imu.I hope they will update it very soon.I think rs suspension and chasis are superior.And the sound of that triple its incomparable.
They will not update soon, because with imu and stylema the price could got really high....
Do a year after purchase review, my money says the KTM wins hands down.. (on the number of days in the shop anyway)😂😂
hopefully ktm fixed the oil leaks
Great review - really informative and well balanced. In the UK the KTM costs a little bit more. In 2018 I chose the STR over the 790 as the 790 felt as if it was not quite finished and a bit plastic-fantastic whereas the STR felt more polished and substantial. I'm also not a big fan of the KTM aesthetics - whilst you don't see them whilst you're riding them it's nice to have something you like the look of in the garage. Good to see that KTM have upped their game though - I love the variety and competition in these "mid-range" naked bikes.
I'm in the market and was set on the Triumph even just a couple months ago. Once I saw the 890, I was interested for sure. This review pretty much solidifies it as my choice. A couple nags here, though - the price is almost identical for the two once you unlock those nicer electronics on the KTM, and the KTM's front suspension has no preload adjustment (might not be a big deal...or might need something like a cartridge kit to get the most out of it).
I keep pointing out in the comments that they are always comparing the base MSRP while forgetting the nearly $800 to unlock the track pack in the KTM that has all the equivalent goodies (many of which come in the 790 already). Once you adjust for that then price is no longer an advantage for the KTM.
Bad choice ese -- just saying. KTM warranty is shite and the fit and finish is worse than Chinese knockoffs.
@@Lex-Rex Are u Truimphs Employ or what?? U r everywhere dude..Sprading Misguiding people about KTM...
Thank you so much for the review. I am currently riding 2017 Ninja 650 which I enjoy a lot!! I have been so curious about KTM recently especially 790 and 890. I guess my next bike will be KTM.
The Triumph looks dated? It looks drop dead gorgeous while the KTM looks pretty fugly really.
Agree , its the KTM that looks dated ! .. A clone "insect " bike .
The fit and finish of the Triumph vs the KTM is not even in the same ballpark. The KTM looks like a cheap Chinese motorcycle you can buy off Amazon.
That duke 890r is ugly as hell man... looks too plastic and cheap with that orange paint. I’d get the street triple rs without even looking at the KTM.
Yeah, WTF right?
KTM is hideous
Great review. Iam really jealous of that nice california weather since the one I have in Slovenia is rain and clouds all the time and we are in Summer.
You brought up my main concern about the Triumph... sitting on top of the bike like a sail. I’m wondering if this gets comfortable over time.
I am 1,93m and can ride over 200km with no problem
I own the KTM and a Harley XR1200. Both of them race in the Super Hooligan class. Both of them make a old time rider happy.
I take it the KTM is for when there are any bends in the road.
I am surprised that after the Street Triple facelift (I prefer the previous headlights though), they still find the Triumph dated looking. To me it looks every bit as modern as the 890 duke R. Also, I could believe that the 890 duke R is better. But, what makes me suspicious is that the 790 duke won marginally last year too in Motorcycle.com. And the question is how could it win marginally last year and this year, when the Street Triple specs barely changed , whereas the 890 r specs are so much better than the 790? It makes no sense how the 790 could have won the comparison against the Street Triple R, when it was down on power, suspension, brakes etc and, at the same time the Street Triple won every quantitative test in pretty much every other magazine (i.e. 0-60, 1/4 mile, braking etc.). Conclusion, I suspect that Motorcycle.com is a very 'unbiased' and 'honest' magazine! What do you think people?
Last year it was the 790 Duke against the Street Triple R (not RS). These are two completely different motorcycles with more upscale componentry and power delivery.
I think it's more the preference of the riders/reviewers for the riding style of the KTM. The super moto hooligan bike thing is more exciting for them to ride i think. Both bikes are amazing and you can't go wrong with either. Hard to pick a winner here. They just picked what was closest to their heart.
@@EvansBrasfieldMotojournalist The difference between the R and RS ain't that big though. Whereas the changes from 790 to 890 duke are quite big i'd say.
@@RutgerMulder Yes, this is what I am saying! The 2019 Triumph Street Triple R is not a big down-spec on the RS. The engine (including compression figures) and electronics are the same. When the R and the RS were tested back to back on the Dyno by Fast Bikes Mag, they found small differences in power (the R had 6hp extra in the midrange, whereas the rs had 4hp extra in at 10-12k rpm). Thus, the 790 duke won against the Str. Triple R, when the R made 15 hp more on the dyno (both bikes weigh the same btw) and, had Brembo m4.32 brakes with Brembo master cylinders (the same with the 2019 Speed Triple RS), fully adjustable suspension (the same with Kawa zx6r), better gearing, fuelling and quality of finish, when at the same time the R outperformed the 790 at every quantitative test (0-60, braking, 1/4 mile etc). On the other hand, the 790 duke had non-adjustable suspension, budget brake set up, less power, transmission issues and worse fuelling, but a quick-shifter (You can put a quicksfifter on the R for 400$). I just cannot comprehend how the 2019 790 duke won against the 2019 Str. Triple R!
they're very biased how can a bike with smooth rounded lines look dated to a KTM that doesn't even look like finished at all. I own neither, but I just can't see it. the triumph looks way more refined. not to mention KTM's quality is shit. all their bikes look like old school MX bikes. They talk about styling and just mention "i like the orange". nothing about clean lines or anything.
I have had two ducatis and really want to change to the ktm but im scared i will miss Ducati hahaha. Ill wait for next year to see what naked bikes other brands come out with. Great review. Good suspension and brakes are my way to go
The dealer in my city has some left over 2018 and 19 Street Triples. Don't know much about them but after seeing your video saving a couple grand on the Triple seems like a steal.
KTM 790 or an 890 was on my list as my next bike, but after reading about the reliability problems, and there are lots, I'll think I'll go for a Triumph.
I didn’t think the KTM front suspension was adjustable for pre load?
It's not.
Then it's not fully adjustable like they said. Any sporty bike that can't have its preload adjusted is not acceptable in 2020 or for $12,000. Shame.
@@dbtrackz33, yes, he clearly misspoke. Should I fire him?
@@EvansBrasfieldMotojournalist Not yet, but flog him 10 times.
KTM 890R Forks:
KTM Main website-
"The KTM 890 DUKE R features *adjustable linear spring* WP APEX front forks with split function damping, *compression and rebound* settings. This allows riders to perfectly sharpen their preferred setup for track or the street."
KTM 890R rear shock:
KTM Main website-
"A fully adjustable WP APEX shock takes command at the rear of the bike, with *high and low speed compression* settings, as well as *rebound adjustment.* A *hydraulically adjustable preload adjuster* allows for quick and easy tuning on the fly."
I've ridden at track days with Troy. Seems like a nice guy and I enjoyed his take here. I don't know Ryan. But Chris Ulrich over at Roadracing World gave a big thumbs up on the KTM after both street and track rides. I'll take his word for it when he says the KTM is a winner. He also didn't mention transmission notchiness or a loss of feel or stability at lean. I'm getting the KTM as a street bike since I have purpose built bikes for the track. It sounds like both these bikes are competent on street and track. Personally I'm more willing to modify the KTM for comfort (gel seat, etc) than to upgrade mechanical bits that costs lots of money to improve (dont ask me how I know this :))
@3:45 Troy says "take a look at the dyno chart, KTM makes more power every where". No it's not that obvious, not when I am looking. The Triumph reaches it's peak power at 12100 rpm and KTM at 9500 rpm, then both engines drop off. The difference in top rpm's is expected since we are comparing a triple with 53,38 mm stroke vs. a twin with 68,80 mm stroke. At peak power both engines have very similar piston speed (within +/- 1%). Given the two engines rpm characteristics they are and have to be geared differently, the shorter stroke triple will always rev higher than the twin when ridden at the same pace. Difference in gearbox/drive ratio will eliminate the effect of difference in engine rpm. Conclusion: When comparing the dyno power curves you should equalize the X-axis (rpm), plot and overlay the curves from low revs (about 2500 rpm) to where they peak (12100 and 9500 respectively). Then both engines makes very much the SAME power everywhere. As expected. But the larger capacity KTM still has a slight edge on power at some rpm's, about +10% between 3000 and 4200.
Chart: drive.google.com/file/d/1i2IdFhfXlwSOxW7_5o-jkzxoe4Y2szIj/view?usp=sharing
thats way to much mathematic ... i own a 2017 rs a frind of mine the smaller 790 (!) duke not the 890R and its a pain in the ass to follow the 105hp 790 duke in twisties with my 123hp street, he pulls so much harder out of corners, i bet with you in real live the difference in power is even stronger than on this paper fpor sure. the street makes its power in the last few rpms but lacks torque EVERYwhere, if you want to be fast with a rs you have to shift like a 250 ccm twostroke ... i own one and lack of torque is my biggest complain.
I have not looked at or compared power between the two other bikes/engines you refer to.
@@dumbazz83 The 2020 RS has much better mid range than your 2017. I've ridden both and it is really noticeable. The Street has a really nice flat torque curve so it makes good power everywhere. Also there is no way that the 790 duke would be faster, that must be a rider issue. Not keeping it in the powerband, cornering technique, weight difference between riders etc.
@@RutgerMulder other factors as well. 790 TC can and does push the bike’s boundaries further than the TC on the RS. On the other hand, 790 OEM rubber is not quite on par (heh) with RS OEM rubber
I like how people love talking spreadsheet numbers
why dont american motorcycles get LED blinkers ???
Have Suzuki build a transmission for that 890R.
Nevertheless, if KTM would allow the aftermarket to crack the ECU and tune stuff, that would be nice. So far, the 1290SDR ECU seems to be accessible through Brentuning. Not sure how KTM will refine the QS calibration unless they have a flash update available through dealerships. Clearly the KTM is the electronic king in this comparison, also cruise control is optional through dealerships.
Lots to be had from 750cc to 950cc in naked street bikes. Fours, triples, twins. Very much comes down to personal preference in engine type, ergonomics, what someone wants for their dollar, where they will use it most often. One thing remains however, you mostly get what you pay for in these categories. Sure the MT-09, Z900, GSX-S750 and others are less expensive, but the components are also less premium and there's less electronic programming onboard....which some folks actually prefer.
The 790 Adventure R I rode at the dealer showed the same annoying gearbox to me. Very hard to shift, just feels very rubbish, the quick shifter denied to switch gears very often, actually it was unusable. I really wish KTM would pay more attention to develop a bike, that really works throughout the whole rev range and also through all gears. Chassis and suspension are usually really good, but engine and gearbox is key to a good motorbike.
Thank you for this honest review. Between the lines the actual problems become obvious.
i like the sound of the triple very much thats why i went for the RS. looks better too.. the KTM dare i say looks juvenile only cos of the presence of the 390s and 490 dukes... but in the end all motorcyclists are juveniles at heart..lol.. good review..
Ryan I thought you said the Str RS was nicer on the street in the beginning?
Longtime biker looking at these. Attracted to the fun and torque of the KTM. More seriously considering the reliability, refinement and rep of the Triumph. While KTM seems like the best bike of 2020, quality, reliability and support seem lacking when you visit the forums.
Nice review. I think you really missed something though. KTM's poor reliability, development and build quality do affect how you feel owning a bike. You mentioned it, these kind of thing are typical and constant with a KTM. but you didn't factor it in. I've got a 2017 super Duke GT and I've had so many niggles that have spoiled the bike for me. And they are not contained by KTM or within warranty. Two weeks after the warranty ran out, after two year's of fixing niggles in dealer my fuel guage stopped working. It's the third KTM I have had, they have all been the same. I've had two triumphs neither had any issues and I kept them longer and enjoy them more overall because of this. I keep saying never again to KTM's but I do love them but I'm definitely getting a Honda or triumph next time.
"KTM's poor reliability, development and build quality"
I swear people will still be using these statements 20 years from now and claiming they are right.
@@exothermal.sprocket Did you even read the rest of the comment? Working at a KTM dealer that is sister companies with another KTM and Triumph dealer, we always saw more KTMs with more warranty problems than all of the Triumphs combined. The KTM warranty process is good but that's probably because they do it so often
“Transmission, fueling and position on the track isn’t too good, but I choose the KTM to be the best bike.”
Is Mickey Mouse doing this for a living?
Great review, having just highsided and destroyed my 2014 Triumph STR I now have to buy one of these. But which one?
Easy. The Triumph all day every day. Triple engine and fit and finish.
you've had a triumph and you're debating a KTM? lol
I'm glad that the motorcycle industry doesn't have to comply to the same emission standards than cars. Car engine are getting smaller all the time and motorcycles is the opposite. I still prefer to go fast on a slow bike and I'm glad there are so many options. 10 years ago it was very standardized. You had your 500cc twin for entry level, 600cc inline 4 for mid range and if you wanted options you had to go 1000cc or above.
3:50
Entirely inaccurate.
You can't say that without taking into consideration how tall/short each gear is compared to the other bike.
Suppose in 6th gear at 100 kmph, KTM is at 3300 rpm but Triumph is at 4000 rpm, the torque at the wheel would even out & neck to neck, they'd accelerate exactly the same.
(Those aren't exact numbers, I'm just trying to explain the concept.)
The KTM does *not* have fully adjustable suspension --- there's no preload adjustment! That's the most basic thing!
and the street triple still has no IMU ... so what is more cheap to fix :)
dumbazz83 who needs an IMU? These capacity bikes you don’t have to be overly careful with the throttle at lean unlike a 1000.
@@gamekeeper687 You would be amazed how hard that KTM jumps when you crack throttle. 100% throttle power wheelies out of 3rd gear. This motor has even more power than the venerable 990 KTMs had.
Great detailed reviews guys. Great Job!
Once you test the bikes, the cornering capacity, aggressive torque and the sharp stability and precision of the KTM makes me bleed orange... KTM for me!
Why does all the bikes in North America have halogen (bulb) based indicator lights (blinkers) ? This part of the world (India) most of these same models comes with LED indicators. Always wondered but never got an answer 🙄🤔
Street triple rs is the best looking bike... ♥
As someone who will never begin to approach what either one is capable of and who understands both bikes are MORE than enough for the street, I'll take the triple soundtrack please.
Triumph by a hair that 3cyl soundtrack is just incredible ♥️
for me that duel was decided when i saw the torque-numbers.
Torque numbers per rpm don't matter in performance! This is mainly a marketing trick! Power is the only absolute figure that matters and cannot be changed by gearing, whereas the torque on the wheel depends on the gearing. This is why you feel more torque on the first gear, because there is more torque on the first gear, since it' has more 'teeth' than the rest gears. Simply speaking with gearing you can reduce the rpm (revolutions per minute) on the wheel, which increases the torque. There was an article showing that a high revving 600cc sport bike (think r6), produces more torque on the wheel than a 1800cc Harley. Trust me I know what I am talking about, I am a Physicist!
Why wasn't it decided when you saw the displacement, then?
@@identiticrisisIn a simplified way: A higher cc engine will produce more torque per revolution than a lower one, all other things considerate equal, but a lower capacity engine with more cylinders will go to higher rpm and therefore produce more power this way. However, even that the higher revving engine produces less torque per revolution, it produces more revolutions and therefore if you sum up the amount of torque per revolution for both bikes you'll find out that the sum is going to be very similar for the case of the KTM and the Triumph. Now for example, with gearing you can gear the high revving engine to make 2 revolutions of the engine per one revolution of the rear wheel, where the higher cc/low revving engine would make only 1 revolution of the engine for 1 of the rear wheel. Thus, if these engines were for example a 500c that revs to 20k and a 1000cc that revs to 10k, you would feel the same torque on the rear wheel.
@@Myself6M pure power give better performances but torque give à much more fun ride. Trust me, i know what im talking about, im a rider!
Bought the RS, didnt really liked the plastic-mountain-hump between the legs. with the "rider" mode, you can adjust settings to your liking for abs/tractioncontroll/trottle response.
The street triples are great bikes, but the KTM is the clear winner here. The technology alone in the KTM stomps the triple. The KTM has more power across the range, far better TC and ABS system, better brakes, better suspension, more customizable ride settings, more technologically advanced display system, available cruise control, cheaper...the list goes on and on. The triple is awesome, but its dated when compared to the 890 Duke R.
Both of these bikes are on my shortlist and Ive ridden both. All that said its still a tough decision, the Triumph is such a nice ride, the KTM is a mad man. I'm going to get one of them in the next few weeks, right now I'm leaning towards the KTM. But the more I watch these videos, the more I remember how great the triple is...ugh if the triple only had cruise control...
The problem is you have to pay extra for all of the electronic trickery on the KTM......and I am still dubious of it's reliability.
Not sure for the American version, but my TSTRS 2020 has a great blipper too, which is optional on 890r.
When I checked the prices, bring to the KTM the blipper and some options to make it look more refined summed up to a price not lower than that of the Street Triple RS.
On the Triumph, no IMU. For the moment I didn't feel the lack of it, but I didn't went out to the track yet...
On my bike the traction control can be excluded. Not the abs. On open roads I still didn't reach the abs limit (in "track" mode).
Everything look so cheap on the ktm, that’s the first thing that got me when I sat on it. I got a Striple for that reason. Without even getting it out the door, I knew that striple was better
This review shows how motojournalist perspectives aren’t as real world applicable. The cons against the KTM ( agricultural transmission, inferior build quality and reliability history) are absolutely critical factors in choosing one bike over another for a consumer who is spending their actual money and will live with the bike whereas the Troy and Adam defer to how enamored they are with newness of KTM without the penalty of ownership blues that can more likely come with it. And given that in the intro the stated goal was “ to determine which is better..” it is necessary that factor these considerations ... a key step the actual consumer would make that they have the privilege not to have to worry about in their decision
Douglas Almanzar, I respectfully disagree. Despite outlining the issues I experienced with last year’s 790 Duke, I bought our test bike from KTM. No single video or article can capture all the facets of owning any particular motorcycle. Thanks for your comment and watching our video.
www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ktm/live-with-this-2019-ktm-790-duke-long-term-review.html
www.motorcycle.com/features/ktm-790-duke-project-building-a-790-r.html
Thank you for a well said comment, Douglas. However, please don't become all upset when you click on a comparison video and your favorite motorcycle looses. Motorcycle journalists are also humans with emotions and preferences.
@@Yevvy0000 Fair enough. That said, a bit more objectivity to balance the subjective aspects would be constructive criticism /feedback that they should be more mindful in their evaluations particularly since consumers don't have the access to a variety of bike to keep for more than say a 20 minute demo(if that ) in their purchase decision process.
Good review guys! What vest / gear are you using for the 360 cam? Cheers!
I can’t speak to the KTM 890 but it is super easy to power wheelie out of the corner in second gear on the triumph. Love my Triumph!
Great video guys!! Super knowledgeable. I wondering if you guys will compare the KTM 890 duke r between kawasaki z900 in the future.. Im very indecisive between this two bike.. it would be nice to see your opinion thanks..
If you add the quickshifter and electronics package the KTM is not cheaper at all! The 890 duke does not come with them as standard like the 790 duke did... The base price of the 890 duke is €500 more than the Triumph RS over here in Europe. If you add the quickshifter and electronics the difference is €1250. Not a small number. Also i don't think you should review a bike on things they might fix in the future. Didn't KTM have plenty of time since the 790 to get this 890 duke right.
Nonetheless i think they are both nice bikes which target a slight different audience in the middleweight market. Racy vs Super Moto, Smooth vs Torque. Motor journalists often seems to prefer the fun supermoto side so the results here didn't surprise me.
Rutger Mulder what does the 890 r cost in Europe? I guessing around 12k with the electronics package.It’s not yet available where I live. 2019 Street rs is 9500eur
@@lkfldfadf Depends on the taxes which differ greatly among the EU countries though. Over here in The Netherlands the out of the door price for the 890 duke is €14,300 and the Street RS is €13,800. If you'd add the quickshifter and electronics package (~€750) the 890 duke is about €15,050. But we have extra taxes on top of the VAT. For example in Belgium which has lower taxes the base 890 Duke is €12,180 and the Street RS is €11,500. Even more in favor of the Triumph.
I don't know the exact 890 duke price break down, but i can check the bill for my RS. Which states bike base price is €10,024. We have 21% VAT on top of that and another tax which adds an extra €1,671. Which totals it to €13,800 for the RS. Would be similar for the KTM just a couple hundreds higher before taxes. Vehicles are expensive over here sadly.
Should have compared with the MT-09, Z900, F900 and GSX-S750 as well as they are the same category, price and CC.
Street triple is far superior here. It objectively looks more mature. Better reliability. Beautiful howl from the moto2 IL3 engine. Better fuelling. Likely holds its value better.
Having said that, I own one an om 100% biased 😁
I need a practical middleweight Naked bike, where I will carve corners in canyon and ride on the highway and commute in the city.
Street triple rs for sure!
Great video! What do you use for the over the shoulder recording?
How was the ground clearance at the track on the 890r? @motorcycle.com
Eg did you scrape the pegs whilst cornering?
Ground?? Lol
You mean lean angle?
STEVE W-K typo, thanks for pointing it out Steve. Corrected now.
Neo Smith Yes, I’m curious if the pegs were touching the ground whilst cornering.
Nice job guys!
You never talk about reliability, mpg and aesthetics. I think reliability counts a lot.
Papa Asare but requires a long term test to assess...not the scope of a basic comparo.
The triumph is more reliable and sounds better, there's a reason why the 765 engine is used in moto2. So The triple for the win..
Always interesting for me to watch US reviewers...not that informative for me. Just two guys talking about their feelings on the bike. For a professional channel, very novice in their review, JMO.