KTM has been making headlines currently, and it hasn’t precisely been for good causes. Group Orange’s guardian firm, Pierer Mobility, has been working day and night time to handle a PR nightmare—one which’s seeking to be more of a reality than anyone ever thought.
And whereas it’s relieving that KTM isn’t going underneath simply but, the corporate’s undoubtedly in no place to throw a celebration.
That being stated, why don’t we pivot away from all of the doom and gloom for a second, and picture a future the place KTM has no worries? I imply, that is precisely what KTM’s doing, as they’ve simply introduced the 2025 790 Duke. In any case, why cry when you may smoke—tires? Yeah, that’s precisely what the brand new 790 Duke’s doing, because it burns out straight into the 2025 mannequin yr.
Photograph by: KTM
The 2025 KTM 790 Duke is definitely able to a smoke present. However what lurks beneath all that tire smoke?
The most recent iteration of the unique Scalpel: the 790 Duke is right here, and in true KTM trend, it is packing extra tech than it in all probability ought to. Critically, it’s as if KTM thought that slapping on additional tech and devices 80 % of riders would by no means even use would repair their monetary woes. Clearly, the goings on out there appear to be pointing in the wrong way.
However, right here we’re, and for 2025, there’s a brand new 5-inch TFT show with all of the bells and whistles: a telemetry display screen, anti-wheelie settings (as a result of who needs enjoyable with out management, proper?), oh, and even a Demo Mode.
What’s Demo Mode, you would possibly ask? Nicely, you already know if you obtain Adobe Lightroom in your cellphone, and so they offer you a free 30-day trial? It’s precisely the identical factor right here, and KTM will allow you to style the entire fancy tech options your coronary heart needs. You already know, traction management modes, slide mode, additional journey modes, and cruiser management. KTM does this within the hopes that you simply’ll ultimately buy the improve package as soon as the demo interval expires. ‘Trigger, duh, they want your cash.
Demo Mode apart, you get your common journey modes consisting of Rain, Avenue, and Sport—however not Monitor Mode. You solely get that when you go for the total bundle.
Photograph by: KTM
2025 KTM 790 Duke – Orange
Photograph by: KTM
2025 KTM 790 Duke – Black
On the finish of the day, the 2025 KTM 790 Duke isn’t a large leap ahead when it comes to efficiency, and I feel that’s a very good factor. I’ve ridden this bike many instances, each on the road and on the observe. Heck, I got here tremendous duper shut to really proudly owning one (solely to be thwarted by an irresistible deal on a Triumph Avenue Triple RS). So yeah, the 790 Duke is excessive up there on my listing of essentially the most enjoyable bikes on the planet. In reality, I’d go so far as saying that KTM would possibly’ve been higher off pulling a Suzuki on the 2025 790 Duke. You already know, releasing nothing however “daring new colours” for 2025?
Nevertheless it’s additionally necessary to recollect the place and the way the 2025 790 Duke suits in KTM’s world lineup, particularly given its present state of affairs. I feel that KTM desperately wants a money cow—a motorbike that’ll promote in droves. Bear in mind, there are reportedly greater than 260,000 KTMs gathering dust in dealerships worldwide. Yikes.
That stated, I genuinely want the very best of luck for KTM. And I hope they get their shit collectively ASAP as a result of, regardless of all of the drama, there’s no denying that KTM is aware of easy methods to make among the most enjoyable bikes on the planet.
Trending Merchandise
