2013 KTM Duke 690 Review
Bigger isn’t always better. With only a single-cylinder and weighing just 337 lbs, this little roadster from Austria falls behind the specs of most modern sport bikes. But that’s also what makes it more fun to ride in realistic street conditions.
Find out why in this 2013 KTM Duke 690 review.
What’s New
Think of the Duke as a fun street bike that learns its lessons from KTM’s off-road history. The single-cylinder motor is very slim and very light, while the spaced-out explosions deliver power to the rear wheel with an even beat that helps the tire find traction. Little here is frivolous, there’s just a basic steel trellis frame, high quality suspension and a set of flat bars.
2013 KTM Duke 690
For 2013, the Duke’s been comprehensively updated, both to improve performance while working to keep it compliant with impending emissions standards. The re-worked fueling, dual spark plugs and ride-by-wire throttle improve fuel economy by a claimed 10 percent and, usefully, service intervals increase to 6,000 miles — unheard of for a single.
While this Duke is actually a little bit shorter — the wheelbase shrinks from 57.7 to 57.4 inches and the seat height is decreased from 32.9 to 32.7 inches — it’s also a little heavier. Blame the exhaust for increasing weight from 330 to 337 lbs.
Other additions to what KTM claims is a “90 percent new” model include standard ABS, altered cylinder heads and new suspension which, as with most KTMs, is made by WP.
KTM Duke 690
The Ride
As some of you may already know, MLB Angels pitcher CJ Wilson is a friend of RideApart. What you may not know is that the avid motorsports enthusiast also owns a number of car and motorcycle dealerships. He was kind enough to provide the Duke 690 for this review.
CJ and I spent a day riding and shooting the photos you see here. He then let me ride the bike for a week while he flew to England to test his new McLaren P1 on the Top Gear Test Track. Call that one good Karma for hooking up the bike for RideApart.
CJ lives in the Southern California coastal town of Laguna Beach, an area full of beautiful hills and perfect pavement. The road to the lookout called, “Top Of The World,” has three perfect curves. While it’s actually only a two-lane road, it’s as wide as four.
The Duke’s incredibly fast steering made the tight transitions between those turns effortless. I didn’t realize how much so until I hopped on an S 1000 RR and was forced to work much harder for the same pace on the same road.
The 2013 KTM Duke 690
The same goes for lane splitting through congested traffic, where the Duke simply feels invincible. Not only is it slim and light, with an upright seat position, but the ABS brakes are also incredibly confidence inspiring. Handy when one of the throngs of expense Urban Assault Vehicles cuts you off.
The Duke’s motor produces just 69 bhp at 7,500 rpm, but making 52 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,500 rpm. It’s torquier than a 600, with both peak power and torque arriving much, much sooner. That makes firing it through gaps in traffic easy and immediate.
2013 KTM Duke 690 gauge
During the week that I spent on the Duke, I used it like I would any other bike. Trips from Long Beach to LA on the highway to visit my girlfriend or RideApart’s Wes Siler (who aren’t the same person, believe it or not), trips around town and through the SoCal canyons. Getting on the bike became an event I looked forward to all day, a feeling that was only rivaled by my desire to get off of it.
- KTM – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- KTM 125 Duke Turning Heads Before Launch
- 2013 KTM 250 XC-W Comparison Review – Motorcycle USA
- Quick Test: 2010 KTM 990 Supermoto T MotoOnline.com.au
- 2010 KTM 1190 RC8R motorcycle
