All Test Drives – 2012 KTM 690 Duke Test Drive: The Road Movie Mono Style – The Duke KTM and the Emperor’s Road

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2012 KTM 690 Duke review: the mono-style road movie

All Road Tests - 2012 KTM 690 Duke Road Test: The Road Movie Mono Style - The Duke KTM and the Emperor's Road

This 4th season of the Austrian soap opera KTM Duke is undoubtedly the most fascinating … and the most surprising: while we expected a closed door, it is a great epic that is on the program … Test of the 690 Duke 2012 between sea and mountain.

The Duke KTM and the Emperor’s road

The two previous days on the handlebars of the 690 Duke 2012 gave us a glimpse of good potential to stick the banana in the virolos! Rather than going through the endless crossing of Grasse, it is better to go through the Col de Vence and Greolières to catch up with the N85 a little before Castellane.

These roads, as deserted as they are magnificent, finally allow you to let go of the horses and really enjoy yourself. We immediately find what makes the strength of all road KTMs: a fabulous homogeneity between the engine and the chassis.

More efficient and linear than truly sensational, the "six-ninety" single-cylinder comes back to us transformed. We have the impression that he won 15 horses rather than the 5 announced! In the winding, the new Duke and its 164 kg all full blown up from turn to turn like a fury !

Of course, it will be necessary to continue to play skilfully with the box to remain on the good range of speed, that is to say between 5,000 and 8,000 rev / min. In addition to its sensations and the tachometer, we can even use the new gear indicator that is appearing on the dashboard..

Another novelty, the Ride by Wire type electronic accelerator does not add anything extraordinary but at least has the merit of not being noticed! As on the old model, it is possible to choose between two injection maps (Sport or Normal). The difference is not staggering, even if the sound is more angry in Sport mode.

Small motorbike, big arsouilles

Despite its new, more modest and non-adjustable suspensions (apart from the preload of the rear shock absorber), the Duke IV offers truly impressive sporting potential. The front end plunges very naturally to the rope while remaining perfectly neutral and secure, on billiards as on the most rutted surfaces.

The fairly wide handlebars – a legacy from the past! – ensures perfect handling and makes the Austrian rather difficult to follow in the winding. The user manual is simple and we quickly take ourselves for a pilot: gas !

Whether you stay straight, swing your hips or even pull your leg out like a supermoto, you benefit from a tool capable of annoying a bunch of bikers. !

ABS is rapidly becoming more popular in the mid-size roadster market, so KTM had to arrive with this accessory. The new 690 Duke therefore inherits the same disconnectable Bosch ABS as the 990 SMT and a certain BMW S 1000 RR … And although the Austrians have not planned it "as standard", only the ABS versions are imported into France.

No worries about the "simple" 320 mm front disc: clamped by a radial caliper with four pistons, it is more than enough to stop the 164 kg of the machine. Nevertheless, the braking of this 690 Duke 2012 does not reach the excellence of that of its big sisters of 990 cc..

Expert bikers – from Katoche! – note that the bite of the 690 is a little less immediate than on the "Super" Duke or the SM for example, and that the pure power seems a hint less…

More versatile but just as rogue

Well suspended and wearing relatively soft tires – Continental ContiAttack SM -, the little Katoche hardly ever uses its ABS … It’s reassuring !

With its new positioning decidedly more roadster than supermotard, the 690 Duke of 2012 therefore offers new skills … but it does not fall into line and does not become a polished utility..

In town and on the road, it is more inviting for a "blast of lead" than for a cushy ride. And that’s exactly why we love her !

The Austrians’ stroke of genius is to have succeeded in containing the price of their toy below the 7,500 € (7,490 €, ABS included) without compromising on quality or fun. As for the most skeptical about the reliability of a single cylinder of 70 horses, know that KTM recommends a maintenance every 10,000 km. What to see coming !

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