Test Drives – 2012 KTM 690 Duke Test: the road movie mono style – 10% SM, 90% roadster

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

Test Drives - 2012 KTM 690 Duke Test: the road movie mono style - 10% SM, 90% roadster

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.

10% SM, 90% roadster

The Duke, which appeared in 1994, was the very first KTM to abandon mud for asphalt. The Austrian supermotard is therefore celebrating its 18th anniversary this year. And for its majority, it comes back to us with a new version – the fourth – a little more versatile … but no less fun !

Over the years, the Duke has grown from 620 to 640 cc for around 55 hp. In 2008, it went to 690 cc in trade name … but to 654 cc in fact (read).

Availability, colors and prices

  • Availability: immediate ()

  • Colors: white or black

  • Price: 7490 €

This 2012 vintage really cubs its 690 cc (102 x 84.5 mm bore x stroke) and sees its power climb to 70 horsepower by recovering the parts and settings of the R version mower released at the end of 2009. For a production single cylinder, it’s starting to hurt !

In a way, KTM remade the blow of Yamaha a little with its MT-03 (proposing a mono hybrid between roadster and supermotard), but this time the sauce is Austrian (understand: "with a good ladle of performance and sportiness more"). This Duke "IV" therefore contrasts singularly with its predecessor, the Duke III.

It definitely moves away from the aesthetic codes of supermoto machines to adopt those of roadsters. With its picked up look, the 2012 Duke is no longer "big grasshopper" at all. Its saddle height takes the opportunity to go from 865 to 835 mm: three centimeters that will not be lacking for small riders.

The preserved spirit

As if to be forgiven for its slightly wiser look, the new small Duke sports the colors of the R versions of the Austrian manufacturer: if you have the choice between white or black dresses, the lattice frame will be orange in both cases..

The exhaust leaves the underside of the machine to return to the side, halfway up, like on a roadster. For the rest, the equipment remains sporty with an inverted fork, a radial front brake caliper and a magnificent lightweight swingarm..

To avoid spoiling anything, there is even a small space under the passenger seat where a disc lock or rain pants fits..

The right price

KTM had to make a significant price effort to invest in the highly contested niche of mid-capacity roadsters, on which the approximately € 9,000 of the Duke III was too elitist. To stay below the € 7,500 mark (including ABS), the Austrians were therefore more reasonable than usual.

Note for example that the enormous inverted White Power fork of 48 mm (adjustable in all directions!) Which fitted the previous 690 Duke III is seen replaced by a fork of 43 mm devoid of any adjustment … but supposed to be excellent at the remaining !

The same goes for many other elements but fear not: KTM has not opted for the low end either and the equipment remains of quality! As usual with Oranges, everything is stamped White Power, Brembo or Marchesini. Nice stuff !

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