KTM 890 Duke R vs Triumph Street Triple RS: Spec Comparison

Published November 10, 2019
Views : 15564
4 min read

Can the Super Scalpel usurp the king of middleweight naked motorcycles?

Riding the KTM 790 Duke awakens all of your senses. No wonder then our boys are still grinning after a short burst on the Scalpel at Bajaj’s test track at Chakan. Still, there was a lingering feeling that when compared to the top-dog Triumph Street Triple RS, which received minor updates for 2020, the 790 Duke felt like a motorcycle that was nearly there. KTM has responded with the 890 Duke R – a motorcycle that is sharper, faster and better on paper than the Scalpel. Hence the nickname, the Super Scalpel. But is it enough? Can the Austrian Duke upset the British king?

Engine

	KTM 890 Duke R	Triumph Street Triple RS
Specs	890cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled, 4V per cylinder, DOHC	765cc inline three-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4V per cylinder, DOHC
Power	121PS @ 9,250rpm	123PS @ 11,750rpm
Torque	99Nm @ 7,750rpm	79Nm @ 9,350rpm
Transmission	6-speed gearbox with slipper clutch	6-speed gearbox with slipper clutch

With the engine architecture similar to the 790 Duke, the 890 Duke R gets nearly 100 cee cees more. Thus, the Austrian can put out nearly as much power from its twin as the Triumph’s triple. Given its 270-degree crank angle, the 890 has a V-twin like engine characteristic, giving it a very torquey vibe. And with 20Nm more at your disposal, which is made at much lower revs, the 890 Duke will be quite the zippy motorcycle.

Will it be as quick as the new Triple RS around a circuit? If you are booking yourself a track-day at MMRT, it might just be too close to call. But if you are seeking weekend thrills at the Buddh International Circuit, the Triumph might just have more oomph on its kitty.

Underpinnings

	KTM 890 Duke R	Triumph Street Triple RS
Chassis	Tubular steel backbone with engine as stressed member	Aluminium twin spar beam
Front suspension	43mm WP Apex USD fork, fully-adjustable, 140mm travel	41mm Showa BP SFF USD, fully-adjustable, 115mm travel
Rear suspension	WP Apex monoshock, fully-adjustable, 150mm travel	Ohlins STX40 monoshock, fully-adjustable, 131mm travel
Brakes	F: Dual 320mm discs, Brembo Stylema 4-piston monobloc calipers R: 240mm disc, Brembo 1-piston caliper ABS: Cornering ABS with Supermoto mode	F: Dual 310mm discs, Brembo M50 4-piston monobloc caliper R: 220mm disc, Brembo 1-piston caliper ABS: Switchable ABS, 4-levels
Tyres	F: 120/70 - R17 R: 180/55 - R17 Make: Michelin Power Cup Evo	F: 120/70 - R17 R: 180/55 - R17 Make: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP v3

One area where the 790 Duke felt a bit inferior to its British counterpart was in the equipment department. There is no such feeling here on the 890 Duke R as KTM has pulled out all the stops. Fully adjustable suspension at both ends with more wheel travel is especially a boon for Indian conditions. Also, we reckon the 890 Duke R might just be the most affordable bike on the planet to be fitted with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers. These are the same units that made their debut on the Ducati Panigale V4. Even the rubber, provided by Michelin, on the 890 Duke R is of the super grippy kind. All in all, the Duke is finally on terms with the RS.

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Dimensions

	KTM 890 Duke R	Triumph Street Triple RS
Seat height	834mm	825mm
Ground clearance	206mm	NA
Rake/trail	24.3-deg/99.7mm	23.9-deg/100mm
Wheelbase	1,482mm	1,405mm
Fuel tank capacity	14-litres	17.4-litre
Kerb Weight	166kg	166kg

Not only has KTM made the 890 more powerful and better equipped than the 790, it has also managed to make it lighter than the Scalpel. Its dry weight of 166kg is identical to the Triumph Street Triple RS. The extra leverage provided by the wide handlebar on the 890 Duke will certainly help when you are hustling the bike in the twisties. The shorter bars on the Triple RS just do not offer as much leverage, making the steering feel a bit heavier than it actually is.

In fact, the Triple RS has a shorter wheelbase and lower seat height, which on paper sounds like fun for the average-sized Indian rider. You will also appreciate the extra 3.4 litres of fuel that one can carry aboard the Triumph. More fuel equals more saddle time and long-lasting grins.

Price and Verdict:

KTM 890 Duke R	Triumph Street Triple RS
Expected price Rs 10.50 lakh	Expected price Rs 11.50 lakh

After the launch of the 790 Duke at Rs 8.64 lakh, we felt it was a bit too premium a price. With the BS6 790 Duke, the prices are expected to go up to Rs 9-lakh mark. With that as a reference, we expect the 890 Duke R to be priced at Rs 10.50 lakh. Currently, BS4 Triple RS costs Rs 11.13 lakh. Globally, prices of the updated RS have not changed. For India though, Triumph could price the new bike marginally higher – Rs 11.50 lakh (expected). Both motorcycles will command serious money but we figure there will be more takers for the Super Scalpel if it is priced at the above expected price.

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