Does The KTM 890 Duke Have What It Takes To Upset The Triumph Street Triple R?

The Duke makes its displacement advantage known in the best way possible as it manages to pack 13Nm more than the Triple R. There’s more than 80Nm available from 5,500rpm and it is present until it almost reaches the 10,000rpm mark. The 890 is surely going to be a firecracker, making for lightning getaways from traffic signals.

But the Triple R shouldn’t be that far off. The wider powerband and linear power delivery will help maximise the potential of every single cog of its six-speed gearbox. While the extra 3PS might not count for much in real world scenarios, it will be beneficial when you do venture out onto the track. And yes, we know that this is a spec comparison and we are supposed to compare the two spec-sheets but we cannot stay away from citing that the Street Triple R has probably the sweetest exhaust note in its class. No twin, or even an inline four, can come close to the triple howl it creates at almost all rpms.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Underpinnings

Specifications	KTM 890 Duke	Triumph Street Triple R
Frame	Tubular steel backbone	Twin spar aluminium
Front suspension	43mm WP Apex USD fork	41mm Showa (SF-BPF) USD, fully-adjustable
Rear suspension	WP Apex gas charged monoshock, preload-adjustable	Showa piggyback reservoir monoshock, fully-adjustable
Front brake	320mm discs, 4-piston radial brake calipers	310mm discs, 4-piston Brembo M4.32 monobloc calipers
Rear brake	240mm disc, 2-piston caliper	220mm disc, Brembo single-piston caliper
Front tyre	120/70 ZR17	120/70 ZR17
Rear tyre	180/55 ZR17	180/55 ZR17
Tyre make	Continental ContiRoad	Pirelli Diablo Rosso 3

There is a clear winner here: the Street Triple R. It is a name dropper, no two-ways about it. But the suspension has loads of adjustability, the braking hardware is proven and so are the tyres. The Duke on the other hand has made a step up with WP Apex suspension bits but there’s not much adjustment on offer. The Continental ContiRoad tyres are somewhat of an unknown entity, especially in the Indian sportbike context. 

Dimensions

Specifications	KTM 890 Duke	Triumph Street Triple R
Wheelbase	1,476mm	1,405mm
Rake/trail	24-deg/99mm	23.5-deg/98.3mm
Ground clearance	191mm	NA
Fuel tank capacity	14-litres	17.4-litres
Seat height	820mm	825mm
Kerb weight	169kg	168kg

It might look like the smaller bike but in reality the KTM 890 Duke is the larger of the two motorcycles. The Triumph’s compact build, sharp rake and short wheelbase are what lends it its sublime handling characteristics. It holds more fuel on board as well, which could be a boon for touring enthusiasts. In terms of manageability, both motorcycles are near equal. 5mm difference in seat height and 1kg in dry weight aren’t enough to tip the scales in any bike’s favour.

Features

	KTM 890 Duke	Triumph Street Triple R
Colour-TFT dash	Yes	No
Smartphone connectivity	Yes	No
Bi-directional quickshifter	Optional	Yes
IMU-aided electronics	Yes	No

KTM has improved the feature set of the 890 Duke from the old 790. While there are no additional electronic aids, there is a new six-axis IMU that allows for more precise operation. Plus, there’s the crisp colour-TFT dash with smartphone connectivity offering a rich user experience. No such fancy features on the Triple R, the only bit of standard equipment worth mentioning is the bi-directional quickshifter.

Price & Verdict (all prices ex-showroom India)

KTM 890 Duke	Triumph Street Triple R
Rs 9 lakh (expected)	Rs 8.84 lakh

Picking one over the other in such a manner would be a bit too harsh for both motorcycles. It calls for a proper comparison but we will have to wait for until perhaps 2022, which is when the 890 Duke is expected to reach our shores. Hence, if buying a middleweight naked was on your agenda for 2021, the Triumph Street Triple R makes for a great purchase. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the bike and cannot think of anything that makes for a better VFM as well as enthusiastic buy in the middleweight naked space.