Along with revised suspension and graphics, the power and torque upgrades are credentials for the new 690 Duke’s ‘R’ tag. These adjustments underline the fact that this machine is a serious middleweight animal.

Like the standard 690 Duke on which the R-model is based, the riding position is upright and comfortable. A slight lean to the bars sets you into an ‘attack’ riding position where either shoulder can be dipped into a corner. This is enough to make light work of the fantastic back roads around the Bay Area.

A big factor behind the Duke 690 R’s accomplished ride is its revised suspension. The WP forks have slightly softer springs than on previous models, but revised damping rates give them a supple action that provides all-telling feedback. The rear shock, meanwhile, retains the spring from the 654cc Duke.

KTM’s prowess at building strong, single-cylinder engines also comes to the fore with the Duke 690 R’s new motor. A 7bhp power boost for a 600cc supersport would be considered great, on a single, it’s close to incredible.

Careful development of fuelling and ignition maps led KTM to fitting a pre-determined three-way power-selector switch (hidden but accessible through the frame tubes). In ‘Standard’ mode the engine is so tractable in the lower revs it makes town work lurch-free. But tease the tach past 4500rpm and the engine snaps forward and keeps driving until just short of the 8000rpm redline. In ‘sport’ mode the KTM offers a more aggressive power delivery that gives the full snappy terrier effect. The third mode position, incidentally, is effectively a fun dampener, for wet or slippery conditions or novice riders.

Too bad we don’t have access to our old KTM 620 staffer, or else the shoot out would have been extraordinary! Stay tuned guys!

THE SPECIFICATIONS*
KTM 690 Duke R
Engine: Liquid-cooled 690cc single cylinder
Power (claimed): 71.4bhp
Torque (claimed): 50ftlb
Weight: 148kg (dry)
Seat height: 865mm
Fuel capacity: 13.5 liters
* Pre-production figures, subject to confirmation.

Check out KTM Boards for more KTM fun!

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.

It’s been four years now, since I’ve been back to my country of origin, the Czech Republic. A country better remembered for it’s beer and women than its achievements in motorcycle culture. Although I didn’t have the resources at hand to have my own set of wheels, I took the time out of my adventures to check in on the pace of contemporary bohemian riding culture.

Initially, I had checked in with my grandfather about a motorcycle he had kept in his basement. A Jawa 175. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know these eastern European classics, Jawa’s are very simple, utilitarian motorcycles that were produced in mass and distributed throughout most of eastern Europe. Their popularity was supported by mainly communist countries up until the collapse of the Soviet Union. I can best describe the brand as the Eastern Bloc equivelant to India’s Royal Enfields.

Tragically, my grandfather’s bike was having starting issues, which we deduced to be timing related and getting parts for these things is a nightmare. I suppose it will have to be a project for another day. I had to make do without spinning any tires on my own. But the more I toured around on loose road winding between rolling green hills of the country side, I knew I would have to come back here with an engine that deserved to peel back off the asphalt.

I was duly  informed by my immediate family that the posted speed limit was 50k an hour (roughly 30 MPH) and recently the police were issued 1400cc Kawasaki’s, and they were happy to enforce it. Technically, all tickets issued are not kept on file and can be paid on the spot: 1000kr the equivalent of 50USD. That’s all? I was in agony.

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.

If you are a student from City College of San Francisco Evan’s Campus (current home of my trusty KTM), vote for me in the upcoming elections and join my mad campaign against the deluge of political inaction. Vote for the Motor Party because, “We do it faster.”

My path towards the Presidency has been fostered by the Al Franken’s view point, “Why not me?” campaign platform as it has become evident to me that the interests of City College at Evan’s Campus has fallen by the way side of both the greater administration and the student community, as there has been almost zero interest to fill in the political office by anyone else. For inexplicable reasons, beyond the fact that there is no one to get in my way, I have taken it upon myself to get politically involved for the first time in my life. My plan is to march past the teeth of this lame animal and straight into the guts of its circumstance.

There seems to be some sort of history that has scared away those who were once involved in the process. I’ve been informed
that this might be a losing battle, as the system has been spun into so much red tape that actions at times seems impossible. My advantage is rooted in the fact that I have nothing to lose. This a zero sum game and I plan to take it for a ride.

I’ve got momentum from the folks in the motorcycle cage. I am inspired by the spirit of Hunter’s “Freak Power” campaign for sheriff in ’72. I believe there is a lot of good Evan’s can do with the skill set it teaches. We can fix an engine, build a house and wire it together, weld bridges and hammer out a destiny. The task at hand is to take action and the only way to stop the velocity is to get in my way.

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.

Batman had a motorcycle, Iron Man is the ultimate mechanic, and it breaks my heart that at present, the technology required for the Speeder Bike in Star Wars doesn’t exist. But I’ll tell you one thing, every time I suit up to go for a spin, I feel like a real-live superhero.

Cons are great because it allows a forum of like minded people to come together and talk about the things they are passionate about, without getting that glazed look in their eyes if you mention super obscure trivia regarding the life and times of Phil Ken Sebben or the virtues of Miskatonic University (Both in fact, fictitious).

It was great when I came across the Morpheus Protypes guys promoting their 3D print rendering service for concept development, because I have never had the proper opportunity to have an in depth discussion about a particular idea I have for the KTM.

Since my bike is rare, and finding replacement plastics is next to impossible, I’ve been trying to figure a way to be able to manufacture replacements on my own. These kind of body modification projects can be so complicated. Establishing a starting point without a formal background in product design had seemed impossible up until this point. Shawn Zindroski was representing Morpheus and he took the time to explain that I could feasibly take the existing fairings on my bike and map the specifications using a 3D scanner into a program called SolidWorks. Once the specs are recorded, you can store the file on a computer and when the time comes, simply plug the data into one of their printers and simply print out a new set.

At this time, the technology is still pretty new and pricey. But the prospect of being able to store the information of certain motorcycle specs on file and access detailed files on your own is fantastically futuristic. I’m going to do some more research and maybe take some classes for 3D mapping. Since I want to make a new set of plastics or even some nice carbon fiber ones for the Duke, I think I may be one step closer to the evolution of motorcycle development.

Until then, beam me up Scotty.

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.

The Super-Moto is a complete bastardization of this mechanical movement. Truly a hooligan in all respects to the contemporary trends of the 90′s, the origins of the super-motard seem to have come full circle only recently as Ducati, Aprilia, BMW have released a series of motorcycles based on a concept that KTM had pioneered as early as 1993.

My KTM Duke, was my humble introduction to this genre of motorcycle culture, and turned me into a hooligan the moment I kick over the single piston engine.

Loud and crude, I break the quiet San Francisco nights. It can’t be helped. The Duke has a spirit that kicks hard as it pulls you across the city. A throaty, low-pitch exhaust note compliments it’s aggressive nature to a key. The vibrations are strong enough to shake the fillings from your molars. The the adjustable WP shocks catch the patch work terrain of poorly maintained streets with grace. When 4 piston Brembo brakes bite into the front disks, the bike can endo on a dime.

This super bike as transformed me from a modest motorcyclist into a torque junkie, always on the look out for a bigger fix. I’m truly honored that the Inline Performance team has asked me to contribute. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience of taking on the elegant, refined form of a Triumph Street Triple in juxtaposition to my KTM Duke; the Bastard Hooligan of Super Biking.

Godspeed.

If you like this post then please consider subscribing to our full feed RSS or receive new posts by Email.