KTM has been making headlines recently, and it hasn’t precisely been for good causes. Workforce Orange’s mum or dad firm, Pierer Mobility, has been working day and night time to handle a PR nightmare—one which’s seeking to be extra of a actuality than anybody ever thought.
And whereas it’s relieving that KTM isn’t going below simply but, the corporate’s positively in no place to throw a celebration.
That being stated, why don’t we pivot away from all of the doom and gloom for a second, and picture a future the place KTM has no worries? I imply, that is precisely what KTM’s doing, as they’ve simply introduced the 2025 790 Duke. In spite of everything, why cry when you possibly can smoke—tires? Yeah, that’s precisely what the brand new 790 Duke’s doing, because it burns out straight into the 2025 mannequin yr.
Photograph by: KTM
The 2025 KTM 790 Duke is definitely able to a smoke present. However what lurks beneath all that tire smoke?
The most recent iteration of the unique Scalpel: the 790 Duke is right here, and in true KTM style, it is packing extra tech than it in all probability ought to. Critically, it’s as if KTM thought that slapping on additional tech and devices 80 % of riders would by no means even use would repair their monetary woes. Clearly, the goings on available in the market appear to be pointing in the wrong way.
Nonetheless, right here we’re, and for 2025, there’s a brand new 5-inch TFT show with all of the bells and whistles: a telemetry display screen, anti-wheelie settings (as a result of who needs enjoyable with out management, proper?), oh, and even a Demo Mode.
What’s Demo Mode, you may ask? Effectively, you understand if you obtain Adobe Lightroom in your cellphone, they usually provide you with a free 30-day trial? It’s precisely the identical factor right here, and KTM will allow you to style the entire fancy tech options your coronary heart needs. You recognize, traction management modes, slide mode, additional journey modes, and cruiser management. KTM does this within the hopes that you just’ll finally buy the improve package as soon as the demo interval expires. ‘Trigger, duh, they want your cash.
Demo Mode apart, you get your common journey modes consisting of Rain, Road, and Sport—however not Observe Mode. You solely get that in case you go for the complete package deal.
Photograph by: KTM
2025 KTM 790 Duke – Orange
Photograph by: KTM
2025 KTM 790 Duke – Black
On the finish of the day, the 2025 KTM 790 Duke isn’t a large leap ahead by way of efficiency, and I believe that’s a very good factor. I’ve ridden this bike many occasions, each on the road and on the monitor. Heck, I got here tremendous duper shut to really proudly owning one (solely to be thwarted by an irresistible deal on a Triumph Road Triple RS). So yeah, the 790 Duke is excessive up there on my checklist of essentially the most enjoyable bikes on the planet. Actually, I’d go so far as saying that KTM may’ve been higher off pulling a Suzuki on the 2025 790 Duke. You recognize, releasing nothing however “daring new colours” for 2025?
But it surely’s additionally vital to recollect the place and the way the 2025 790 Duke matches in KTM’s international lineup, particularly given its present scenario. I believe that KTM desperately wants a money cow—a motorbike that’ll promote in droves. Keep in mind, there are reportedly greater than 260,000 KTMs gathering mud in dealerships worldwide. Yikes.
That stated, I genuinely want the perfect of luck for KTM. And I hope they get their shit collectively ASAP as a result of, regardless of all of the drama, there’s no denying that KTM is aware of find out how to make among the most fun bikes on the planet.
