Parallel UNIVERSE

IN DETAIL

169kg

105bhp @ 9000rpm

64lb-ft of torque @ 8000rpm

825mm seat height

It’s been a long time coming, but KTM has been pretty busy since it whetted our taste buds with the prospect of a class defining mid-capacity hooligan. Building ground up bikes always takes a while, and thanks to KTM’s methodical approach – that’s seen the 790 kitted with more new features than you can shake an orange stick at – it’s easy to see where the time’s gone.

Ditching the single cylinder lump of old, the Austrian marque’s added another chamber into the Duke’s mix. And thanks to a succinct design and some snazzy components such as forged pistons, dual balancer shafts, a painstakingly honed cylinder head and precise valve timing, the compact and lightweight twin-pot’s delivery dwarfs the (still available) 690’s output with a claimed 105bhp and impressive 64lb-ft of pulling torque.

Even if you’re one of those die-hard KTM single-cylinder fans and are struggling to digest this change in small-bike powerhouse direction, you’ll hopefully be able to take comfort in knowing the brand’s maintained that raucous deep Barry White-esque