Not having posted one of my short and to the point, with no rambling, replies, for quite awhile I have the following thoughts about getting a 690 Duke:
I have been riding for over 50 years without taking any significant breaks, and, I have owned and ridden a lot of motorcycles. At the present, a lone 2015 690 Duke sits in my garage with very low miles on it because I find that vibrations are so severe that within about half an hour my hands get so numb that I can not feel the controls. I suffer from nerve damage in my hands, so they are more fragile than most, I imagine, but, when I did some research about the vibrations, after I rode my new KTM, I found that almost everyone commented on how bad they were.
Every single other thing about riding the KTM is top notch, with some possible limitations in suspension, depending on rider weight and how hard the bike is pushed. About as light fully fueled as any freeway legal street bike out there; premium rubber; nice big brakes; and, more than adequate power for those not desiring jail time. It was the only really acceptable upgrade that I could find after 7 years with a Suzuki DR-Z SM, which, I might add, really shows what a great bike the Suzuki is as it proved to be basically maintenance free, other than its appetite for tires and a few oil changes, and, a really solid handling bike. I finally just wanted the ability to sprint a bit harder than the DR-Z was capable of, and, also, I believed KTM's hype about the balance shaft and the "smooth" big single, so, I hoped that I would get a better highway bike, 6 speed and taller gearing factored in, than the DR-Z. I might also add that I nearly crashed the KTM when I initially went for a ride about on some twisty roads since the KTM, with its low cg and all, was so much more responsive to light inputs than the heavy handling, top heavy, Suzuki, that I was over steering initially. Now, I do not think about it anymore since proper bikes are supposed to have telepathic handling, like the 690 Duke has, are they not?
But, as stated the vibrations of the KTM were a lot harsher than I anticipated and,in my case, it has been frustrating as I am long past my Hayabusa days and, while some hanker for more power, for me, everything about the Duke is nearly perfect other than the massive shakes. But, if the shaking is not an issue for a rider, the Duke rocks in its element. When things get technical, I never notice the vibration and I definitely start grinning in my helmet. Nothing like a nice light bike with good manners, that has considerable punch at canyon speeds (I also have 15/42 gearing as I avoid highways and it enhances the punch off corners and away from stop lights).
I am not discussing the costs of ownership, as the 690 Duke is not inexpensive to care for. But, one should know that before purchasing a KTM. And, this is only my personal point of view about the Duke. I know that numb hands are not good to have, but, I still have had some nice rides on the Duke as it has character. Unfortunately, that character encourages lifting the front wheel under acceleration and slicing corners like the lightweight it is. I am always tempted to go rouge when I get on the KTM, and me a totally law abiding rider at all times. I'd say that the 690 Duke is a rider's bike and it screams to be ridden as such should be ridden. Which means that even those that want more power and performance really could easily get in sufficient trouble with the performance of the 690. Mine scoots right up to 100 MPH (not that I would do that), a speed at which the police could arrest you on the spot for. So, if a person is not a crazed street rider as far as top speeds go, the 690 Duke really has plenty.
My KTM is still sitting in the garage as I really like it other than the shakes. And, I know that come Spring, I will wish to have a motorcycle to ride. The upright standard riding position is a real plus urban settings, and I also favor it in canyons and the like. Each time I ride the 690, I want to keep it as, in my case, especially around town, the bike rules. Remember that we can legally split lanes in California and the 690 Duke, with 15/42 gearing, is an excellent leaver from a traffic light. This quality is valuable when one has split their way to the front of the traffic stopped at a traffic light, as, in Southern California, it is every man for themselves once the light goes green and the last of the vehicles that are running the red as it turns clears the intersection. With the 690 Duke, you can just let out the clutch with no fuss and pull off with the front tire just sort of skipping a bit as it lifts a few inches now and then. You will be rewarded by the sight of little tiny dots in your rear view mirrors as the cages lumber away from the light. So, the 690 is great for a lot of things, but, clearly, it will never be a bike for everyone.
