2022 KTM 890 Duke GP | First Look Review

February 22, 2022 editor KTM 3 min read

Earlier this month KTM announced a new look for the 890 Duke R – is known as “The Super Scalpel” – for the new model year. Both the 2022 KTM 890 Duke R and 2022 KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo are being offered in a new Atlantic Blue colorway inspired by the KTM RC16 GP racebike. Now our friends in Austria have announced the 2022 KTM 890 Duke GP.

As the name implies, it too gets MotoGP-inspired livery, this time in an orange-and-black combo with KTM’s “Ready to Race” motto just below the 3.7-gallon fuel tank. What makes the 890 Duke GP stand out is the orange bodywork replacing the normally all-black panels covering the subframe, which also includes logos for industry partners Motorex, Pankl, and WP.

There’s also a special orange passenger seat cover with special “890 Duke GP” graphics. The orange treatment continues with orange powdercoated wheels and orange highlights on the front fender and headlight frame.

Beneath the GP-inspired livery, the rest of the 890 Duke GP is the same as the 890 Duke R. It features fully adjustable WP Apex suspension, a WP steering damper, Brembo Stylema monoblock front calipers, a Brembo MCS front master cylinder, a PASC slip/assist clutch, Michelin Power Cup tires, and a state-of-the-art electronics package that includes cornering ABS with Supermoto mode, lean-angle-sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control, and selectable ride modes (Sport, Street, and Rain). An optional Track mode adds sharper throttle response along with on-the-fly TC adjustability over nine levels.

The 890 Duke R’s 889cc parallel-Twin engine has DOHC with four valves per cylinder, and it is tuned to deliver an additional 6 horsepower over the standard 890 Duke, for a claimed 119 horsepower at the crank. When we tested the 2020 KTM 890 Duke R, it sent 111 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 67 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm to the rear wheel.

Riders can dial in suspension settings to suit their tastes. The fully adjustable 43mm inverted WP Apex for has separate compression and rebound functions in each leg. The fully adjustable WP Apex shock offers high and low speed compression adjustability along with adjustable rebound and a remote preload adjuster.

A full-color TFT display provides a wealth of information for the rider, and it allows for convenient navigation of the various menus and settings. An LED headlight is paired with an LED daytime running light for eye-catching visibility and excellent illumination. The flat, tapered aluminum handlebar can be adjusted to four positions within the triple clamp and rotated among three positions. Seat height is 32.8 inches, fuel capacity is 3.7 gallons, and dry weight is 366 pounds (curb weight with all fluids was 405 pounds for our 2020 test bike).

Pricing and availability for the 2022 KTM 890 Duke GP have not yet been announced. For more information or to find a KTM dealer near you, visit ktm.com.

2022 KTM 890 Duke GP Specifications

Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 889cc
Horsepower: 119 hp (claimed, at the crank)
Bore x Stroke: 90.7 x 68.8mm
Starter: Electric; 12V 10Ah
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated PASC assist-slipper wet clutch
Fuel System: DKK Dell’Orto, 46mm throttle body
Lubrication: Pressure Lubrication with 2 Oil Pumps
Cooling: Liquid Cooling with Water/Oil Heat Exchanger
Clutch: PASC (Power Assisted Slipper Clutch), Mechanically Operated
Ignition: Bosch EMS with Ride-By-Wire
Frame: CroMoly Tubular Steel, Engine as Stressed Member
Subframe: Cast Aluminum
Handlebar: Aluminum, Tapered, Ø 26/22 mm
Front Suspension: WP APEX USD Ø 43 mm
Rear Suspension: WP APEX Monoshock
Suspension Travel Front/Rear: 140 mm/5.5 in; 150 mm/5.9 in
Front/Rear Brakes: Disc Brake 320 mm/240 mm
Front/Rear Wheels: 3.50 x 17”, 5.50 x 17”
Front/Rear Tires: 120/70ZR17”; 180/55ZR17”
Steering Head Angle: 24.3º
Wheelbase: 1,482mm ± 15mm / 58.3 ± 0.6 in.
Ground Clearance: 206mm / 8.1 in
Seat Height: 834mm / 32.8 in
Tank Capacity: 14 L / 3.7 gal
Weight (without fuel), Approx: 166 kg / 365.9 lbs