KTM 690 LC4 Duke R
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Want to own a truly exotic motorcycle that makes you feel special every time you climb onboard, challenges you to ride to the limit of your ability and enables you to kick the asses of poseurs on porky sportsbikes? Then the KTM 690 Duke R is probably the bike for you. Eschewing the standard Duke's falsely advertised 654cc, 64bhp engine in favor of an honest 690cc, 70bhp, 51.6lb/ft single-cylinder, the Duke R weighs just 148.5kg/327lbs (dry). That's still no where near the power to weight ratio of even a supersport 600, but it'll deliver that power in a typical single-cylinder all-at-once burst. Get it right and that's just the thing for exiting a tight corner.The 'R' retains the WP suspension, but here the fork's all-black and the spring rates are slightly firmer front and rear. Visual changes include the orange frame, mostly white graphics, carbon fender, orange wheel stripes and blacked-out components. Fitted with a single-cylinder 690cc engine that pumps out 70 horsepower, the 690 Duke R isn’t exactly the most glamorous motorcycle in the KTM line-up, but it could well be one of the most fun-to-ride bikes anywhere. With its light weight (148kg dry), high-spec suspension and slick six-speed gearbox, the little KTM is lean, lithe and sporty. Motociclismo recently had the opportunity to test the bike and here are some excerpts from what they have to say about the baby KTM: With the 1999 Duke II, the 2008 690 Duke and the 2010 690 Duke R, the bike has become increasingly capable on the street and the newest model also looks strikingly beautiful. KTM uses a somewhat similar recipe with all its ‘R’ models – a slight increase in engine performance, uprated brake and suspension components and, of course, that black-white-and-orange paintjob.
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