Developed by former GP rider and NW200 winner Jeremy McWilliams, KTM’s latest 890 Duke R is the racier big brother to the Austrian firms popular 790 Duke.
Released in 2020, it features improved electronics, re-worked WP suspension, hiogh performance brakes and an extra 16bhp at the back wheel.
Now an extra 16bhp may not seem like a lot, but with the 890 Duke R coming in with a dry weight of just 166kg, those 119 horses are more than enough for this racy middleweight.
One other major difference between the standard bike and the new 890 Duke R is the choice of rubber, with this latest machine coming on the much sticker Power Cup 2 from Michelin.
“We test every existing and yet-to-be released tyre combination available. We work with tyre manufacturers way ahead of their own product launch on certain materials. I could talk forever about it, it’s quite an involved topic on every aspect” McWilliams recently told MCN.
The Power Cup 2 is brand new to the market for 2020, and although it is primarily a track tyre for race use it does feature a 4% void ratio that makes the tyre homologated for road use.
Michelin have also employed their tried and tested 2CT and 2CT+ compound technology on the front and rear tyre respectively. The 2CT+ dual compound technology used on the rear tyre sees the softer shoulder compound supported by a harder base layer which improves stability at higher angles or lean.
After extensive testing of the new Power Cup 2, McWilliams told MCN:
“The 890’s new Michelin Power Cup II will completely blow you away – we’re pulling 58 degrees lean angle on that tyre. When you have that sort of confidence in the tyre and motorcycle, it makes for a really fun ride and you can’t help but smile, because you can put the bike exactly where you want it.”
The Power Cup 2 is now in stock for our trade customers at Cambrian Tyres.
