Chassis
The Duke uses a typical steel trellis frame, mostly hidden by Austrian-slick bodywork, and features a serious looking single front disc, a Brembo caliper and radial master cylinder, a Magura clutch master cylinder and tapered bars. The fully adjustable WP fork and shock work notocably better than the stock kit we are used to on the more common brands - nothing wrong with those pieces of kit.

The winglet above the instrument panel works well to take wind pressure off your chest.

As KTM says, the 690 comes "Ready to Race" with stiff settings all round - OK for energetic riding on the track or the street, but not so on bumpy roads despite the generous suspension travel.

Ergonomics
Ergos are equally sporting, with a narrow-ish seat that in typical off-road banana shape, with only the middle position to sit on without having to hold yourself in place with your arms and legs. You end up crowding the bars a bit at my 1.80m build.

Riding the beast
Other than the a sometimes harsh ride on bumps, riding the bike is a barrel of fun, with really exciting power on tap above 5000 rpm, strong brakes, and a wonderful feeling of agility in the city as well as on the open road. Acceleration up to 150 kph reminds you of a 600, making this bike an ideal ride for track days on shorter, more technical tracks.

Adequate weight on the front wheel provides good initial bite when entering corners, and makes for spectacular sideways (But slow) corner exits. If you are looking to cut your lap times, you need to push yourself rearward to add weight over the rear wheel and add traction on hard corner exits. Comfort wise, the winglet above the instrument panel works well to take wind pressure off your chest.

This bike makes no compromises, and asks for total commitment on the part of the rider. Between the bucking at low rpm and the very light throttle spring, putt-putting around town is downright tricky unless you stop and select the slow (1) or the mild (3) ignition settings. But if you are on a mission and back it up with commitment, put it back to setting 2, where the bike reacts right now, not half a second from now!

The brakes can stop you like an anchor, adding to a wonderful feeling of agility.