What a lovely stone wall
It’s safe to say the KTM was one of the surprises of this test. Not to us hardcore journos, but to those who thought just one throbbing piston between their legs would never be entirely sufficient. The Duke looks quite ordinary in this standard guise, lacking the Gucci appeal of the R model, but packs just as big a punch in this company and offers something completely different to the middleweight sector.
The 690 is unique in many ways. Firstly, it’s the only noteworthy single-cylinder on the market (save for its brother from another mother, the Husky 701) and secondly, there’s no mistaking its motard DNA. It’s the tallest on test, dressed in MX-style ‘bars and levers, and even the stubby, featherweight clutch action points towards KTM’s mudplugging heritage. Close your eyes, and you could well be Jeffrey Herlings. With the same switchgear and similar dash to that of the 1290 Super Duke R, plus some classy touches, there’s a sense of maturity in the cockpit. That soon goes out the window when the throttle is pinned.