KTM 790 Duke vs Triumph Street Triple S: Spec Comparison
Modified On September 23, 2019 13:29 IST By Jehan Adil Darukhanawala
Mental vs finesse. Twin vs triple. Austria vs Britain. Here’s how the two stack up on paper
[Update: KTM 790 Duke Launched In India At Rs 8.64 lakh]
With a nickname like the Scalpel, the KTM 790 Duke promises to be one of the hottest bikes to arrive on our shores this year. Admittedly, it will be a limited run model and will cost a bit more than what we earlier thought of. However, there is no denying that the 790 Duke is going to be a fun bike to ride. In this hotly contested middleweight segment, the Triumph Street Triple is the bike to beat. Given that the pricing of the 790 Duke is expected to be near the S variant, here’s how the two bikes stack up on paper.
Engine & Electronics:
|
KTM 790 Duke |
Triumph Street Triple S |
|
|
Engine |
799cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin |
765cc, liquid-cooled, inline-triple |
|
Max. Power Output |
105PS @ 9,000rpm |
113PS @ 11,250rpm |
|
Max. Torque |
87Nm @ 8,000rpm |
73Nm @ 10,421rpm |
|
Transmission Type |
6-speed |
6-speed |
|
Slipper clutch |
Yes |
No |
|
Quickshifter |
Yes |
No |
|
Electronic aids |
Ride-by-wire, 4 rider modes, 4-stage traction control (fully disengageable), cornering ABS, Supermoto mode and wheelie control |
Ride-by-wire, 2 rider modes, switchable traction control, |
The 790 Duke is less powerful and packs one cylinder less, but KTM has tuned the new 799cc LC8 motor to be as punchy as a big-bore single. No wonder it makes more torque at lower revs than the 765cc triple. Where the 790 triumphs over the Street Triple S is in the electronics package. Plus with goodies like wheelie control, Supermoto mode, cornering ABS and a bi-directional quickshifter are not even available on the top-of-the-line Street Triple RS.
Underpinnings:
|
KTM 790 Duke |
Triumph Street Triple S |
|
|
Chassis |
Chromium-Molybdenum-Steel frame using the engine |
Aluminium twin spar frame |
|
Front Suspension |
43 mm WP USD fork separate function forks (SFF), 140mm travel |
Showa 41 mm upside down separate function forks (SFF), 110mm travel |
|
Rear Suspension |
WP monoshock with preload adjustability, 150mm travel |
Showa piggyback reservoir monoshock with preload adjustability, 124mm travel |
|
Brake |
Front: 2 x 300mm discs with J Juan four-piston radial calipers Rear: 240mm single disc with single-piston caliper |
Front: 2 x 310mm discs with Nissin two-piston sliding calipers Rear: 220mm disc with Brembo single-piston caliper |
|
Tyres |
Front: 120/70 - ZR17 Rear: 180/55 - ZR17 Maxxis Supermaxx ST tyres |
Front: 120/70 - ZR17 Rear: 180/55 - ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres |
Both middleweight nakeds are on par when it comes to the components found. Where the 790 Duke might have a small edge is with its J Juan radial calipers while the Street Triple S has to make do with smaller Nissin twin-piston calipers. However, we believe the Triumph's Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres will be grippier than the KTM's Maxxis Supermaxx ST tyres as the latter compound is more of a touring-biased tyre.
Dimensions:
|
KTM 790 Duke |
Triumph Street Triple S |
|
|
Rake/Trail |
24-deg/98mm |
24.8-deg/104.3mm |
|
Wheelbase |
1475mm |
1410mm |
|
Seat height |
825mm |
810mm |
|
Ground clearance |
186mm |
NA |
|
Dry weight |
169kg |
166kg |
|
Fuel tank capacity |
14 litres |
17.4 litres |
One would think that the KTM is the more compact and lighter of the two motorcycles. However, the specs reveal otherwise. The Street Triple S is lighter by 3kg, has a 65mm smaller wheelbase and has a more accessible seat height. And the extra 3.4 litres of fuel aboard the Street Triple S means you can stretch your riding stint for a longer duration.
Pricing:
|
Price (ex-showroom India) |
KTM 790 Duke |
Triumph Street Triple S |
|
Rs 8.5 lakh (expected) |
Rs 9.19 lakh |
We had earlier expected KTM India to be bang on with the pricing like it has done in the past with the 390 Duke. But rumours suggest that the 790 Duke will be a pricey affair as it is likely to arrive via the CBU route. Hence, we believe it could be priced around the Rs 8.5 lakh mark. While that may seem like a lot for a KTM, it will still be nearly half a lakh cheaper than the Triumph offering.
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