2025 KTM 990 Duke R Preview: The Scalpal Becomes The Punisher!
KTM is describing the 2025 990 Duke R as more powerful and more focused than the previous 890 R
The 2025 KTM 990 Duke R will no longer be referred to as the ‘Scalpal’ as with a more focused demeanour and aggressive stance, the Austrian brand is heralding the arrival of “The Punisher”!
Quite how that shapes up on road and track remains to be seen, although we can have a look at the spec and tech of the new bike, as we wait for the official press riding launch.
What’s new with the 2025 990 Duke R
First up, there’s more power, a claimed 6.9bhp more than the previous bike, taking the total peak output to 128bhp. Peak torque for the 990 Duke R remains the same, with 75.9lb ft of peak twist arriving from the re-mapped (but internally the same) LC8c engine.
Oddly, the press release refers to the bike being “lighter weight”, although digging a little more into the press release reveals a 190kg weight - the same claimed weight as 990 Duke in ready-to-ride (or should that be ready-to-race) form. What has changed is the rider triangle, with the rider seat and ground clearance both being 15mm higher than before, altering the centre of gravity of the Duke R and changing its handling dynamics as a result.
The extra height for the Duke R comes from taller suspension and a steeper angle to the swing arm, both of which are credited with providing the bike with an extra three degrees of lean angle. The rear shock also now features a linkage, the result of this is a claimed increase in mechanical grip, according to KTM.
Rounding out the chassis updates for the 990 Duke R we have a 48mm WP Apex open cartridge fork, boasting 143mm of travel and full adjustability, which is mated to WP Apex rear shock which has 140mm of travel and full adjustability. The rear travel of the Duke R is 10mm less than that of the standard 990 Duke, which is down to the inclusion of the linkage within the rear end of the bike.
Joining the suspension we have top-spec stoppers, with Brembo bringing its Stylema callipers to the party which are matched to 320mm discs at the front - 20mm larger than those found on the standard 990 Duke. The brake callipers are already a big upgrade on the KTM-branded (and J.Jaun-made) items found on standard Duke, and combined with the new dinnerplate-sized discs should make the R a strong bike in heavy braking situations on the road and track.
Rolling stock for the 990 Duke R comes in the form of Michelin Power Cup 2 hoops which are wrapped around the very same rims as found on the heavier and much more powerful 1390 Super Duke R.
The new bike also features KTM's huge new TFT which we won't go into here. If you'd like to find out more about the new KTM TFT dash for 2025, you might like to check out this article.
The new mid-weight Duke R will be rolling off the production line in December and is claimed to be landing in UK KTM in January 2025.
UK pricing is yet to be confirmed.
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
