KTM 790 Duke
KTM's middleweight naked — 799cc parallel twin (LC8c engine), 95bhp. The 'Scalpel' — light (179kg), aggressive, full electronics suite. Built in China by CFMoto under license to KTM. Re-introduced to UK lineup for 2023 at a competitive price. A2 restrictable. Direct rival to Yamaha MT-07 and Triumph Trident 660 with significantly more aggressive styling. UK from £8,499.
- Engine
- 799 cc
- Power
- 95 PS
- Weight
- 179 kg
- Seat height
- 825 mm
- A2 licence
- Restrictable
Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 50 · Insurance 63 · Theft 65
The KTM 790 Duke holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 30% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (around £480/yr typical). Theft risk is moderate. It can be restricted for an A2 licence.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: 790 Duke
Engine
Petrol · 799cc
Power
95 ps
Torque
87 Nm
Weight
179 kg
Seat
825 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
50 mpg
License
A2 restrictable
790 Duke — 799cc parallel-twin, 95bhp, 6-speed with quickshifter standard. Full IMU + cornering ABS, three rider modes. A2 restrictable. 14L tank. CFMoto-built under license.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£5,949
Range £5,354 – £6,544
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£9,199
At 5 years
£5,519
At 10 years
£3,864
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£2,344
Per year
£781
Per mile
£0.10
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
ABI motorcycle scheme · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£480/ year
Roughly £40 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £792 | £1,056 | £1,478 |
| Age 22-29 | £486 | £648 | £907 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £360 | £480 | £672 |
| Age 40-49 | £317 | £422 | £591 |
| Age 50+ | £288 | £384 | £538 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Premium naked with strong used demand — chain + disc lock + ground anchor essential.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Chain & sprockets 8-12k mi | £220 |
| medium | Cam chain tensioner 20k+ mi | £280 |
| low | Battery every 3 years | £120 |
| low | Front brake pads 8-12k mi | £100 |
| low | Heated grip switch any age | £90 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the KTM 790 Duke, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Strengths
- +Class-leading light at 179kg
- +95bhp — strong middleweight performance
- +Quickshifter + full electronics suite standard
- +A2 restrictable
- +Aggressive Duke styling unique in middleweight class
Watch-outs
- −5,000-mile service intervals (vs 7,500-10,000 for rivals)
- −Service costs above Japanese rivals
- −825mm seat tall
- −CFMoto-built construction less established long-term