By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs KTM 990 Super Duke (MY2005)
At the turn-in point the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 sits you tight to the bar and folds into the bend without a fight. The KTM 990 Super Duke barrels in and doesn't budge.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
Through a long sweeper the Speed Triple doesn't wander off its line. The inline-three pulls in one even line as the throttle rolls open, and there's no savage hit waiting near redline. Through close-radius corners the bar takes round inputs and pushes back against sharp jabs.
990 Super Duke
For the first few corners the Super Duke's steering reacts so quickly that your line closes in before you've finished the thought. A few fast bends sort that. The Brembo lever keeps the same bite, stop after stop.
Nils rode the 990 Super Duke in Andalusia and Austria in 2005, and in 2008 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Speed Triple 1050 has the lower seat: 32.1 in (815 mm) vs 33.7 in (855 mm).
- The Speed Triple 1050 makes more peak power: 128 hp (96 kW) vs 120 hp (88 kW).
- The Speed Triple 1050 makes more peak torque: 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) vs 73 lb-ft (99 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Wrong job for both
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
There's no real gap on commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Speed Triple 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Tips In With One Input
- Brakes You Can Trust
- Planted When You're On The Gas
- Clean, Honest Fueling
- A Big Naked Anyone Can Ride
Trade-offs
- No Savage Top-End Hit
- Rewards Smooth, Not Sharp
- Tight For Bigger Riders
- Gearbox Still Feels Vague
990 Super Duke
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Torque you can lean on anywhere
- Fueling is dialed in properly
- Gearbox and clutch are excellent
- Chassis has huge reserves
- Brakes that simply don't fade
Trade-offs
- Footpegs buzz at the top end
- Wind blast turns into a wrestle
- It drinks more than its rivals
- Steering bites faster than expected
Known problems to check before you buy
Speed Triple 1050
- Sprag clutch/starter gear failure The starter sprag clutch and starter idler gear can fail, producing a loud grinding noise during engine startup and leading to starter slipping or failure to crank.
990 Super Duke
- Premature Water Pump Seal Failure The water pump seal and shaft are prone to premature wear, allowing coolant to leak externally or contaminate the engine oil circuit, which compromises lubrication and can lead to engine overheating.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | 990 Super Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 33.7 in (855 mm) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | 990 Super Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 999 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | 75° V-twin |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 120 hp (88 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 73 lb-ft (99 Nm) |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) | 151 mph (243 km/h) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | 990 Super Duke | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) / 7.06 L/100 km | 28 mpg (US) / 8.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 4.9 US gal (18.5 L) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
