By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs KTM 890 Duke GP (MY2022)
Yamaha MT-09 vs KTM 890 Duke GP: which one's easier to live with every day.
Halfway out of a slow bend with the throttle cracking open, the Yamaha MT-09's triple swells in one long pull and it's howling through the intake. The KTM 890 Duke GP's twin surges from low revs.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Small edge: MT-09
The MT-09 comes out a little ahead on upkeep. Only a little.
The 890 Duke GP has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: 890 Duke GP
On the way to work, the 890 Duke GP asks a little less of you. The difference is lighter steering. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: 890 Duke GP
On a twisty road, the 890 Duke GP edges ahead. What tips it: more feel through the bars and stronger brakes. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The lower sticker price doesn't settle which one is the better buy. Neither bike is the clear better value for the money.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
The MT-09's crossplane crank gives its inline-three an uneven rhythm that doesn't sound like any other engine on the street. Down low, a roll of the throttle gets a thump like a two-cylinder's, and the top end rushes like a four's. There's little weight to fight at walking pace or up on the Angeles Crest Highway. The bars snap it between switchbacks.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
890 Duke GP
The 890 Duke GP's front end snaps toward the apex the moment the bar moves. On a twisty road, a mid-corner bump hits WP APEX suspension that's built for attack. The high pegs don't leave taller legs much room over a full day. Every exit hits like a shove.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- Quickshifter: standard on the MT-09, option on the 890 Duke GP.
- Smartphone Connectivity: option on the 890 Duke GP, not offered on the MT-09.
- USB Charging Port: option on the 890 Duke GP, not offered on the MT-09.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
For all-day comfort, both fall short. Keep the rides short and you'll get on fine with either.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-09
What owners say
Strengths
- CP3 engine character
- Class-leading electronics package
- Light wet weight
- Reliability rating from owners
Trade-offs
- ABS abrupt under hard braking
- Cosmetic build niggles
- Mirror vibration above 6,000 rpm
- Mode 4 power cap effectively unusable
- Standard seat is firm and "slippery"
890 Duke GP
What owners say
Strengths
- Explosive mid-range punch
Trade-offs
- Persistent reliability niggles
- Cramped for taller riders
Known problems to check before you buy
MT-09
- Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) wear causing unstable idle/stalling (recall 25V-248) Recall 25V248000 Worn TPS due to excessive brush sliding from improper ECU programming leads to unstable idling, throttle hesitation, and stalling. Yamaha recall (NHTSA 25V-248) requires TPS replacement and ECU reflash for affected units.
- Engine stalling due to ECU programming (recall 22V-130) Recall 22V130000 Improper ECU programming can cause engine to stall unexpectedly, particularly when clutch lever not pulled fully or at small throttle openings from idle. Affects all 2021-2022 MT-09 models; Yamaha recall issued March 2022 for ECU reflash.
890 Duke GP
- Coolant leak from thermostat housing or hoses Coolant drips from the thermostat housing or hose connections, often resolved by tightening clamps or replacing the thermostat assembly.
- Oil leak from cam/valve cover gasket Oil seeps from the cam cover gasket due to high oil pressure and weak seal design, often requiring gasket replacement.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 3-year-old MT-09 with a 3-year-old 890 Duke GP.
- MT-09
- about $8,700
- 890 Duke GP
- about $10,200
At three years old, the Yamaha MT-09 sits around $8,700 while the KTM 890 Duke GP runs about $10,200. That's a $1,500 gap in the MT-09's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | 890 Duke GP | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| MT-09 | 890 Duke GP | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 889 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | Parallel twin |
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 115 hp (85 kW) |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-09 | 890 Duke GP | |
|---|---|---|
| Quickshifter | Standard | Option |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
