Now that you personally own and or ridden both the DDX and the 890... offroad and beyond the gravel, which bike is more capable? what do you like or dislike about each (offroad)?
So I know you didn’t direct this question at me, however, my buddy just picked up a new 23’ 890 Adventure R (he also has a 22’ 1290 Super Adventure R) and I’ve been able to compare all three bikes extensively off-road. Here are my impressions:
• KTM wins the suspension comparison hands down. Both the 1290 and the 890 have a better feel off-road when it comes to how their suspension handles the terrain. I’ve been able to bottom out the DX suspension several times. That said, I have yet to fully dial the suspension of the DX in with suspension expert (that’s on the agenda though), but the KTM’s haven’t been adjusted in any way either, and they just feel better out of the box. In the end, I‘lol probably end up upgrading the DX suspension to get it exactly how I want it. No big deal.
• The DX hits a sweet spot between the 890 and the 1290. So the 890 is an amazing bike off road. It feels so light and small. It’s like a big dirt bike. That said, it’s almost a little too small for me. Keep in mind, I’m 6’5” 220lbs, so I’m probably the exception here. I LOVE the ergos of the 1290 and in many applications it’s a phenomenal off-road bike, however, when the terrain gets more technical, or when you have to pick it up, you can REALLY feel the weight. The DX is the best of both worlds. The bike doesn’t feel quite as small as the 890, but it’s nowhere near as heavy as the 1290. I know it’s only 50lbs lighter, but man, whatever wizardry the Ducati engineers pulled off to make this bike ”feel” lighter, it totally worked, because it feels great. Additionally, I can feel the difference in the wheelbase length of the DX. It makes the bike feel more stable than the 890. Not sure how else to describe that, but you can definitely tell when you’re pushing it around a corner in the dirt.
• The engine in the DX is just wonderful. Again, I feel like it splits the difference between the 1290 and the 890 beautifully. The V-twin of the DX vs the parallel twin of the 890 is just more fun IMO. It feels like it has more power to me, and that’s something that I really like.
• Lastly, I think KTM wins with their electronics setup. The DX has all the rider modes and they’re all fully adjustable which is great, but I think the KTM interface (especially on the 23’ 890) is just superior as you can adjust the traction control on the fly through a simple toggle switch on the left handlebar. The DX requires you to through several different menus to make the same adjustment. It’s not a huge deal, and clearly, it’s not a deal breaker for someone like me who already owns a DX, but it’s just something that I noticed.
In the end, I would still choose the DX even the 890 and the 1290 are AWESOME machines. If I had gone the KTM route I’d probably own both the 890 and the 1290 (already had a 22‘ 1290 SAR before the DX) as both bikes really do feel so different and both have different advantages. Ryan F9 really got it right when he said that the DX falls into a category all its own. It’s a fantastic street bike AND a fantastic dirt bike. It’s probably not the best in the segment at either, but it’s pretty darn good in both applications... plus it looks amazing!
