KTM 790 DUKE – your driving-school motorcycle for Class A in Munich
Trudering, just after eight: you roll out of the depot, the KTM 790 Duke still idling. 169 kilos, a narrow bar, a bike that wraps around you instead of fighting back. This is the naked bike you train on through your motorcycle licence here in eastern Munich. Light, alert, honest.
Why you learn in the KTM 790 DUKE
The thread running through this machine is the licence class: the 790 Duke sits there as an open Class A bike, but it can be cleanly restricted to A2. In practice that means: if you're over 24 or upgrading, you ride the full 105 hp version and learn from day one to treat real power with respect. If you come in through A2, you sit on the very same bike in its restricted form — same seating position, same handling, same feel. So when you later upgrade from A2, you don't relearn the bike from scratch. What our learners notice fast: the low weight and wide bar forgive beginner mistakes when manoeuvring and turning instead of punishing them. The electronics support your practice — but the test figures like slalom, the circle and the emergency stop, you ride those yourself, with your head and your wrist.
Technology & equipment at a glance
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) from 799 cc. In open Class A you feel what torque really means — you learn to meter the throttle, not just hear it. |
| Torque | 87 Nm, early and strong. For clean hill starts and jolt-free shifting in town — both everyday test situations. |
| Weight | 169 kg dry. Very light for the class — turning, manoeuvring and getting it off the sidestand feel noticeably easier. |
| Gearbox & Quickshifter+ | 6-speed with Quickshifter+. You may use it while practising, but you also shift classically with the clutch for feel — key for test confidence. |
| Riding modes & traction control | 4 riding modes, traction control, track mode. In the wet the electronics give you more margin while practising — but the line and timing are still yours. |
| Seat height | 825 mm. Slim build, so you often reach the ground better than the number suggests — we check this at the trial sit. |
Assistance systems are a learning aid – you take the exam yourself.
What you may drive
The 790 Duke covers all of Class A: open with the full 105 hp, or restricted as an A2-compliant version. You ride Class A directly from 24 or as an upgrade from A2; with A2 (from 18) you sit on the restricted bike. B197 doesn't apply here — that's a car-only rule. On a motorcycle the manual matters anyway: you learn and test on the 6-speed gearbox.
Locations & test area Munich East
Roundabout on Rosenheimer Strasse, just before Ostbahnhof: you set off from Haidhausen, have to turn in tight and hold your line cleanly between the tram rails. This is where you feel why the Duke's low weight is worth its weight in gold — you ease it into the curve instead of wrestling it.
Locations: Haidhausen (Rosenheimer Str. 86), Giesing (Grünwalder Str. 12) & Haar (Münchener Str. 13).
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride the KTM 790 Duke on an A2 licence?
Yes. The 790 Duke can be restricted to A2 power, so you may ride it on an A2 licence (from 18). When you later upgrade to open Class A, you stay on the same type of bike and don't have to get used to a completely new machine.
Do I need prior experience for open Class A?
Not necessarily. From 24 you can take Class A directly, even without A2 first. 105 hp sounds like a lot, but thanks to the low weight and riding modes we build the power up step by step in training — and in the end you control it confidently yourself in the test.
More vehicles in this class
Book your trial lesson in the KTM 790 DUKE
Experience this vehicle in your first lesson at all three of our Munich-East locations.
📍 München Haidhausen, Giesing & Haar