Neocon Crenshaw caught in a massive deception against the American people. Tucker Carlson and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) got into a spat last week over the TikTok ban bill‚ with the former Fox News host calling the Texas congressman a “liar” for claiming that U.S. intelligence agencies don’t meddle in domestic news coverage. Carlson highlighted Crenshaw’s defense of the bill‚ specifically his remark that the intelligence community doesn’t manipulate U.S. news coverage. This is Rep. Dan Crenshaw as he walks out of the Capitol after voting to give Joe Biden the power to shut down news sites that dare to challenge him. Crenshaw tells reporter Liam Cosgrove that U.S. intel agencies don’t meddle in domestic news coverage‚ when of course he knows… pic.twitter.com/jcdCETV0NG— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 15‚ 2024 Crenshaw predictably fired back on X‚ claiming Tucker was simply “lying for attention” and that the TikTok ban bill wouldn’t grant the federal government the ability to shut down news outlets. But Tucker Carlson is RIGHT: Crenshaw’s particular comment that U.S. intelligence agencies don’t meddle in domestic news coverage is a spectacularly demonstrable whopper of a lie.Our fan-favorite Turbo Force Plus is now 40% off! See for yourself the delicious one-of-a-kind energy boost infowarriors CRAVE! Alex Jones weighs in on Crenshaw’s lies: Eye Patch McCain has just jumped the shark! He has told the biggest lie of his career and that says a lot. pic.twitter.com/H6UyEPApD0— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 17‚ 2024 The Smith-Mundt Act of 1948‚ which authorized the State Department to propagandize foreign countries as a matter of public diplomacy‚ was amended in 2012 by the Obama administration to direct the use of propaganda towards U.S. citizens. But even before that‚ the CIA attempted to manipulate domestic American news media organizations for propaganda purposes during its Operation Mockingbird program‚ which began in the early years of the Cold War. But amending of the Smith-Mundt Act in 2012 opened the floodgates for the CIA and other intelligence agencies to conduct sweeping psychological and propaganda operations against the American people. Here are a few examples from just the last few years alone. Russia Collusion Hoax It recently was revealed that CIA Director Brennan had foreign intelligence agencies illegally spy on Donald Trump and his associates during his 2016 campaign‚ long before the FBI launched its bogus “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation‚ which the media used to smear Trump as a “Russian agent” for years during his term. Former FBI Director James Comey in 2017 also secretly orchestrated a “leak” to The New York Times of negative memos he said he wrote about President Trump‚ with the motive of spurring the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to investigate the president’s alleged Russia ties‚ which lasted three years and provided plenty of baseless anti-Trump headlines. Meanwhile‚ the Russia collusion hoax was used by Congress to ratify the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act in 2016‚ which inevitably has been directed against the American people. Hunter Biden Laptop In October 2020‚ Hunter Biden’s “Laptop from Hell” was published by the New York Post‚ containing damning revelations of shady foreign business dealings involving the Biden family. But 50 former intelligence officials penned a letter dismissing the report on Hunter’s laptop as “Russian disinformation” and the federal government coordinated with social media companies to censor the report‚ which tangibly effected the outcome of the 2020 election. That campaign is now widely recognized as election interference by the intelligence community. COVID Plandemic The COVID pandemic was a large-scale psychological and biological warfare operation by world government health agencies‚ intelligence agencies‚ the U.S. military‚ and the corporate media to coerce billions of people to take an experimental gene therapy injection and reorient the global economy towards the globalist “Great Reset” model. During the years-long campaign‚ it was revealed that the CIA bribed analysts and journalists to lie about the origins of the COVID-19 Wuhan lab leak. A federal court also found the Biden regime coordinated with Big Tech companies to censor any dissent against lockdowns‚ the experimental vaccines‚ alternative Covid treatments‚ masks‚ and more to curate the news narrative as they saw fit. Trump himself recognized the pattern‚ and last June accused the intelligence agencies of running “illegal psychological warfare operations against the American people” for the last 7 years with the help of the media following his slew of indictments brought forward by leftist DAs and special counsel Jack Smith. “This persecution is being done by the same weaponized agencies that for 7 years have been running illegal psychological warfare campaigns against the American people‚” Trump said. President Trump: “This persecution is being done by the same weaponized agencies that for 7 years have been running illegal psychological warfare campaigns against the American people.” pic.twitter.com/aB8EGR3lSd— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 14‚ 2023 “It’s all been a battle of disinformation. One thing after the other‚ and all to protect the radical left misfits‚” he added. Remember‚ former CIA Director Mike Pompeo even gave away the game in 2019 when he admitted that the CIA lies to the American people on a routine basis. In the following Sunday tweet posted by Scott Adams‚ see if you can identify which of the dozens of recent media hoaxes were quarterbacked by the intelligence agencies: I updated the Hoax Quiz.Hoax QuizHow many of these hoaxes do you still believe are true?Russia Collusion HoaxSteele Dossier hooker storyRussia paying bounties on US soldiers in AfghanistanTrump called Neo-Nazis “Fine people.”Trump suggested drinking/injecting bleach…— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) March 17‚ 2024 Crenshaw is just a pawn the intelligence agencies who gaslights the American people as a matter of course. Follow Jamie White on X | Truth | Gab | Gettr | Minds

from DollarVigilante: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Ethan Huff‚ Natural News: Is the world heading towards a major global food collapse? The governments of the European Union (EU) sure seem to think so. As of right now‚ EU governments have begun conducting major food crisis war games simulations that predict serious food supply and logistics problems as soon as this year going into next […]

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The professional association for city managers issued a public censure against a Michigan city official in part because he promised firefighters and police that he wouldn’t impose a hypothetical vaccine mandate but would instead follow alternative COVID-19 protocols. Now‚ he’s suing to restore his good name. “I was honestly heartbroken to see the [International City/County Management Association] publicly censure me‚ faulting me for violating a vaccine mandate that didn’t exist‚” James Freed‚ city manager of Port Huron‚ Michigan‚ told The Daily Signal in a written statement. The International City/County Management Association serves as the major professional association for city managers across the U.S. The organization claims to be politically neutral‚ but Freed says that it censured him in part as retaliation after he complained about an ICMA leader’s left-wing political activity on Twitter‚ the social media platform now called X. The management association appears to have believed that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer‚ a Democrat‚ had imposed a vaccine mandate‚ although she did not. The association censured Freed in part for vowing that he wouldn’t enforce such a mandate. The censure mentioned Freed’s response to Whitmer after the governor falsely claimed that his city had violated COVID-19 protocols. Freed spoke to The Daily Signal before the Supreme Court ruled in his favor on an unrelated matter regarding his decision to block another user on Facebook. Retaliation? The story traces back to November 2018‚ when Freed noticed that a Twitter account with the handle @ICMAEthics started “liking” posts that opposed Republicans. Freed wrote a letter to Martha Perego‚ the ICMA’s director of member services and ethics who ran the account. He noted the account’s “increasingly partisan” activity‚ saying its handle “leads the public to believe that this type of social media activity and behavior represents the members of our association.” “I am requesting that either you delete and ‘unlike’ any political activity and statements that may conflict with our Code of Ethics‚ or simply change your Twitter handle to something that does not appear to represent ICMA‚” Freed wrote to Perego. James_Freed_Letter_to_Martha_Perego_11_26_2018Download Marc Ott‚ executive director of the International City/County Management Association‚ wrote a letter to Freed one month later‚ saying he had directed Perego to remove political activity from the Twitter account and disconnect it from the ICMA. Freed thought that was the end of the matter. Marc_Ott_Letter_to_James_Freed_12_12_2018Download Yet ICMA launched an investigation into Freed‚ claiming that he had violated the management association’s code of ethics by sharing information about an official ethics complaint in an improper venue. Freed had shared his concerns about the @ICMAEthics Twitter activity in a private Listserv for the Michigan Municipal Executives Association. On Jan. 28‚ 2018‚ Jessica Cowles‚ ICMA’s ethics adviser and an assistant to Perego‚ called Freed to notify him that the management association had launched an ethics investigation into his behavior. In the call‚ which Freed recorded and made available on the “City Manager Unfiltered” podcast‚ Freed repeatedly told Cowles that he had no intention of filing a formal ethics complaint against Perego. But Cowles didn’t appear to receive the message. In June 2019‚ the ICMA Committee of Professional Conduct cleared Freed of the accusations in the complaint. Later that year‚ the ICMA investigated another ethics complaint against Freed‚ claiming that his social media posts were political. The ICMA’s Committee of Professional Conduct ultimately cleared Freed in that complaint‚ as well. In his lawsuit against the International City/County Management Association‚ Freed argues that these investigations were “frivolous” acts of “retaliation” and signs of things to come. COVID-19 During the COVID-19 pandemic‚ Freed followed the guidance of health agencies‚ but faced a fine and ridicule from Michigan’s Democratic governor‚ Whitmer‚ over a false report that he had not done so. Matthew Hartman‚ an inspector at the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration‚ issued a $6‚300 fine to Port Huron‚ where Freed is city manager‚ after visiting on July 21‚ 2020. Hartman later testified under oath that he burned his notes from that visit‚ the Detroit News reported. Hartman had not witnessed any city employee who wasn’t wearing a face mask or was violating COVID-19 rules‚ but he claimed that employees he interviewed said they saw such violations. He also said he destroyed emails from his supervisor regarding the case. Hartman confessed this in a deposition to Todd Shoudy‚ an attorney for Port Huron. Shoudy later notified Michigan’s occupational safety and health agency that he planned to depose its director‚ Bart Pickelman. Six days later‚ the agency announced it would dismiss the case against Port Huron. Freed urged the state Legislature to investigate the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s governance structure. “My heart breaks for all the small businesses and mom-and-pops that didn’t have an expert legal team‚ who didn’t have the resources to put MIOSHA under oath‚” Freed told The Detroit News at the time. Port Huron’s appeal cost between $15‚000 and $20‚000. MIOSHA dropped the fine in November 2021. Whitmer‚ Michigan’s governor‚ had said the agency fined only employers who “flouted” COVID-19 rules. On the same day MIOSHA dropped the fine‚ Freed posted a Breitbart story on Instagram‚ tagging Whitmer. “@gewhitmer you shouldn’t mess with a father who cares about the world his little girl grows up in‚” the city manager wrote. Non-Existent Vaccine Mandate Also in November 2021‚ the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency temporary standard requiring large employers— those with 100 employees or more—to make employees take a COVID-19 vaccine or get tested regularly for the disease. OSHA’s emergency temporary standard didn’t apply to Port Huron‚ but Freed anticipated that MIOSHA would apply similar rules. “I did everything I could to protect my employees during the COVID-19 pandemic‚” Freed told The Daily Signal. He said he prepared to “follow the testing regimen” that OSHA presented as an alternative to the vaccine requirement. Even though OSHA’s temporary standard didn’t apply to Port Huron‚ he anticipated that MIOSHA would adopt the temporary standard. Freed said many city employees told him they would quit if he forced them to take a vaccine‚ so even though he had taken a COVID-19 vaccine himself‚ he decided on the option that didn’t mandate the vaccine for others. The city manager sent a letter to employees stating‚ “I will never enforce a vaccine mandate upon my employees.” Freed predicted that a federal judge would issue an injunction against any such mandate‚ and that the Supreme Court also would rule against it. The Supreme Court unanimously blocked the rule in January 2022. Freed insisted that Congress makes laws‚ “not unelected bureaucrats.” “I felt the liberty and personal choice of my employees warranted protection‚ and I needed to send a clear message to my employees that I would not force them to be vaccinated in order to avoid losing critical employees that would have been difficult to replace‚” Freed told The Daily Signal. The Censure On July 5‚ 2022‚ the International City/County Management Association publicly censured Freed‚ in part for his apparent unwillingness to enforce a vaccine mandate that didn’t exist. The association sent a press release to media and issued a post on its website announcing the censure. Freed has highlighted the differences between the documents. The ICMA Executive Board voted to censure Freed on June 11‚ 2022. “The board determined Mr. Freed’s personal social media post directed to Michigan’s governor following the city’s successful appeal of a state workplace safety violation did not reflect the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity and was especially inappropriate for an ICMA-credentialed manager‚” the association said in the press release. “The board concluded Mr. Freed’s preemptive declaration to city employees that he would never implement a specific law or policy when it is the manager’s duty to do so is contrary to the principles outlined in Tenet 3 of the [ethics] code‚” the statement continued. “Finally‚ the board found his commentary to a colleague on the Michigan Municipal Executives listserv failed to adhere to his ethical obligation to treat colleagues with professional respect.” Ex.-66-July-5-2022-Press-ReleaseDownload The ICMA’s website post went into greater detail on the first two counts against Freed. For the post about Whitmer‚ the association claimed Freed failed to fulfill his “ethical responsibility” to ensure that his “conduct builds trust and respect with elected officials as well as the public.” When it came to the issue of a vaccine mandate‚ the ICMA acted as though Freed had vowed not to enforce an existing law. The management association said on its website: “The board concluded (1) a member has an affirmative duty to follow the law as outlined in Tenet 3’s commitment to honesty and integrity; (2) a member may choose to resign from their position if they find they cannot implement a law or policy because it conflicts with their personal or professional beliefs; and (3) a manager has a responsibility to ensure their conduct enhances public trust in their position‚ their organization‚ and the local government management profession. The board determined his preemptive declaration to city employees that he would never implement a specific law or policy was contrary to the principles in Tenet 3.” Ex.-67-July-5-2022-ICMA-Website-Announcement-of-Public-CensuresDownload Before the public censure‚ the International City/County Management Association allowed Freed to appeal its recommendation for a censure. He did appeal‚ and the ICMA rejected his appeal. Among other things‚ the association took issue with his complaint that “unelected bureaucrats” do not make laws because “it overlooked the fact that the governor is an elected official.” Whitmer played no role in OSHA’s emergency temporary standard‚ however. During Freed’s June 11‚ 2022‚ appeal hearing‚ ICMA board members sent text messages condemning him as a “douchebag” and saying they wanted to “punch him in the face.” William Fraser‚ city manager of Montpelier‚ Vermont‚ messaged Pam Anthill‚ city manager of Encinitas‚ California. “He just looks like a douchebag‚” Fraser wrote to Anthill. “He is‚” Anthill responded. “I already want to punch him in the face‚” Fraser added. Fraser told The Daily Signal he regrets making those comments. “During the hearing about Mr. Freed’s ethics violations‚ I sent a private text message to a colleague which was uncomplimentary to Mr. Freed‚” he wrote in a statement Thursday. “I very much regret making those comments.” “Notwithstanding those remarks‚ I voted against issuing a public censure to Mr. Freed‚” Fraser added. “I am no longer a defendant in Mr. Freed’s civil suit and have completed my term as a member of the ICMA executive board.” Fifteen days after the ICMA formally censured Freed‚ the Port Huron Mayor and City Council sent the association a letter in which it stood by Freed. “In consultation with our legal counsel‚ we strongly disagree with your findings‚” the mayor and council wrote. “No law or pending law was preemptively declared to be violated‚” the elected city leaders added. “You provided no such evidence to support your claim. On the contrary‚ our city manager took steps‚ by words and action‚ to comply with all current laws and any pending laws‚ while at the same time respecting the civil liberties of our dedicated employees.” “Additionally‚ although you may not like professional criticism of elected or appointed officials‚ it is lawful [and] ethical by ICMA standards and constitutionally protected‚” the city leaders wrote. “Our city manager did not breach or erode public trust.” The mayor and council members declared their “confidence and trust” in Freed‚ asking the ICMA to “retract your baseless censure.” City_Council_Response_ICMA_CensureDownload Despite the city council’s support‚ Freed worries that the public censure may prevent him from getting a job in any other jurisdiction. While the city council has supported him‚ the censure may still stymie his career. The Lawsuit Freed sued ICMA and others in September 2022‚ alleging defamation‚ false light invasion of privacy‚ and conspiracy against him. The Port Huron city manager seeks $75‚000 ($25‚000 per claim)‚ plus costs‚ interest‚ and attorney’s fees. “Even though ICMA’s case against me is based on their false understanding of the situation on the ground in Michigan at the time‚ the professional organization has refused to revoke the public censure which is very damaging to my professional reputation‚” Freed told The Daily Signal. “Sadly‚ I am left with no other recourse but to sue to restore my good name and protect my ability to provide for my family.” James_Freed_Lawsuit_FilingDownload Neither the International City/County Management Association nor Anthill nor Whitmer’s office responded to The Daily Signal’s request for comment by publication time. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post City Manager Association Torches a Man’s Career Because He Wouldn’t Impose a Vaccine Mandate That Didn’t Even Exist appeared first on The Daily Signal.

It took an 11-year-boy's discovery in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel to remind everybody of who the historical inhabitants of the Jewish state were. According to the Jerusalem Post‚ an 11-year-old boy who usually lives on a kibbutz found a coin from the Hasmonean Dynasty‚...

The 2024 KTM 990 Duke 96% new and replaces the 890 Duke R. We tested it in the mountains of southern Spain as part of KTM’s “30 Years of Duke” launch that included the 390 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R Evo. (Photos by Francesc Montero &; Sebas Romero) What’s the magic number? When the first Duke debuted 30 years ago‚ it was 602cc‚ which was packed into a single-cylinder engine that made 58 hp. These days (in the U.S. market)‚ Dukes range in displacement from 249cc in the Duke 250 to 1‚350cc in the 1390 Super Duke R Evo. In between‚ KTM offers the 390 Duke (399cc)‚ 790 Duke (799cc)‚ and 990 Duke (947cc). For this KTM 990 Duke review‚ we take one of the newest Dukes on a test ride in the mountains of southern Spain. Related: 2024 KTM 390 Duke Review | First Ride Evolution of the Duke. Front and center is the 1994 KTM 620 Duke. Behind it to the left is the 990 Duke‚ in the middle is the 1390 Super Duke R Evo‚ and behind it to the right is the 390 Duke. They are surrounded by other milestone Duke models from the past 30 years. With its displacement approaching a liter‚ the new 990 Duke resides in the so-called “super middleweight” class. It replaces the 890 Duke R‚ but there’s more to it than just a 58cc bump in engine size. According to KTM reps at the global launch in Spain‚ the 990 Duke is 96% new and “more like a smaller Super Duke.” Powering the 990 Duke is KTM’s liquid-cooled LC8c parallel-Twin with DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder – the same engine platform found across the 790/890/990 Adventure and Duke lines. Only the 990 Duke has the 947cc version that makes a claimed 123 hp at 9‚500 rpm and 76 lb-ft of torque at 6‚750 rpm (up from 121 hp and 73 lb-ft on the 890 Duke R). The intake mixture is fed through a 46mm throttle body and compressed at a ratio of 13.5:1‚ the Bosch engine management system uses throttle-by-wire‚ and the 6-speed transmission is mated to a PASC slip/assist wet clutch. Spent gasses exit through a new stainless-steel exhaust that’s Euro 5+ compliant. The liquid-cooled LC8c parallel-Twin is a workhorse engine that powers all KTM 790/890/990 Adventure and Duke models. The frame‚ subframe‚ and swingarm are new. Wrapped around the 990 Duke’s engine is a new frame‚ subframe‚ and swingarm. The chromoly steel frame‚ which uses the engine as a stressed member‚ is stiffer for added stability and wider at the back to pass outside rather than inside the swingarm. To compensate for the stiffer frame‚ the diecast aluminum subframe allows more flex‚ and it now houses the airbox. The swingarm‚ which is constructed using gravity diecast aluminum and uses a closed-lattice rather than the previous open-lattice design‚ is 3.3 lb lighter than the 890 Duke R’s. Curb weight with the 3.8-gallon tank fuel is a svelte 395 lb. The KTM 990 Duke has a stiffer frame while its swingarm allows more flex. The net result is more responsive handling. Gear Up | KTM 990 Duke Review Helmet: Shoei X-Fifteen Suit: Alpinestars Missile V2 Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Gloves: Alpinestars SP-8 V3 Air Boots: Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Like the 890 Duke R‚ the 990 Duke is equipped with adjustable WP Apex suspension‚ but it has a new 43mm inverted open-cartridge fork with 5.5 inches of travel and a single gas-assisted rear shock that’s mounted directly to the top of the swingarm and has 5.9 inches of travel. Convenient fork-top adjusters offer five-click adjustability for compression (left leg) and rebound (right leg). The shock also has a five-position adjuster for rebound that requires a flat-blade screwdriver‚ and preload is adjustable using a spanner (both tools are in a kit under the seat; compression cannot be adjusted). The KTM 990 Duke’s front wheel is shared with the 1390 Super Duke R Evo‚ and a new rotor mount saves 2.2 lb of unsprung weight. The 4-piston calipers are made by J.Juan. The 990 Duke rolls on 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels shod with Bridgestone Battlax S22 tires (the latest S23s weren’t yet available for homologation). The front wheel is the same as the 1390 Super Duke R Evo’s‚ but the rear is slightly different because the 990 has a two-sided swingarm and the 1390 has a single-sided swingarm. Slowing things down are the same 4-piston radial front calipers with 300mm discs and 2-piston rear calipers with a 240mm disc as on the 890 Duke R‚ but a lighter connection between the front rotors and the wheel saves roughly 2.2 lb of unsprung weight. Cornering ABS with a rear-off Supermoto mode is standard. The 5-inch TFT display uses intuitive graphics that show how different settings affect the motorcycle’s behavior. In terms of technology‚ the 990 Duke has a new 5-inch color TFT display with a scratch- and glare-resistant bonded-glass screen‚ redesigned menus‚ and optional KTMconnect for smartphone pairing to allow access to navigation‚ audio‚ and phone calls. All lighting is LED and there’s a USB-C charging port. Rider electronics include three standard ride modes (Sport‚ Street‚ and Rain) and two optional ride modes (Performance and Track) that adjust throttle response‚ lean-sensitive traction control‚ and wheelie control. Track mode enables a10-level rear-wheel slip adjuster that can be adjusted on the fly‚ launch control‚ a lap timer‚ and telemetry functions. Cruise control‚ Motor Slip Regulation‚ and an up/down quickshifter are optional. The 2024 KTM 990 Duke is nicknamed “The Sniper” and is available in orange or black. The 990 Duke has also been restyled‚ with a more muscular‚ hunched-forward stance like the 1390 Super Duke R Evo. Both share a unique headlight design with stacked low and high beams in the center that are framed by a pair of DRLs shaped like curved talons. Compared to the 890 Duke R‚ the 990 Duke’s seat is angled up more in the front to prevent the rider sliding forward‚ is flatter‚ has new foam‚ and sits at 32.4 inches‚ down from 32.8 on the 890. The pillion seat was moved up by 0.8 inch to give the passenger a better view and more legroom. Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe and it has fantastic twisty roads. My test ride on the 990 Duke was a romp in mountains above Almería‚ Spain‚ on a cold‚ clear February morning that was part of the “30 Years of Duke” press launch that included the 390 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R Evo. When we did a comparison test of KTM’s full Duke lineup in 2021‚ the 890 Duke was a staff favorite‚ “a standout machine that encourages you to test its handling and your nerve‚ and it consistently rewards the rider with confidence-inspiring feel and agility or a gentle prod where lesser machines fall short.” We described it as “a mustang‚ wild at heart‚ straining at the bit‚ and embodies the essence of the Duke series: immediate power and razor-sharp cornering stripped down to the barest of essentials.” The KTM 990 Duke has a unique headlight design that’s shared with the 1390 Super Duke R Evo. Is the 990 Duke even better? Yes and no. It is an exciting machine that provides a thrilling rush of power and has a light and balanced feel‚ a responsive chassis‚ and an excellent electronics package. The Duke’s steady evolution from the 790 to the 890 to the 990 is obvious‚ but the 990 feels like it just turned 40‚ suddenly thrust into middle age. As a seven-tenths scale Super Duke (at least in terms of engine displacement; the 990’s 123 hp is 65% as much as the 1390’s 190 hp)‚ it demands more respect and has lost a bit of its free-spiritedness. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a shift in focus‚ and with the 790 Duke back in KTM’s lineup‚ it makes sense. The KTM 990 Duke‚ all grown up and serious as a heart attack. Our launch base camp was the Circuito de Almería‚ located in an arid region near the southern Spanish coast where many Spaghetti Westerns were filmed. From the track‚ we rode north into the mountains‚ climbing rapidly on a road with so many hairpins it felt like riding the Alps minus the tour buses. On such a tight‚ technical road‚ the 990 Duke felt like overkill. The 390 Duke we rode the previous day would have made more sense‚ or perhaps KTM’s 690 SMC R supermoto. After we did our photo passes on a 1st-gear hairpin where I struggled to find my groove‚ we continued climbing to the top of the mountain. Down the other side‚ the curves opened up and the 990 Duke felt more in its element. The KTM 990 Duke is light‚ powerful‚ and agile. On a short ride on public roads‚ some of which were wet or lightly glazed with ice‚ I didn’t try out the Performance or Track modes‚ or the new launch control. The Street and Sport modes provided plenty of excitement‚ and the more I rode the 990 Duke‚ the more I fell under its spell. Allow me to reiterate two key specs: 123 hp and 395 lb. That power is delivered in a direct but very manageable way to the rear wheel‚ which is attached to a lightweight motorcycle with a retuned chassis that ensures steering inputs hit the bullseye. Admirable qualities‚ but also ones that encourage a high rate of speed. Compared to the 890 Duke R‚ the KTM 990 Duke’s seat is flatter and 0.4 inch lower. I’ve tested enough KTMs to become accustomed to its menus and appreciate the intuitive illustrated motorcycle graphics that show how different settings affect vehicle dynamics. The new switchgear on the 990 Duke is easy to use‚ but there are too many steps involved in changing modes and settings on the fly. A simple “mode” button that would allow a rider to quickly toggle between ride modes would simplify the process. So 990 may be the magic number. Nearly 20 years ago‚ the KTM 990 Super Duke was the first big-bore streetbike made by a small Austrian company known for its dirtbikes. Since then‚ KTM has become Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer‚ the Super Duke has gotten super-er‚ and the 990 Duke honors that legacy. 2024 KTM 990 Duke 2024 KTM 990 Duke Specs Base Price: $12‚500 Website: KTM.com Warranty: 2 yrs.‚ 24‚000 miles Engine Type: Liquid-cooled‚ transverse parallel-Twin‚ DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl. Displacement: 947cc Bore x Stroke: 92.5 x 70.4mm Horsepower: 123 hp @ 9‚500 rpm (factory claim) Torque: 76 lb-ft @ 6‚750 rpm (factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed‚ cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch Final Drive: Chain Wheelbase: 58.1 in. Rake/Trail: 24.2 degrees/3.9 in. Seat Height: 32.5 in. Wet Weight: 395 lb (factory claim) Fuel Capacity: 3.9 gal. Fuel Consumption: 50 mpg (factory claim) The post 2024 KTM 990 Duke Review | First Ride  appeared first on Rider Magazine.

The updated 2024 BMW F 900 GS adventure bike seeks to reinvigorate BMW’s middleweight platform. Upgraded from the F 850 now with a larger 895cc parallel-Twin that delivers 105 hp‚ a ready-to-ride low weight of 483 lb‚ a lower and more svelte profile‚ and upgraded suspension‚ the 2024 BMW F 900 GS just might be the best parallel-Twin adventure bike ever offered from the German company. To see how the 2024 BMW F 900 GS performs‚ we travel to Málaga‚ Spain‚ for a full day of on-road and off-road riding. Watch the video below to see the F 900 GS in action‚ and read our full review here. 2024 BMW F 900 GS Specs  Base Price: $13‚495    Warranty: 2 yrs.‚ unltd. miles   Website: BMWmotorcycles.com  ENGINE   Type: Liquid-cooled‚ parallel-Twin‚ DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.   Displacement: 895cc   Bore x Stroke: 86.0 x 77.0mm   Horsepower: 105 hp @ 8‚500 rpm (factory claim)    Torque: 68.6 lb-ft @ 6‚750 rpm (factory claim)   Compression Ratio: 13.1:1   Valve Insp. Interval: 12‚000 miles   Fuel Delivery: EFI w/ throttle-by-wire‚ 48mm throttle bodies   Transmission: 6-speed‚ cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch   Final Drive: Chain  CHASSIS  Frame: Tubular-steel trellis frame &; subframe‚ aluminum swingarm   Wheelbase: 62.6 in.   Rake/Trail: 28.0 degrees/4.7 in.   Seat Height: 34.3 in.   Suspension‚ Front: 43mm inverted fork‚ fully adj.‚ 9.1 in. travel  Rear: Single linkage shock‚ w/ adj. spring preload &; rebound‚ 8.5 in. travel   Brakes‚ Front: Dual 305mm discs w/ 2-piston axial calipers &; cornering ABS   Rear: Single 265mm disc w/ 1-piston caliper &; cornering ABS   Wheels‚ Front: Cross-spoke w/ aluminum rims‚ 2.15 x 21  Rear: Cross-spoke w/ aluminum rims‚ 4.25 x 17   Tires‚ Front: 90/90-21   Rear: 150/70-17    Wet Weight: 483 lb   Fuel Capacity: 3.8 gal.   Gear Up   Helmet: HJC DS-X1   Jacket: Rev’It Neptune 2 GTX  Pants: Klim Latitude  Gloves: Rev’It Dirt 3  Boots: Alpinestars Toucan  The post 2024 BMW F 900 GS Review | Video appeared first on Rider Magazine.