KTM Duke 390 is on Its way; Check Out the Details

The Austrian bike maker KTM has announced to unveil its much awaited and yet speculated bike KTM Duke 390 at the upcoming Milan Motorcycle show. KTM Duke 390 will be a small bike specially designed for the US and the UK. The bike has been devloped to fill the space in-between the Duke 200 and Duke 690. However, the name of the bike has not been decided yet, looking at the company's trend of naming bikes ending with 90 e.g Duke 690, Duke 990, this mid-sized bike may be christened as Duke 390.

The bike might go on sales by 2013, and we are expecting it in India as well. Trends suggest that it will have a price tag of Rs 1.8 to Rs 2.0 lakh, and at this price this bike truly deserves an Indian launch. The 390 Duke will be equipped with a 375cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled 4-valve engine and there will be an advanced fuel injection system as well. The 390 Duke will retain the similar framework and design that the 200 Duke has. The bike will employ the same lightweight trellis frame, the gorgeously crafted lightweight swing-arm as well as the same suspension components, provided by noted suspension specialists White Power or WP suspension as it is presently known.

It is expected that there will be a scaled up frame and beefed up suspension components and also a revised wheelbase, so, everything will be enhanced to make the bike a pleasure to ride machine in keeping with KTM's 'ready to race' DNA.  The new engine is a large single cylinder liquid-cooled unit with twin overhead cam shafts operating a four valve head. This new unit is expected to deliver 45 PS, which is truly amazing for a mid-sized bike. It is expected that the new Duke 390 will weigh just 150 kilos offering a staggering power-to-weight ratio of 300PS per tonne, making it quite simply one of the best lightweight bikes. We are expecting a six-speed transmission and supple tuning to make for a very explosive mid-range followed by a near 200km/h capability.

The Duke 390 would also be built in India as are the 125 and 200 Dukes, at Bajaj Auto's state-of-the-art Chakan facility and exported the world over. We are expecting a same Bajaj Pulsar series bike also, as they have launched the Pulsar 200 NS with KTM Duke 200. If a Pulsar 350 will be launched then it will be interesting to see how it will change the Indian bike scenario as at the moment legendary Royal Enfields are ruling the segment.