KTM 790 Duke

KTM 790 Duke Highlights

A couple of KTM dealerships across India have unofficially started accepting bookings for the 790 Duke. Booking amount ranges between Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. The bike is expected to be launched towards the end of March this year. The mid-displacement sports naked was also spotted in India for the very first time. The images show the bike on the floor of what looks like a Bajaj R&D centre, since it is surrounded by Pulsar models. As a result, we think the launch of the 790 Duke in India is around the corner. Since the bike will be brought in as a CKD, high localisation could help bring down the bike’s price. If KTM manages to localise major components of the bike, we expect the 790 Duke to carry an aggressive price tag of around Rs 7 lakh (ex-showroom). Primary competitors of the 790 Duke in India include the MV Agusta Brutale 800, Triumph Street Triple S, Kawasaki Z900 and the Suzuki GSX-S750.

On the styling front, the 790 Duke sports the same aggressive design language that's seen on the Duke series. Its standout features include a side-mounted upswept exhaust and a slightly stretched out wheelbase compared to its cousins. In terms of features, the 790 Duke gets a full-digital TFT instrument console, stability control with cornering ABS, a supermoto mode and ‘Motor Slip Regulation’ (MTC) which is essentially an engine brake control that works to balance off high revs while aggressively downshifting. Additionally, the 790 Duke features traction control system with lean angle sensitivity and ride-by-wire over and above four-rider modes: Sport, Street, Rain and Track, which opens up a plethora of other rider aids like anti-wheelie control, launch control, traction control with a spin adjuster and throttle response. 

The 790 Duke is powered by a new LC8 799cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor that pumps out 105PS of power at 9500rpm and 86Nm of torque at 8000rpm. A slipper clutch-assisted 6-speed transmission with two-way quickshifter transfers power to the rear wheel. 

The 790 Duke employs a steel trellis frame which uses the engine as a stressed member to keep the weight down to 169kg (dry). Suspension duties are handled by 43mm upside-down forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear with 12-stage preload adjustability, both from WP. Anchoring the 790 Duke are twin 300mm front discs and a single 240mm rear disc brake. Dual-channel ABS comes as standard.