2017 KTM Duke Spotted Testing in India for the First Time

Unless you have been living under a rock, you would know that KTM is working on the next-gen Duke range. While several spy shots have come up from Europe, a test mule of one of the variant has been spotted on Indian roads for the first time. YouTube user Konvicted Rider (nice name!) has posted a video of the bike while it was out for a test on the Mumbai-Pune highway.

The new, reshaped tank extensions are clearly visible. Along with the international models, the Indian range may also finally do away with the underbelly exhausts. In its place a canister unit, as seen on this motorcycle, may make way, helping the bike be BS4 compliant. Hopefully, the auditory pleasures by this new version will hence, be better than the present iteration.

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While others may, with utmost confidence, tell you that it is the Duke 390 under test, we will be transparent and openly acknowledge that it is almost impossible to decipher the cubic capacity of this mule. So, it can be the Duke 390 or the 200 or even the smallest 125 (which is also manufactured & exported from India).

Apart from this, the instrumentation console is also expected to be a new colourful unit with smartphone integration and other features.

Read More: KTM-the Way Ahead for the Austrian Bike Maker in India

Its obvious that the engines will be carried over however, Stephan Pierer has hinted that there will be some major changes to them. So apart from the expected tweaks for better overall efficiency multiple sources have informed us that the Duke 390 will get a second counter balancer shaft (like the one seen in the new Duke 690). The counter balancer shaft helps in reducing vibrations under high rpm which are an inherent characteristic of big single cylinder motors. In simpler words, next-gen Duke 390 (and the RC390) are expected to possess lesser vibrations, the primary issue with the current-gen models.

Also Read: 43 PS Royal Enfield Himalayan with Duke 390’s Engine: Here it is….

The Austrian bike maker has also recently tied up with a Philippines based company to manufacture the Duke 200, RC 200, Duke 390 and RC 390. While most of these bikes will be exported to China, 30 percent are to be sold in the Philippines.