KTM India retails the 890 Duke R in the country and it is not confirmed yet whether the new-gen 790 Duke will be launched here or not
The next-gen KTM 790 Duke has been spotted during its test runs in Europe. The spy images reveal a lot of interesting details about the upcoming naked motorcycle, which we will discuss in detail in this piece. The next-gen KTM 790 Duke test unit appears to be in production-ready guise and it could be unveiled in the next few months. However, at this point of time, we can’t confirm whether this naked middleweight bike will make a return to the Indian market or not. KTM retails the 890 Duke R in India at Rs 14.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The spy pics confirm that the new-gen KTM 790 Duke takes styling cues from the 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R. It flaunts the same headlight as the aforementioned KTM bikes. The side panels are new while the fuel tank has also been redesigned. It continues to sit on the same tried-and-tested steel trellis frame from the ongoing model without any changes.
Upon closer inspection, we can also see that the exhaust silencer has also been restyled. In fact, the subframe is also a fresh unit to accommodate the new design changes. The braking calipers also appear to be updated ones as the braking setup looks different in the spy shots. We believe KTM might also opt for similar updates in the suspension system.
At the heart, the new-gen KTM 790 Duke carries the same 799cc parallel-twin engine and it is likely to remain unchanged. Presently, this engine generates maximum power of 93.7 bhp and highest torque of 87 Nm. The figures are expected to remain the same on the next-gen 790 Duke. The engine will come paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The 790 Duke is fondly addressed as the ‘Scalpel’.
Some of the notable features in the current-gen KTM 790 Duke include 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity with KTM Connect app, Navigation, USB-C charging port, Ride-by-wire throttle, and Traction control system. The naked motorcycle also boasts of five ride modes in the form of Street, Sport, Rain, Performance and Track. All of these features are likely to make their way in the new-gen model.
The KTM 790 Duke has a standard saddle height of 825 mm. Though the buyers also have the option of choosing a 805 mm KTM PowerParts seat and adjustable foot pegs. The naked bike, in all likelihood, will continue riding on the 17-inch alloy wheels with Maxxis Supermaxx ST tyres. It has a decent ground clearance of 186 mm while the fuel tank capacity stands at 14 litres.
