- KTM 790 Duke will be priced around Rs 8.5 lakhs to Rs 9 lakhs
- Will be assembled at Bajaj’s manufacturing facility in Chakan
- To compete against the Triumph Street Triple S and RS versions
After various spy shots and rumours surfacing on the internet, KTM will finally launch its highly-awaited middle-weight streetfighter, the 790 Duke, on 23 September in India. Select dealers have already started accepting bookings for the motorcycle while a few of them also have the bike on display.
Drawing styling inspiration from its 1290cc sibling, the 790 Duke looks profoundly aggressive with sharp and muscular body panels. It sports a split LED headlamp with LED turn indicators while the svelte tail section also houses an LED tail lamp. The motorcycle comes loaded with electronic aids such as lean-sensitive cornering ABS, three levels of traction control along with four riding modes including street, rain, sport and track. Furthermore, all the information is displayed on a full-colour TFT instrument cluster.
Coming to the heart of the matter, powering the 790 Duke is a 799cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor which churns out a healthy 105bhp of power and 86Nm of peak torque. This mill comes mated to a six-speed gearbox which is assisted by a slipper clutch and two-way quickshifter. The motorcycle is also equipped with premium cycle parts. It is suspended by upside down forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear, sourced from WP. Braking is handled by 300mm dual discs with four-piston radial callipers up front and a 240mm single disc with a single-piston calliper at the rear.
The KTM 790 Duke will come as a CKD model and will be assembled at Bajaj’s facility in Chakan. This will help the brand price it aggressively. Expected to be pegged around Rs 8.5-9 lakhs (ex-showroom), the 790 Duke will lock horns with the Triumph Street Triple S and RS versions in India.
