Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has introduced
a new middleweight street naked motorcycle, the KTM 890 Duke R. Called ‘The
Super Scalpel’, the 890 Duke R traces its origins to the 790 Duke. That’s
exactly what we promised you earlier! An agile motorcycle with even more punch.
At the heart of the KTM 890 Duke R is an 890 cc
parallel-twin, liquid-cooled mill. Coupled to a 6-speed gearbox, the engine
produces 121 PS of power at 9,250 rpm and 99 Nm of torque at 7,750 rpm. In
comparison, the 790 Duke produces 105 PS of power and 87 Nm of torque. The new
powertrain gets a quick shifter, shift assist, ride by wire and slipper clutch.
The suspension duties on the KTM 890 Duke R are
performed by fully-adjustable 43 mm split-open cartridge upside-down WP Apex
fork up front and fully adjustable monoshock at the rear. Besides that, the
Chromium-Molybdenum-Steel frame uses the engine as a stressed member of the
chassis.
The subframe is made of cast aluminium, while the
swingarm is a die-cast, open-lattice unit optimized for stiffness, increased
stability and flex. KTM has also brought in the Brembo Stylema from the 1290
Super Duke R which bite over twin 320 discs up front with radially-mounted
4-piston callipers. The rear brake is a 240 mm disc with a floating monobloc
calliper.
The KTM 890 Duke R gets an increased seat height of
825 mm, a ground clearance of 186 mm and a 169 kg weight (dry). The handlebar
is 760 mm wide, lower than the 790 Duke's, and is adjustable, with 4 positions
on the triple clamp. It can be rotated in three further positions for the
perfect riding position. Tyres are Michelin Powercup 2 at both ends. Electronic
riding aides include a lean-angle sensitive traction control system which is
switchable, four riding modes (Sport, Street, Rain and Track) and an engine
slip control.
There is no official confirmation as to if and when
KTM will launch the 2020 KTM 890 Duke R in India.
