KTM India has
launched one of the most anticipated products, the 790 Duke. Priced at INR
8,63,945*, the middleweight naked roadster will be available in limited
numbers. The KTM 790 Duke had started reaching dealerships earlier this month
and select dealerships had begun accepting booking unofficially. The
Indian-spec 790 Duke features a saree guard (installed next to the pillion
footrest on the left side of the bike) and a front number plate (placed above
the headlight). The saree guard (for motorcycles) and front number plate are
mandatory for all two-wheelers sold in our market.
The feature-packed
naked roadster comes with full-LED lighting (headlight, taillight and blinkers)
as standard. The US-spec motorcycle features conventional blinkers that are not
as appealing as the lean LED units that are seen on European and Indian models.
The full-colour TFT instrument console benefits from Bluetooth connectivity and
offers controls to music and calls through the switchgear.
The naked roadster
styling is complemented by a power-packed motor, premium hardware and a
comprehensive electronics package. The BS-IV compliant 799 cc parallel-twin,
liquid-cooled LC8c engine delivers 105 hp of max power at 9,000 rpm and a peak
torque of 87 Nm at 8,000 rpm. The limited details available about BS-VI model
indicate that the motorcycle will come with an 890 cc engine next year.
Electronic rider
aids include a ride-by-wire throttle system that brings four riding modes –
Sport, Street, Rain and Track. Other key electronic safety features include
traction control (switchable), ABS (with Supermoto mode – disengages rear ABS),
cornering ABS, wheelie control and Motor Slip Regulation (MSR).
The parallel-twin
motor is linked to a six-speed gearbox uses PASC slip-assist clutch and
features a quickshifter (up and downshifts). The shock absorption hardware on
the 790 Duke include a WP-sourced 43 mm inverted forks (non-adjustable) at the
front and an adjustable monoshock at the back. Although unconfirmed, we may see
adjustable front forks on the Euro-V/BS-VI model.
The list of rivals
includes the Ducati Monster range, the Triumph Street Triple series, the Suzuki
GSX-S750 and the Kawasaki Z900.
