Showcased for the first time at the 2017 EICMA Show, the new 2019 KTM 790 Duke now opens for bookings in India. It will be limited to just 100 units. No launch schedule has been confirmed but dealers reveal September 5th as a likely date. Ahead of that, the sportsbike has started arriving at dealerships across India.
The KTM 790 Duke was recently spied at a KTM India authorized dealership in Mumbai (Images credit to DRC – Dombivli Riders Club). What sets the India-spec KTM 790 Duke different, is the presence of a saree guard. A saree guard is a mandatory accessory for all motorcycles on sale in India.
Expected to be priced at around Rs.8.5 lakhs, the new KTM 790 Duke comes in as a middle weight, sport naked bike. It will be positioned on a light weight chassis offering better rigidity while its compact dimensions will ensure better turn in and lean angles.
The 790 Duke sports full LED lighting, high mounted side exhaust, Bluetooth enabled digital instrument console offering access to incoming calls and messages along with music via the switchgear. It gets rider aids that include Track Mode, Motorcycle Traction Control, Quickshifter Plus, Motor Slip Regulation, SuperMoto Mode and Motorcycle Stability Control.
It also comes with cornering ABS and ride by wire throttle and 4 riding modes of Sport, Street, Rain and Track. KTM 790 Duke will get a BS IV compliant engine when launched in India. It will be upgraded to BS VI emission standards just ahead of the official deadline of 1st April 2020.
The 799cc, parallel twin, liquid cooled, LC8c engine offers 105 PS power at 9,000 rpm and 86 Nm torque at 8,000 rpm mated to a 6 speed transmission. Suspension will be via 43mm adjustable USD fork in the front and preload monoshock sourced from WP at the rear.
It will get dual front disc brakes in the front and single disc at the rear. The bike will be presented in distinctive KTM colour schemes of black and orange. It will come into the country as a CBU. This could be the reason why dealers are suggesting that the expected price is Rs 8.5 lakhs. This is much higher than rivals.
CKD versions of the 790 Duke are expected to be launched at a later date. These could bring down prices considerably. It will not go on sale at all of the company’s dealerships in the country but only through select dealerships. KTM 790 Duke will be more expensive as compared to the Kawasaki Z900 and Suzuki GSX-S750, but could be priced lower as compared to the Triumph Street Triple RS and Ducati Monster 821.
