- Takes design inspiration from the KTM 990 Duke
- Features WP brake callipers
- Leaked in China
KTM appears to be readying the next-generation 790 Duke for production later this year, as the updated motorcycle has leaked through Chinese government type-approval filings.
The leaked documents reveal a comprehensive styling refresh that aligns the 790 Duke with KTM’s latest design language. Up front, the bike gets a sharper and more complex-looking face with a centrally mounted LED projector headlight flanked by separate DRLs. While similar to the 990 Duke’s layout, the headlamp assembly is unique to the 790.
The fuel tank and side panels are now more angular and heavily creased, giving the motorcycle a noticeably more aggressive stance than before. At the rear, the bike features a new subframe, likely to be a cast aluminium unit, paired with a stepped seat.
Mechanically, the 2026 KTM 790 Duke swaps the older KTM-branded J.Juan brake callipers in favour of WP-sourced units, in line with KTM’s broader shift towards its in-house components. It also gets new disc rotors with braking duties managed by an India-made Bosch 9.3MP ABS. WP continues to supply the suspension, while the frame and main chassis hardware seem largely unchanged. It also borrows the mirrors from the 990 Duke.
According to the type-approval documents, the 2026 KTM 790 Duke produces 77kW (103.26bhp) and tips the scales at 185kg kerb, making it 2kg lighter than the outgoing model. For Europe, the output will likely be limited to 70kW (94bhp), which will allow KTM to introduce an A2-licence version. The wheelbase is 1mm longer than before, measuring at 1,476mm, suggesting minimal changes to the chassis geometry.
As before, the bike will continue to be manufactured in China at KTM’s joint venture facility with CFMoto, which also explains the ‘KTMR2R’ badging seen on the tank, and why the bike has been leaked in China.
