- Design has been heavily reworked
- Features WP brake callipers at both ends
The upcoming KTM 790 Duke has been spotted testing once again, and the new round of spy shots has revealed some interesting details. The bike has seen some significant changes to its design, and will come with in-house developed WP brake callipers.
WP is currently KTM’s in-house suspension brand, and the addition of these brake callipers should help keep costs in check. It is likely a part of KTM AG’s (KTM’s parent company) plan to increase vertical integration.
WP brake callipers were first spotted being used on the international-spec KTM 390 Duke. The addition of an in-house developed braking system to the 790 Duke likely indicates that WP is expanding beyond the sub-500cc segment.
Like we had seen on the previous spy shots, the next-gen KTM 790 Duke has seen a lot of changes to its design compared to the current-gen model. The upcoming bike gets a more aggressive-looking headlight section with a projector headlamp, inspired by the higher capacity 990 Duke and the 1390 Super Duke R. The fuel tank and extensions have also been reworked and look quite sharp.
Lastly, the side panels and the exhaust end-can also look quite different. Overall, the new design should bring the 790 Duke more in line with the brand’s higher-capacity models. Aside from these changes, the engine is likely to remain the same. The current-gen 790 Duke is powered by a 799cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine producing 105bhp and 87Nm.
So far, the brand has not revealed any launch timeline. But judging from the spy shots, the bike looks close to production-ready and could be launched soon. However, it is unclear whether the bike will be coming to India.
Image source: Motobob YouTube
