Motorcycle specifications KTM790 Duke 2020 The attack!!!

Nothing was quiet. Under the shadow of the rubber and road chunks, the threat was growing. But the mid-size roadsters were so busy shaking up the sensations that they didn't see a quarrelsome pair of fangs ready to pounce. A mechanical organism designed to bite the spine and turn the driver into an adrenaline junkie. After a particularly promising prototype, KTM pulls the pin on a shock grenade: the 790 Duke.

The offensive is going to be direct, tense and explosive. Just the way KTM knows how. It's going head-to-head with the MT-09, Street Triple, Z 900 and a whole host of other battlers that make up the bulk of the market. The challenge is huge, and there's a real risk of breaking your connecting rods.
But for the orange brand, each challenge is just a stage in its ascent. The 790 Duke is a perfect illustration. Nicknamed "The Scalpel", the machine is as eye-catching as it is fierce. With a design almost identical to the proto presented at the end of 2016, the desire to go powdering on the road is instantaneous. To the delight of thrill-seekers, they're not faced with a big 690, but a little 1290, the latter being one of the most violent streetfighters in production, so the adrenalin connection comes into its own. With its hooked flanks, psychopathic insect headlight, taut nerves and remarkably well-integrated bevel muffler, this Duke is not a nice bike. It's a bike that's here to smash faces and shake purses (I'm not talking about the price).

One of the great qualities of the Katoches,, is the fiery spirit of its mechanicals. We have every right to expect the best, especially since Austrian engineers have created an all-new engine for this hunting model. A 799 cm3 parallel twin, the brand's first. And just as well, since the category is home to a wide range of engine architectures (L-twin, 3-cylinder, CP3 crossplane, 4-legged). To stand out from the crowd is all to the good. The LC8c's customary modern design features 4 valves per cylinder, double ACT, fuel injection, ride-by-wire, forged pistons, twin balance shafts and an anti-dribble clutch. Rated at 105 hp at 9,000 rpm, the Mattighoffen-bred nags are more thoroughbred than workhorse. Torque reaches 8.8 mkg at 8000 rpm. With these figures, the 790 Duke is a little less powerful than the segment's stars. However, the engine architecture is very efficient. And above all, this future fan of road surgery has other arguments to put forward: a joyful chassis and a badass character.

Steel or aluminum? Both. For the rear loop, we used aluminum to create a one-piece element. It holds the whole stern, from the saddles to the footrests, while integrating the airbox under the seat. Now, a good dose of chromium-molybdenum steel to make the frame. A tubular structure using the engine as a stiffening element, as the brand knows how to concoct. And, as you'd expect, the stuff hanging from it isn't too shabby. A 43 mm WP inverted fork, specially developed for this Duke but non-adjustable; a rear shock, also WP, with adjustable preload and rebound damping; 300 mm brake tracks with KTM-branded 4-piston radial calipers at the front - a 240 mm dual-piston caliper at the rear; an externally ribbed swingarm; and the clincher: a dry weight of just 169 kilos. The other two-cylinder roadster in the segment is 10 kg heavier. And to be honest, there's nothing lighter in its class.

The is starting to itch in the right hand. Because not only is there plenty of steak to go around... But the KTM 790 Duke was born into the digital age, and right from the outset it features a range of riding aids. And they're top-notch: tFT color display; curve-adaptive ABS, which can be deactivated, with a Supermotard mode for disconnecting only the rear; active shifter for upshifting and downshifting; four-stage traction control four levels, including a special circuit; stop-start assistance; MSR engine brake slip; anti-wheeling; rear tire slip management, adjustable from 1 to 9 levels; and four Riding Modes.
Here's an overview:
- Sport: most direct throttle control, allowing respectable drifts and perceptible slippage.
- Street: keeps things smooth for comfortable, controllable driving.
- Rain: early assistance intervention and maximum grip on wet roads.
- Track: no more fun and games, and a high degree of customization. Take full advantage of the track by reducing traction control, then fine-tune the rear wheel slip, smooth out the throttle, switch off anti-wheeling and steer.
Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone is optional.

The Duke range welcomes THE roadster to satisfy the vast majority of users. You can now start with the 125, confirm with the 390, be marginal and enjoy the gromono with the 690, go crazy for adrenaline and power with the 1290... But above all, throw yourself into the great arena of the wolves with this 790. The KTM identity is unmistakable, in both design and technology. This bike has everything it takes to make a big splash, with a well-targeted price tag to boot.

The 790 Duke will be available in a special L version for A2 license holders. Its power is reduced to 95 hp (70 Kw), so that it can be limited to 47.5 hp.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the match can take a completely different turn with the R version. More displacement, more watts, much better suspension and a more dynamic feel once you're behind the handlebars of the Duke 890 R cousin.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos