2018 KTM 790 DUKE PROTOTYPE
FIRST RIDE
P74
The 790 Duke has been in the
works for a long time, here is one
of the early concept sketches.
seat height to as wide a range of
statures as possible. High-end
componentry on the 790 Duke
includes radial brakes, obviously
with Bosch ABS as standard to
meet Euro 4 homologation, and
fully adjustable WP suspension
with an upside down fork and
a direct-action cantilever rear
shock operated directly off the
cast aluminum swingarm, and
a WP steering damper. Ten-
spoke lightweight cast aluminum
wheels are standard. There's a
very distinctive fluted silencer to
the 2-1 stainless steel exhaust
system with the hefty box under
the swingarm pivot containing
the three-way catalyst. All the
lights front and rear are LED,
and there's a full color TFT dash
similar to the one on the 690
Duke, plus there are illuminated
menu switches.
The 790 Duke's extensive
array of rider aids includes three
riding modes—Sport, Street
and Rain—plus multi-stage MTC
traction control, Bosch Corner-
ing ABS that's also lean-angle
sensitive, as well as KTM's
established MSR/Motor Slip
Regulation entailing targeted in-
tervention by the Keihin ECU to
mitigate engine braking's effect
on the rear wheel. The electron-
ics package is likely to be a
benchmark for the middleweight
class. The two-way powershifter
also includes launch control and
spin adjuster, as well as making
the anti-wheelie program switch-
