KTM 790 Duke

KTM dealers across Pune have confirmed the launch of the 790 Duke. Fondly known as the ‘Scalpel’, the company is expected to launch the motorcycle by December 2018 or January 2019. If KTM decides to bring it here via the CKD route, expect it to be priced around Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom), making it one of the most affordable mid-sized nakeds out there.

In terms of design, the 790 Duke follows similar cues seen on the Duke series like the 390 Duke and the range-topper 1290 Duke. It sports the same inverted pitchfork shaped LED headlamps, aggressive bodywork and an sharp overall design. However, unlike the 390 Duke, it gets a stainless steel, high-mounted, upswept exhaust and a slightly longer wheelbase. Features include ride-by-wire throttle control, different riding modes, multi-level traction control with lean angle sensitivity, ABS, launch control and a quick shifter. There's also a similar looking coloured TFT instrument console like the 390 Duke. However, the speedo and the tacho readouts are bigger.

Powering the motorcycle is an LC8c 799cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor, which churns out 105PS of power and 86Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch. It is built around a tubular steel frame, which uses the engine as a stressed member. The suspension duties are handled by adjustable WP USD forks at the front and WP monoshock unit at the rear. Braking is taken care of by 300mm disc at the front and a 240mm rear disc.

Triumph Street Triple S: Perhaps KTM’s closest competitor, the Triumph Street Triple S offers high-performance numbers across the board. However, its high asking price of Rs 9.19 lakh will be too much of a stretch for some customers, especially considering how aggressively the KTM is expected to be priced.

Suzuki GSX-S750: Again, the Suzuki offers more power across the board here. However, if you look at the horsepower per rupee fight, the GSX-S750 has a bit of a disadvantage when compared to the Kawasaki Z900.

Kawasaki Z900: The Kawasaki Z900 is currently the most value-for-money prospect here. However, the electronics here, or rather lack thereof, hinders its prospect of being the segment leader.

Ducati Monster 797: While the Ducati may look like a tempting buy, the specs and the pricing tell a different story. It churns out less power, packs comparatively less number of electronics and costs more than its competition.

The mid-weight naked segment is highly contested with the likes of Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki and Triumph. However, KTM is one bikemaker we trust to break into this segment and establish a strong foothold in the country. We already know the KTM 790 Duke is a capable bike. However, it all comes down to how the company prices it. Till then we’re keeping our fingers crossed.