Photo: KTM
The Duke range of two-wheelers is at the moment one of the most successful in the portfolio of Austrian bike maker KTM. Introduced 30 years ago, in 1993, it rapidly grew to include at the time of writing no less than 12 models. With the exception of the 1290 Super Duke GT, which is sold as a sports tourer, all the others play in the naked segment.
As of now, you can add another naked Duke to the list of available two-wheeled wonders: the 990. Freshly introduced into the family, just as the world's most prominent bike makers are in Milan, Italy, for the EICMA show taking place there, the bike is described as a "massive leap forward for the KTM naked range."
That's because the ride targets one of the most lucrative sub-segments of the naked segment, the one with bikes powered by 1,000cc engines. The 990 does this with an updated version of the LC8c engine that's also deployed in the 890 Duke R.
The powerplant is 947cc in displacement, but features, compared to the existing variant, new pistons, crankshaft, and conrod. In this setup, power ratings stand at 123 hp and 103 Nm of torque.
The engine sits in an all-new stiff trellis frame that's light enough to allow the ride to tip the scales at just 179 kg (395 pounds). That lightness is also achieved thanks to the new closed-lattice swingarm installed at the rear, supporting a wheel that, just like the front one, is dressed in Bridgestone S22 tires.
The suspension of this thing is your usual KTM hardware overkill. The WP Apex gear comes as a 43 mm front fork that can be adjusted for rebound and compression, and a monotube shock at the rear.
The bike is not only equipped to handle various terrains but also has a lot of convenience features to make it a solid choice as a daily. There is a new 5-inch screen up front, rocking revised graphics, a USB-C plug, and a sort of follow-me-home system that keeps the LED headlight lit for a few more seconds after the bike is turned off.
The screen mentioned earlier now displays lean angle data, and also supports an optional Track mode complete with lap timer and telemetry.
The "ultimate mid-class naked machine," as KTM describes the 990 Duke, will be available in two color choices, namely Black and Electric Orange. The latter one has been specifically developed to be a nod to the 30-year anniversary of the Duke range.
The bike is already available on the KTM configurator, but if you're looking for pricing information and even availability, dealers are the way to go, as the bike maker did not reveal any of these details.
That's because the ride targets one of the most lucrative sub-segments of the naked segment, the one with bikes powered by 1,000cc engines. The 990 does this with an updated version of the LC8c engine that's also deployed in the 890 Duke R.
The powerplant is 947cc in displacement, but features, compared to the existing variant, new pistons, crankshaft, and conrod. In this setup, power ratings stand at 123 hp and 103 Nm of torque.
The engine sits in an all-new stiff trellis frame that's light enough to allow the ride to tip the scales at just 179 kg (395 pounds). That lightness is also achieved thanks to the new closed-lattice swingarm installed at the rear, supporting a wheel that, just like the front one, is dressed in Bridgestone S22 tires.
The suspension of this thing is your usual KTM hardware overkill. The WP Apex gear comes as a 43 mm front fork that can be adjusted for rebound and compression, and a monotube shock at the rear.
The bike is not only equipped to handle various terrains but also has a lot of convenience features to make it a solid choice as a daily. There is a new 5-inch screen up front, rocking revised graphics, a USB-C plug, and a sort of follow-me-home system that keeps the LED headlight lit for a few more seconds after the bike is turned off.
The screen mentioned earlier now displays lean angle data, and also supports an optional Track mode complete with lap timer and telemetry.
The "ultimate mid-class naked machine," as KTM describes the 990 Duke, will be available in two color choices, namely Black and Electric Orange. The latter one has been specifically developed to be a nod to the 30-year anniversary of the Duke range.
The bike is already available on the KTM configurator, but if you're looking for pricing information and even availability, dealers are the way to go, as the bike maker did not reveal any of these details.
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