EICMA 2017 EXCLUSIVE: 2018 KTM 790 Duke to be made in India from 2019
KTM has just unveiled the 2018 KTM 790 Duke at EICMA 2017 in Milan, Italy, and for those from India drooling over it, this razor-sharp motorcycle is will be coming to India by 2019. Speaking to OVERDRIVE, KTM chief sales officer (CSO) Hubert Trukenpolz confirmed that the intent with the 2018 KTM 790 Duke was always to be manufactured in multiple locations, and not just at the KTM HQ in Mattighofen, Austria. And India is on the list of locations where the KTM 790 Duke may be produced. The specific information is that KTM intends for Indian manufacturer and KTM shareholder Bajaj Auto to manufacture the parallel-twin engined 790 Duke at its facility in Chakan, India, some time in 2019. He also mentioned that the bigger Duke will be brought to India via the CKD route, meaning it will be assembled and sold here by then. However, there is no confirmation about the KTM 790 Adventure R being similarly brought to India.
What this means is that with production costs lowered, the KTM 790 Duke may be priced as a steal in India against its direct competition including the Triumph Street Triple and Kawasaki Z900.
The motorcycle features a brand new, 799cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor that develops 105PS at 9,000 rpm and 86Nm at 8,000rpm. The LC8c is KTM's first parallel-twin motor and comes mated to a six-speed transmission.
True to the Duke family ethos, the 790 Duke features radical styling, with minimal body panels. It, however, does not look as edgy as the prototype, but is very close. The 790 Duke employs a steel frame, with the engine as the stressed member, in order to save weight, which stands at 169Kg.