KTM has just announced that it will launch its “most exciting and awaited motorcycle” on September 23. KTM Dealers around the country have confirmed that it will be the 790 Duke that will be launched on the said date.
The Austrian brand had begun dispatching the 790 Duke to KTM dealers across the country almost a month ago. Some dealers already have it on display now and are even letting visitors get a good look at it. However, there are a few things that we don’t know yet about the India-spec 790 Duke. Firstly, its price. While dealers have suggested an ex-showroom price of around Rs 8.5 lakh, there have also been rumours that it would be closer to the Rs 9 lakh mark. We believe the figure will be closer to the former.
At Rs 8.5 lakh, the 790 Duke is a little more expensive than we expected it to be. It’s significantly more expensive than the Suzuki GSX-S750 (Rs 7.46 lakh) and the Kawasaki Z900 (Rs 7.69 lakh), but below direct European rivals such as the Street Triple S (Rs 9.19 lakh) and the Ducati Monster 821 (Rs 10.99 lakh).
We are also awaiting details on the India-spec model’s specifications, as there is a possibility of it being slightly detuned like many other superbikes that come to India in order to run our lower-quality fuel. Another change we witnessed is an increase in weight. The international-spec model has a dry weight of 174kg, which we believe will go up by a few kilograms as the Indian model features crash guards and a saree guard.
KTM has also initiated plans to upgrade its showrooms in India to accommodate its upcoming premium models like the 790 Duke and 390 Adventure. The showrooms are set to get larger, more premium and are expected to offer a better customer experience.