KTM has taken the covers off the new 990 Duke, which uses a 947cc parallel-twin engine that's derived from the 890 Duke R’s 889cc twin-cylinder motor.
- Makes 123hp, 103Nm; 2hp & 4Nm more than 890 Duke R
- All-new chassis and cycle parts
- First parallel-twin Duke model to get cruise control
Braking duties are handled by a pair of 300mm discs at the front bitten down upon by KTM-branded 4-pot calipers, while a single 240mm disc mated to a single-piston caliper handles stopping duties at the rear.
The design of the new 990 Duke can only be described as polarising with that very industrial vertically stacked twin-pod LED headlight flanked by a pair of LED DRLs and those oversized tank extensions. Let us know what you think of the 990 Duke’s design in the comments section below.
Seat height stands at 825mm and KTM claims the 990 Duke has a ‘complete weight’ of 179kg, without specifically stating whether it's dry or kerb. Wheel sizes are pretty standard for the class with a 120/70-ZR17 tyre up front and a 180/55-ZR17 unit at the back. The 990 Duke runs on Bridgestone S22 rubber.
A full suite of electronic rider aids are on offer including five riding modes, a bidirectional quickshifter, cornering ABS and traction control, wheelie control, launch control and for the first time on a parallel-twin Duke, even cruise control is part of the package.
At the minute, KTM hasn’t revealed whether this 990 Duke will make its way to our shores, but considering its prolonged absence from the big-bike market in India, it is quite unlikely it will come here.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
