2023 KTM 790 Duke

2023 KTM 790 Duke

The KTM 790 DUKE is as surgical as its nickname suggests. With the agility you'd expect from a single, combined with the hard-hitting punch of a twin, the KTM 790 DUKE slices up the road with pinpoint precision. With a 799 cc LC8c parallel twin motor - the most compact in its class - nestled into one of the lightest frames around, the KTM 790 DUKE is all about being fast everywhere, with the corners being its playground.

Features may include:

• ENGINE

Built for torque, this liquid cooled 8 valve, DOHC unit delivers peak grunt at 8,000 rpm that is almost immediately followed by a roaring power curve. Meanwhile, an advanced ride-by-wire system guarantees great refinement as well as low fuel consumption and emission figures.

• CYLINDER HEAD

The 8 valve DOHC cylinder head contains twin chain-driven camshafts and one sparkplug per cylinder. Additionally, the camshafts in the KTM 790 DUKE are assembled, which makes them even lighter than forged camshafts. DLC coated finger followers, steel valves and a hydraulic chain tensioner complete the cylinder head assembly.

• BALANCER SHAFTS

No one enjoys unpleasant vibes. That is why the KTM 790 DUKE employs the use of two balancer shafts, the first placed in front of the crankshaft and the second in the cylinder head to ensure the smoothest power delivery and minimal vibration.

• FRAME

The incredible handling characteristics of the KTM 790 DUKE are founded on the dynamic, loadbearing design of the tubular chassis. Engineers had one goal in mind, and that was to keep the chassis as rigid and compact as possible, which allows for sharper turn-in and greater lean angles, allowing it to slice through the turns with extreme responsiveness.

• SUBFRAME

The subframe is cast aluminum and houses the airbox. No plastic covers, no additional brackets - everything is cast into two connected pieces to reduce complexity and weight. The triangular shapes in the subframe were inspired by KTM's trellis subframes, as this allows for a strong and simple construction.

• SWINGARM

The die-cast, open-lattice swingarm is meticulously manufactured and has been optimized for stiffness and stability while still offering excellent flex characteristics. By using a direct link for the rear shock, complexity and parts are reduced.

• HANDLEBAR

A tapered aluminum, 810 mm wide handlebar puts you in full control. Adjustable in 4 positions on the triple clamp, which can also be rotated by a further three positions, it allows for that perfect riding position.

• HAND LEVERS

Grabbing a handful of front brake or reaching for the clutch is made extra easy with span adjustable levers.

• FOOTPEGS

Cast from aluminum, the foot pegs fitted to the KTM 790 DUKE cater for a comfortable riding position, while still creating maximum ground clearance allowing for impressive lean angles. Reverse (race) shifting is possible without any additional parts. Adjustable foot pegs are also available as a KTM PowerParts option for those who would like to go all out.