KTM has been sighted testing the next generation 390 Duke on Indian roads for the first time, little over a year after it was originally spied in Europe. The next-generation 125 Duke and 250 Duke have been extensively developed by the Austrian business, and we can expect all three to make their global debut at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, later this year.
The new 390 Duke has a lot of improvements over the existing model, and the test prototype appears to be almost ready for production. Split dual LED headlights, redesigned LED DRLs, and sharper LED turn signals are all part of this progressive design. The muscular fuel tank is edgier with tank additions on both sides.
Sharper bodywork, an underbelly exhaust system, a compact tail section with a new LED tail lamp, upside-down front forks, and new split seats are just a few of the changes. A redesigned swing-arm section and a revised lightweight trellis frame were also part of the re-engineered subframe. The new swing-arm can be seen next to the white springs on the side-mounted monoshock rear suspension. The lowest part of the tank extension has a curvier section that may help with aerodynamics.
The 373.2cc single-cylinder DOHC fuel-injected liquid-cooled engine, which produces 42.9 bhp at 9,000 rpm and 37 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm, is likely to remain unchanged. It has a six-speed automatic transmission with a slipper and assist clutch as standard.
Updates to the TFT instrument cluster with navigation may also be shown. Electronic assistance like as cornering ABS, quick-shifter, traction control, adjustable handlebars, and so on may be available, as will front and rear disc brakes supported by a dual-channel ABS system.
Given the numerous changes that the 2023 KTM 390 Duke will receive, the bike is likely to cost more than Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). While it may make its international debut later this year, it will most likely not hit the Indian market until the first half of 2023.
