In the beginning of 2016, KTM upgraded their both the Duke 390 and the RC 390 with some significant machinery. Minor tweaks and changes were done but the addition of slipper clutch was the cherry above the icing. Re-worked liquid cooling system, further pushed service intervals and protected suspension equipments for no extra charge, turned an already perfect motorcycle into a ‘BEST-BUY’.
Check out certified pre-owned Duke 390s starting at Rs. 136500!
However, with the leaked images of the successor; 2017 KTM DUKE, the deal is about to be enhanced in many ways. 2017 Duke 390 was spied testing in Bajaj’s Chakan plant. Leaked photographs of the motorcycle reveal many new features about the next-generation vehicle.
For instance, the headlight for the new Duke is inspired by KTM’s bigger gun; Duke 1290. It would be a multi beam setup where we can sure expect a Day time running light or a full time running headlight as we see on the current KTM motorcycles. With differently molded bikini fairing and the front mud guard to compliment the new styling, KTM has remarkably changed the face of the Duke from the one on the current motorcycle.
Bike gets a new re-designed trellis frame with a sub-frame for better dynamic stability. This might have made the KTM engineers re-work on the Duke’s 51–49 weight distribution. With the new engine crack casing in the photograph, we might expect engine to have gone under mechanical changes for more refinement and less heating issues. Hopes are high on the 2017 as it is rumored to be equipped with drive-by-wire.
All the above addition would shoot the price high by a good margin, where could expect the ex-showroom price of Duke 390 to be shy above 2 lac rupee margin.
Apart these changes a few carry over equipment is the same WP upside down fork, rear mono-suspension bolted on the aluminum swing arm, similar rim design wearing the same Metzeler rubber also the typically-KTM orange color for the frame. Slipper clutch and ABS would be standard as the one on the current outgoing 390 models. Churning 44bhp at crank and 35 nm of torque it still has the highest price-to-bhp ratio.
Indian’s were expecting a few upgrades such as slipper clutch, aluminum exhaust with side mounted end can. While we were waiting for this, KTM showed up with an upgrade instead of an update.
