KTM 790 Duke India Launch Delayed: KTM 790 Duke was spotted at a dealership in India for the first time in early 2019. Back then, we also posted an article showing the live images of the bike and its launch was expected in March 2019, which then got delayed to May. It seems now that KTM is in no hurry to launch its street fighter in India as according to a recent report by Autocar, the wait has grown longer which means that KTM lovers have to wait for next year to buy the 790 Duke.
According to the latest details available, there is a delay in the homologation process which has postponed the launch of the Duke 790 to early 2020. A previous report also stated that KTM would set up an all-new advanced assembly line at Bajaj Auto’s Akurdi plant that would be supervised and operated by a team of officials from Austria. The report also claimed that the 790 Duke would arrive in India via the CKD route and that the first lot of 100 units of the motorcycle have already come for service training purpose.
If we look at the design, KTM motorcycles have always been short in size, but its short wheelbase will help it to look like a proper street fighter. The KTM 790 Duke is the lightest vehicle in its class with a twin-cylinder. The features of the bike include full LED lighting (tail light, headlamp, and blinkers) and a Bluetooth enabled TFT display. Smartphone integration gives control to incoming calls, messages, and music using the switchgear on the left side of the handlebar.
Mechanically, the bike will be powered by KTM’s newly developed LC8c 799cc liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine which produces 105 HP at 9000 rpm and 86 Nm at 8000 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox that has PASC slip-assist clutch and quick shift assist. The 790 Duke carries the most advanced electronic features in comparison to all other models in its segment. The street fighter will compete with Triumph Street Triple series, Suzuki GSX-S750 and the Ducati Monster range. The 790 Duke is expected to get an ex-showroom price tag of INR 6-7 lakh in India.
