IT’S not exactly a secret, having been unveiled last year as a prototype, but KTM’s 2018 790 Duke officially debuted at Eicma today - along with a new prototype.
The 790 Adventure Prototype, using the same 799cc parallel-twin engine as the Duke, was confirmed by KTM as a 2019 production model.
The 790 Duke (pictured above) – which KTM has dubbed ‘The Scalpel’ - makes 105hp and 63.4lbft.
Claimed dry weight is 169kg.
It’s got a steel frame, with the engine as a stressed member, and an aluminium sub-frame.
Suspension is from WP, consisting of a 43mm split-function upside-down fork and gas-assisted shock with progressive spring and pre-load adjuster.
The front brake consists of twin 300mm discs with four-pot radial mounted calipers. At the back is a two-piston caliper on a 240mm disc.
It’s also got Bosch cornering abs with a dis-engageable ‘supermoto mode’, lean-angle-sensitive traction control and riding modes including a customisable ‘Track’ one.
Other features include a quick-shifter, launch control, full-colour TFT dash, adjustable handlebar and WP steering damper.
So pretty well equipped in the specs department.
KTM said of the 790 Adventure R, using the same engine: ‘The ADVENTURE community has been eagerly awaiting a lightweight, compact midrange travel enduro with outstanding crosscountry ability. The wait is almost over, for at the EICMA 2017, KTM proudly presents the prototype of such a super lightweight adventure bike designed all around the brand new 2-cylinder LC8c engine. The KTM 790 ADVENTURE R PROTOTYPE is exactly what the hardcore adventure crowd wants it to be: a true KTM to close the gap between the enduros and the larger bikes of the ADVENTURE series.’
