A RENDERING of the new KTM 390 Duke shows what the updated bike could look like once it’s fully revealed later this year, while another suggests what an adventure bike based on the 390 Duke platform could look like.
The rendering of the 390 Duke, by our friends at RushLane, is based on the 390 Duke that was spotted at the Bajaj factory in India last month, plus the spy shot of the updated 125 Duke that we showed you last week.
The 125 and 390 Dukes share the same frame and styling, so spotting a revised 125 Duke gives a good indication of what to expect from an updated 390.
This new rendering shows the 2017 KTM 390 Duke with an updated rear sub-frame, which along with the pointed top fairing plastics running from the tank to the forks, make it look like a miniature version of the patriarch of Duke family – the 1290 Super Duke R. The rendering also suggest what the 390’s new side-exit exhaust, which looks the same as the silencer on the old RC 390, might look like.
From the tiny sliver of subframe visible in last week’s spyshot, it looks like the rendering is on the money. Unlike the rendered image, the 125 Duke photographed last week looks to be missing the grab rails that sit next to the pillion seat - a feature on the current 125 and 390 Dukes. It remains to be seen whether that carries over to the production bikes.
There are no technical details about the bike yet, but we expect it to come with the same 20mm larger front brake disc (up to 320mm) and for the engine to retain the slipper clutch and ride-by-wire throttle present in the 2016 RC 390. We already know that the new bike has adjustable brake and clutch levers.
Another RushLane rendering shows what the an adventure bike based on the 390 Duke could look like.
The image has been created following rumours that KTM had sent a couple of 390 Duke-based adventure prototypes to India for development.
As you can see, the 390 Adventure is taller than the 390 Duke thanks to longer suspension, which gives it greater ground clearance. The rendering takes a lot of inspiration from the 1050 Adventure, 1190 Adventure adn 1290 Super Adventure with the frame being similar looking, along with the bike’s styling.
There’s no word yet from KTM about whether they’re expanding the 390 Duke platform to include an adventure tourer but if they are, there’s a good chance we’ll find out in the run up to Eicma.
