The KTM 890 Duke R has been launched in India at Rs 14.50 lakh, ex-showroom. The street naked motorcycle is part of KTM India’s renewed big bike portfolio.
The bike’s styling is sharp and aggressive, in typical KTM fashion. From the angular LED headlight to the aggressive tank extensions and the exposed aluminium subframe, the 890 Duke R looks like a street naked. The KTM 890 Duke R also gets bold-looking colours, as well as an orange-coloured frame and wheels.
The bike is powered by an 890cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that makes 121 bhp and 99 Nm. It is paired with a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. This engine is known for its punchy midrange and thrilling performance.
The bike has a tubular steel frame suspended by a fully adjustable, WP Apex front fork and a WP monoshock. The bike rides on 17-inch alloy wheels while braking duties are taken care of by two 320mm discs at the front with Brembo radial calipers while at the rear, there is a 240mm disc with a Brembo single-piston floating caliper.
KTM has also kitted the bike with a comprehensive electronics suite. There’s lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, nine-level TC settings and three ride modes-Rain, Street and Sport. There’s an optional Track mode as well. Besides this, the bike also gets full LED lights and a colour TFT display.
While the KTM 890 Duke R is a potent street naked, going up against bikes like the Triumph Street Triple RS, it is a generation old. The KTM 990 Duke has been introduced in International markets and we hope to see that bike being launched in India sometime in the future.