2017 KTM Duke 390 gets reloaded to emerge a stronger contender.
The 2017 KTM Duke 390 was unveiled at EICMA 2016 in November last year. One of the most eagerly awaited motorcycles, the new 2017 Duke 390 has the potential to challenge the likes of more premium offerings Yamaha R3 and Kawasaki Ninja 300.
The 2017 Duke 390 takes over from where the outgoing model left off. The bike gains premium features like LED headlamp, TFT instrumentation and ride by wire. It also emerges more eco-friendly thanks to a new exhaust system design. The naked roadster is manufactured at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan facility in Pune and exported to the rest of the world.
The 2017 KTM Duke 390 has been spotted in India several times. In fact, the bike was recently spotted by an IAB reader while it was out for a test. The naked pocket rocket is expected to be launched before end of March 2017.
With orange being the predominant theme in all KTM machines, the 2017 KTM Duke 390 is no different. Based on the units showcased at EICMA, it seems KTM will be skipping Black for the 2017 KTM Duke 390. The new 2017 Duke 390 will be available in Orange and White options.
The 2017 Duke 390 gets a 373.2 cc single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected mill with a slipper clutch. Coupled to a 6-speed gearbox, the engine is capable of producing 43.5 PS of maximum power and 37 Nm of peak torque. While the power output remains the same as the outgoing version, the torque sees a bump by 2 Nm. This along with the 149 kg dry weight allows the bike to have the best in class power to weight ratio.
| Specification | 2017 KTM Duke 390 |
| Engine | 373.2 cc single cylinder’ liquid cooled, fuel injected mill |
| Max Power | 43.5 PS |
| Peak Torque | 37 Nm |
| Transmission | 6 speed with slipper clutch |
| Top Speed | 170 km/h |
The cylinder head draws inspirations from the KTM 1290 Super Duke R and the engine gets 46 mm throttle bodies. A single balancer shaft continues to be present to keep vibrations under check. The KTM Duke 390 now complies to the latest Euro4 emission norms which means that it will definitely meet the upcoming BSIV emission norms which will be applicable in India from April 2017. To make this possible the naked bike also gets a new side mounted canister based exhaust system unlike the underbelly unit seen in the present version.
Bringing zing back to motorcycling, the 2017 Duke 390 gains a new TFT colour instrumentation which is a huge step forward from the cluttered LCD screen with orange backlit screen in the present Duke 390. An optional MyRide multimedia interface will also be on offer for smartphone connectivity. The KTM Duke 390 continues to be suspended on upside down forks up front and a selectively adjustable mono shock in the rear.
The 2017 Duke 390 gets a retouched, ultralight steel trellis frame with a bolt-on rear sub-frame. The front brake now includes a bigger 320 mm front disc (up from 300 mm). Dual channel ABS is standard. The wheelbase has now been reduced by 1,357 mm (down by 10 mm) and this will increase the bike’s flickability. The Corner rocket also gets adjustable front brake and clutch lever and ride by wire for a crisper throttle response.
The new 2017 KTM Duke 390 also gets a brand new LED headlamp inspired from the bigger KTM 1290 Super Duke R.
The new 2017 KTM Duke 390 will have a top speed of around 170 km/h which will be a slight drop as compared to the existing version. This is because of the fact that the 2017 Duke 390 is heavier than the outgoing version.
The addition of premium parts like ride by wire, TFT instrumentation and LED headlamp will increase the cost of the new 2017 KTM Duke 390. The naked roadster can be expected to be priced just below the INR 2 lakh mark, in India.
