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Five years ago, KTM unveiled the Superduke 1290 prototype to us. Once released, the production version lived up to the challenge, becoming the most erectile roadster on the market. Well history may repeat itself with the Proto Duke 790. But this time, it loses its “super” prefix to better position itself on the market, to the chagrin of the Yamaha MT-09, Kawasaki Z900 and other Suzuki GSX-S 750. To compete, the newcomer compresses all its ardor in an ultra-compact and efficient engine and chassis. A concentrated orange therefore supports the over-pressed orange.
Between the sulphurous, but no less horny Superduke 1290 R, and the modest mono, but no less efficient Duke 690, a compromise was clearly missing to face the tenors of the mid-size category…. In fact, it lacked a bit of rationality on one side, and 1 cylinder on the other. Traditionally at KTM, when a cubic capacity is doubled, it is arranged in V. We place two cylinders in duel around a crankshaft, and we draw all the quintessence of their confrontation. But that was before the 790. Now the pistons work in line, huddled together and hand in hand. The power is drawn from (very close) collaboration rather than opposition. It’s nice. And daring, since V-shaped mills are known to be more torquey and fiery. But the Austrians are brilliant engine manufacturers, so there is no doubt about their success. And then too bad for tradition. Burn the custom in favor of clutter and efficiency!
It will therefore be the “LC8 C” in-line twin that will propel the next Duke. If the name LC8 is already common at KTM (for Liquid Cooled with 8 valves), it is adorned here with a C, for “compact”. Or for “Chaud devant”, it depends on…. There was a rumor that the Nuda 900 block was reused. It is not, the brand has since denied to our fellow Moto Station. However, we have no confirmation or denial about horsepower, which could be less than 98 horsepower for A2 eligibility. The hypothesis remains in suspense.
The engine, powerful, narrow and light as possible, has been designed according to a logic: that of efficiency. The same doctrine was followed to develop the platform designed to host it. An unhospitable welcome since the engine is load-bearing and maintained by a tubular frame. The swingarm, appearing to be from the Duke 690, clips directly to a mill housing. The extremely thin rear buckle is shortened and perforated like the MV Turismo Veloce. WP suspensions complete it all.
The lines of this proto are like all KTMs, and as all the motorcycle press likes to say, “billhooked”. A druid’s billhook from the Austrian forests it seems, so bewitching are they. In 2012, the concept design of the Superduke did not lie to us since the production version was very close. We are therefore entitled to believe that the same will be true for this 790.
Everything also suggests that it will be a high-end model. Indeed, the brand confides that it will be equipped with a ride by wire accelerator, many customizable driving modes, as well as a latest generation anti-skating system and even a shifter! Not sure if the latter is preserved, just like the 3D printing plant used for the production of the exhaust and the fork crown. Anyway, we’ll know more in 2018, estimated release date.
Either way, the future 790 should be a real toy on a human scale. A small intoxicating bomb, fun and light, with a contained template. Where the 1290 and its excessiveness are intimidating. See instead:
What you must remember
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Opinion
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Model marketed in
2017
Performances
-
Max speed:
about 200 km / h
The technical aspect
KTM 790 Duke prototype 2017
- Frame
- Frame: steel tube trellis
- Train before
- Telehydraulic inverted fork Ø nc
- 2 Ø nc discs, 4 piston radial calipers
- Transmission
- 6-speed gearbox
- Secondary chain transmission
- Rear axle
- Mono-shock absorber
- 1 disc Ø nc, 1 piston caliper
- Motor
- Twin cylinder
in line
, 4 stroke - Cooling: by water
- Injection Ø nc
- 2 ACT
- 4 valves per cylinder
-
≈ 100
ch - Crit’air:
Detached pieces
exhaust
motor
fluid
electricity
filtration
braking
chain kit
Competitors
Yamaha MT-09 850 2017
Suzuki GSX-S 750 2017
Ducati 821 Monster 2017
Kawasaki Z 900 2017
BMW F 800 R 2017
Aprilia 900 Shiver 2017
Triumph 800 STREET TRIPLE R 2017
MV-Agusta 800 BRUTALE 2017
Gallery
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