Motorcycle specifications KTM690 DUKE 3 2009 Street predator

the DUKE - KTM's best-known model - is back for its 3rd generation. For the Austrian manufacturer's flagship model, the years do not go hand in hand with mellowing. Still built on a foundation of testosterone and concentrated supermotoring, the Duke's heritage has now been genetically modified into a cyber-terminator version.

690 in name, but 654 in displacement. The Duke gets the latest fuel-injected LC4 mono from the Supermoto (and its frame too). This graft gives it 10 more horsepower, while cubic capacity has only increased by 30 cm3. Well, it has to be said that the mill isn't a plastic mono either: very compact and light, with fuel injection and a 46 mm throttle, assisted throttle opening, very compact cylinder head thanks to a single overhead camshaft, hollow intake valves, and a very low weight.intake valves, central balancer, clutch anti-dribble, improved lubrication, 3 kg loss compared to the 640, lambda sensor regulation and altimeter compensation. All in all, a fine piece of engineering, setting the benchmark for the category.

closer to the roadster category (the Supermoto takes care of calming down competing supermotards), the Austrian méthe Austrian model combines tribal and brutal facial features, exaggerated and protruding Superduke 990-like plasticity, a steroidal engine and a chassis that's no slouch either. The chrome-molybdenum trellis frame weighs just 9 kg. Introduced on the Supermoto, the ribbed swingarm still has the "reinforced factory walls" effect. The 48 mm inverted fork ends in a single brake disc, a 320 mm Brembo brake bitten by a 4-piston radial caliper. Doesn't that sound like a lot compared to the double-disc arsenal found on the latest generation of roadsters? Don't worry - it's not even 160 kg to brake (148 kg ready to run without petrol). And turning it will be even easier with its optimized mass centering. An important detail here is the new position of the exhaust. Placed under the chassis in the very center of the machine, its location is ideal, and its large volume enables it to retain maximum power, reduce noise emissions and comply with anti-pollution standards.

M.B - Photo credits:
Friedl P. - Schedl R. - Freeman G. - Mitterbauer H.