A scalpel in each hand with the Duke mid-size.

In 2016, KTM unveiled a radical prototype at the EICMA show that heralded the future of the brand’s mid-displacement roadsters. The lines were ultra-sharp and the styling was wild.

The project came to fruition in 2018: the 790 Duke was a small revolution for KTM. With it, the mid-size roadster became more accessible, more powerful, and more affordable. Before it, that role was filled by the 690 Duke —a very lightweight, very fun machine, but powered by a single-cylinder engine. A rare and bold choice in this category, not necessarily to everyone’s taste.

It debuted the very first inline twin-cylinder engine in KTM’s history, the LC8c, which would go on to power the Adventure models shortly thereafter. With its 285° firing order, it mimics the behavior and sound of a V2. The model immediately stands out for its formidable power-to-weight ratio: 105 chevaux for 169 kg dry weight.

In 2020, the 890 Duke pushed the 790 out of the lineup. But against all expectations, it was only a “goodbye.”

It returns in 2022, thanks to an industrial partnership sealed with CFMOTO (which now produces the 799 cm³ model). It is strategically repositioned as the entry-level model in KTM’s lineup of “big” roadsters, offered at a significantly more competitive price and natively compatible with the A2 license (95 ch); a price that is regularly adjusted downward.

By 2025, the Duke will meet Euro 5+ standards and feature enhanced electronics.

In 2027, it received a dramatic facelift featuring the front end design of the 990 and 1390 models. The braking system and suspension were upgraded, as was the riding position.