EICMA 2019: KTM unveils 1290 Super Duke R, 890 Duke R and 250 Adventure

KTM has unveiled its flagship super naked bike, a new naked bike in the mid-size segment and a new entry-level adventure tourer at the EICMA 2019 in Italy.

The 1,300cc Super naked flagship
KTM has finally taken the sheets off the all-new 1290 Super Duke R, its flagship super naked. The new 1290 Super Duke R features a new chassis, revised 75-degree, 1,301cc V-Twin engine and updated electronics. The all-LED unit is vertically split by a new ram-air intake, highlighting the synergy of form and function. Underneath the skimpy bodywork is a brand-new steel-trellis frame, which is claimed to be three times stiffer than the previous-gen Super Duke R, with the engine as a stressed member. By widening the diameter and reducing the thickness of the steel-trellis frame’s wall, KTM has managed to shear off 2kg. The rear subframe is also lighter, with the pillion seat and number plate bolted on directly, eliminating the need to attach a supporting bracket. The new 43mm WP Apex front fork features split function, compression and rebound settings as well as preload adjustment. At the rear, there’s a gas-charged, WP Apex monoshock with a remote preload adjuster. It is attached to the frame via a linkage which is said to prevent bottoming out while riding over bad roads. The bike runs on bespoke, Bridgestone S22 tyres that feature a part-silica compound which is expected to improve wet-weather grip.

The 1,301cc, LC8 V-twin motor produces 177hp while the torque figure stands unchanged at 140Nm. The new 6-speed gearbox also offers shorter shifts, which goes with the eager nature of motorcycle. It comes with three standard ride modes - Rain, Street and Sport. Additionally, there’s an optional Track mode that allows the rider to tailor slip levels as well as disable the bike’s anti-wheelie system.

The one above 790
The 2020 KTM 890 Duke R brings more power, aggressive ergonomics and adjustable suspension to the table over the already fast and agile 790 Duke. The 790 Duke’s 799cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine has been bored and stroked (from 88mm x 65.7mm to 90.7mm x 68.8mm) and now displaces 890cc with a reworked crankcase to accommodate the longer stroke. The 890’s motor also gets new, forged box pistons that are 10g lighter than the 790’s pistons. This has led to a bump in the power figures with the  890 Duke R’s motor, producing 121hp at 9,250rpm and 99Nm of torque at 7,750rpm (up from the 790’s 105hp at 9,000rpm and 87Nm of torque at 8,000rpm). KTM has incorporated a new cylinder head with larger intake and exhaust valves. The cam profile is aggressive, with increased camshaft lift for stronger performance. Since the engine is spinning at higher RPMs, a new balancer shaft has been added to reduce vibrations. The motor is paired to a 6-speed gearbox with reverse race-shift feature, so you’ll have to push the lever down to upshift, just like MotoGP machines. Complementing the new engine are new components, such as lighter wheels and brakes that have helped reduce unsprung mass by approximately 3.5kg. An aluminium steering stem replaces the steel unit in the 790, further reducing weight.

The new 890 Duke features a fully-adjustable WP Apex front fork, with split-function damping and an adjustable monoshock at the rear with a hydraulic preload adjuster. The 890 Duke R also gets top drawer brakes – Brembo Stylema calipers biting on twin 320mm discs. KTM has also thrown in the Brembo MCS master cylinder that allows span-and-lever ratio adjustment to alter brake feel. The bike also comes with IMU-assisted nine-level traction control, wheelie control, ABS and riding modes. The anti-wheelie and ABS modes are displayed on the 890 Duke’s TFT screen. An up and down quickshifter is optional.

While the KTM 790 Duke has just gone on sale in India, the chances of KTM launching the 890 Duke R in India are unclear, for now. That being said, the 2020 890 Duke R rivals the India-bound 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS.

Entry-level Adventure-tourer
The KTM 250 Adventure made its silent debut at the EICMA 2019 alongside the 390 Adventure. The KTM 250 Adventure looks identical to the 390 Adventure and it shares the same chassis and body panels as the bigger 390. The fuel tank, the extensions, radiator shroud, belly pan and tail section are also exactly the same. What's different is the use of a halogen headlamp instead of the full-LED setup on the 390 and the 250-specific paintwork. The steel-trellis frame, subframe, and alloy wheels are the same as the 390, with the same 63.5-degree steering head angle.  KTM has also gone with identical 100/90-19 front and 130/80-17 rear wheel sizes. However, the 250 runs on MRF Mogrip Meteor FM2  tubeless tyres instead of the 390’s Continental tyres. the 43mm WP Apex front fork is not adjustable, and at the rear, the WP Apex monoshock gets only preload adjustment. The suspension travel (170mm front/ 177mm rear), however, is identical to the 390’s suspension. The 250 Adventure only gets off-road ABS and the same TFT display as its elder sibling.

Like the 390 Adventure, the 250 Adventure is powered by the same engine from its street naked sibling, the 250 Duke, which is the 248.8cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine making 30hp and 24Nm. The KTM 250 Adventure is expected to go on sale soon after the 390 Adventure hits the showrooms in India. There’s also a possibility of KTM showcasing the 250 Adventure alongside the 390 Adventure at the 2019 India Bike Week.

Also read: KTM 390 Adventure makes a splash at EICMA

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