KTM set a new company record with 107,142 motorcycles sold in 2012, with a lot of credit given to strong demand for its small-displacement naked Duke line. The 125 Duke and 200 Duke have been popular sellers in Europe while Indian consumers accounted for more than 8000 units of the 200 Duke alone. KTM will try to maintain its momentum with its new 390 Duke, not to mention the 690 Duke R and the upcoming 1290 Super Duke R which was unveiled in prototype form at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan as the eventual successor to the 990 Super Duke.

With six models bearing the Duke name, they’re all bound to have some similarities, but what are the differences besides their engine displacements? Quite a bit, it turns out, according to Peter Gorbach, KTM head of engine development. Continue Reading »

KTM made a big entrance on the small-displacement streetbike segment in 2011 with its 125 Duke and in 2012, the 200 Duke. Both models were popular sellers in Europe while the 200 had a successful launch in India, home of one of KTM‘s largest owners, Bajaj. North American consumers were left out however, as neither of the smaller Dukes were imported to these shores.

That may soon change with the introduction of the new KTM 390 Duke at the 2012 EICMA Show. A leaked slide from a KTM North American dealer meeting listed a 350 Duke as U.S. bound for 2013. At first, the assumption was it would use the single-cylinder engine from the KTM 350SX-F but KTM now reveals the new Duke will use a 375cc Single claiming 43 hp at 9500 rpm.

The chassis has been enhanced to cope with the larger engine and increased power (the 200 Duke claims 26 hp at 10,000 rpm), yet the 390 Duke maintains the dimensions and weight of the 125 and 200 versions. KTM says it will still weigh 326 pounds, fully fueled. Continue Reading »

Last week, KTM teased its new large-displacement naked prototype, revealing a brief glimpse and an audio recording of the engine on the so-called “beast”. KTM has now revealed the beast, presenting the new 1290 Super Duke R prototype at the 2012 EICMA Show in Milan, Italy.

Due to launch some time in 2013, the KTM 1290 Super Duke R will top a full line of naked Duke models which includes the 125, 200, newly revealed 390, 690 and 990. The new 1290 Super Duke R is powered by a new variation on the RC8R’s 1195cc V-Twin engine with ride-by-wire throttle. KTM doesn’t say exactly what the displacement is except to note it is larger than any previous versions.

How much power and torque does it have? “Very, very much” is KTM’s reply. Remember, this is still a prototype. But it is a prototype that is very near ready for production. Continue Reading »

KTM announced it will unveil a new “beast” at next week’s EICMA show in Milan. The Austrian manufacturer is being coy about the mystery model, promising a sneak peak of photos of the new bike on Nov. 9.

In the mean time, we are left with an audio recording of the engine of the new KTM “beast”. The audio recording can be heard on KTM’s official blog.

We’ve already heard reports KTM will unveil a 390 Duke at EICMA, but we also expect a new Super Duke using the same RC8R-derived 1195cc V-Twin engine that powers the new 1190 Adventure recently unveiled at Intermot. Continue Reading »

KTM and Bajaj Auto will launch a new 375cc member of is entry-level Duke lineup, reports Indian site Zigwheels. Previous reports had KTM developing a 350 Duke as an extension of its 125 and 200 Duke (pictured above) family. The 350 Duke was also listed on a leaked Powerpoint slide from a North American dealer meeting we published in February, so this new model may be the first of the small-displacement Duke family to make it to the U.S.

According to the report, the new 350 will now be called the KTM 390 Duke, following the numerical nomenclature of the company’s larger-displacement models such as the 690 Duke, 990 Super Duke and the recently unveiled 1190 Adventure.

Zigwheels reports the 390 Duke will use a similar trellis frame and WP suspension as the 200 Duke but with a fuel-injected 375cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. Zigwheels also reports the engine will produce 45 hp while the 390 Duke will weigh in at 331 pounds. Continue Reading »

KTM is off to a strong start in 2012 with a 19% increase in motorcycle sales, thanks in large part to the popularity of its 125 Duke and 200 Duke.

The Austrian manufacturer says the two small capacity streetbikes form a large portion of the 8300 units it has sold so far in 2012. Based on those numbers, KTM claims it leads all European manufacturers in sales over the first few months of the year.

Continue Reading »

KTM has released a video teasing its redesigned 690 Duke, which is set to make its debut at the 2011 EICMA show.

The 2012 690 Duke will be powered by what KTM claims is the world’s most powerful Single-cylinder engine in production, with output expected to be close to 70hp.

Updates include a side-mounted exhaust instead of the previous version’s underslung silencer, ABS, ride-by-wire throttle and weight savings from a new manufacturing process for the structural fairing and subframe.

Continue Reading »

The good news KTM is updating its 690 Duke naked standard for 2012. The bad news is KTM has pulled the Duke lineup from its North American offerings.

Britain’s MCN was given a test ride on a prototype of the 2012 KTM 690 Duke and revealed some of the updates. The Duke’s single-cylinder engine, which KTM has been boasting as the world’s most powerful Single used in production models, will reportedly be even more powerful, with a claimed output close to 70hp from the previous model’s 64 hp claims.

KTM will also use a new manufacturing process for the structural fairing and subframe, using a high-pressure diecast aluminum alloy to reduce weight. Other features include optional Borsch ABS, ride-by-wire throttle, a side-mounted exhaust instead of the 2011 model’s underslung exhaust, and a flatter front face.

Continue Reading »

According to reports out of India, KTM Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pierer has announced the Austrian manufacturer will produce 200cc and 350cc versions of its youth-oriented 125 Duke. Unfortunately for us in North America, the two new Dukes will appear destined for emerging markets such as India, Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia.

Speaking with the Indian press, Pierer says KTM is partnering with Bajaj Auto to develop the 200 Duke in 2012 with the 350 version to follow in 2013. Bajaj is one of India’s largest home-grown automotive manufacturers and a part-owner of KTM, and also helped develop the 125 Duke. Pierer says the 200 Duke will be introduced at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

Continue Reading »

Ducati’s 848 impressed us when it was introduced in 2007, offering exotic Italian style along with more power than any 600 supersport. Now Ducati offers a significant upgrade to it called the 848 EVO, which we had a chance to sample at the historic circuit in the town of Imola, Italy.

The EVO package includes 6 extra horsepower, a higher rev limit, upgraded Brembo monobloc brakes, and the addition of a steering damper.

That’s the short story for now. Stay tuned for a full report on the EVO, plus a sampling of the bitchin’ new SP version of the top-dog 1198.