The 2013 KTM 390 Duke ABS made its official debut at the 2012 EICMA show in Milan. The naked motorcycle will be powered by a new 375cc Single with a claimed 44 hp @ 9500 rpm.
Lightweight, fun and flickable. These are some of the first words that come to mind when talking about the new 2013
KTM 390 Duke ABS. With a claimed dry weight of just over 306 pounds, the 390 Duke weighs only a tad bit more than its stable mate, the 200 Duke.
The fun will be provided by its new 375 Single-cylinder engine with a claimed 44 hp @ 9500 rpm. The compact engine is slung low to help mass centralization and features four-valves actuated by two overhead camshafts and cam levers. Coating its cylinders with Nikasil and using forced oil lubrication will ensure it runs efficiently and responds to throttle input quickly. Power to the rear will be delivered by a close-ratio, six-speed transmission.
The frame of the 390 Duke has been updated from its 200 Duke counterpart to better handle the power gains, but the lightweight trellis frame and die-cast swingarm should keep the motorcycle flickable and action at the bars light. The inverted WP Suspension fork has the same 43mm outer tube diameter as its RC8 R superbike while the rear features a die-cast swingarm connected directly to a WP shock. The 17-inch cast alloy wheels are shod in sticky Metzeler rubber KTM claims gives “tremendous grip in both wet and dry conditions.”
When it comes time to rein in the fun, a Bosch 9M ABS assists the radially-mounted four-piston caliper and single
300mm disc on the front. The rear contributes to its stopping power with a single 230mm floating disc pinched by a Brembo single-pot caliper. An attractive feature of the system is the fact that the ABS can be switched off.
The 390 Duke ABS, which made its official debut at the 2012 EICMA show, gives KTM a wide range of naked street bikes, from the 125 Duke to the powerhouse
1290 Super Duke R prototype the Austrian manufacturer announced it has in the works. The new 390 Duke will be built in India by KTM minority shareholder Bajaj which should help to keep the motorcycle competitively priced. Rumor says we’ll get it here in the States, but we’ll have to wait to find out the truthfulness of this statement. As smaller, sport-oriented motorcycles that won’t break the bank like Kawasaki’s Ninja 300 and Honda’s 2013 CBR500RR have been the latest trend, the 2013 KTM Duke 390 ABS should have an instant presence in the niche.
