KTM confirms twin-cylinder engine development

That KTM is developing a twin-cylinder motor isn’t really breaking news. In fact a heavily camouflaged motorcycle with a twin-cylinder motor was spotted testing last year. But now the Austrian company has confirmed the above. In its newly-published annual report confirms the company is developing a new twin-cylinder engine which is expected to power a various range of motorcycles. According to the report, the new powerplant will play a huge role for KTM in emerging markets. 

Pictures of a new KTM motorcycle powered by a parallel-twin engine were posted by German magazine Motorrad. It is expected that the new KTM motorcycle will be powered by an 800cc, twin-cylinder motor and most likely be christened as the KTM 790 Duke which will be the first bike to feature the new powerplant. Talking about styling, expect the new KTM 790 Duke will follow the same silhouette as the current KTM 690 Duke. The headlight design seems to be more petite and contoured than the current headlamp as seen on the 390 Duke. Instead of an underbelly exhaust system, the KTM 790 Duke will sport a conventional single-sided muffler given the stringent Euro 4 emission norms.

This means the KTM 790 Duke will follow the aggressive and brash styling which in some way has become synonymous with the KTM brand. There are no details regarding the 800cc powerplant but we expect the new KTM 790 to churn out in excess of 100PS given the additional cylinder and hike in displacement. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch will also come as standard. Another aspect of the new twin-cylinder engine that would excite many bikers will be the fact it would be significantly refined than the single-cylinder mill. Given the additional bump in power, KTM engineers have equipped the 790 Duke with dual front disc brakes for better stopping power and a single disc unit at the rear. 

Two-channel ABS will be standard while suspension duties will be taken care of by WP sourced USD forks at front and a monoshock unit at the rear. The tubular space frame crafted from chrome-molybdenum steel as seen on the 690 Duke will be most likely carried forward with a few tweaks on the new KTM bike. The new KTM 790 Duke will be positioned above the 690 Duke. With the 690 Duke exiting, there will be a huge gap between the KTM 390 Duke and the 790 Duke. According to reports the KTM 790 Duke will be manufactured in Austria and not at Bajaj’s Chakan facility in India. But if KTM does manufacture the 790 Duke expect the motorcycle to come at a killer pricing owing to local production and this should ring the death bell for many two-wheeler manufacturers in the 800cc segment. But whether this happens or not only time will answer and the new bike will most likely debut at the 2016 EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy later this year.