Look What’s Been Spied For The First Time In India, KTM’s Next-gen 390 Duke!

The upcoming 2023 KTM 390 Duke has been spotted on Indian roads for the very first time. This new generation was first spotted in Europe last year, and now appears to be closer than  ever to being production-ready.

The new generation 390 Duke features a bunch of serious updates. For starters, there’s a massive aesthetic overhaul. The design of the new 390 Duke takes inspiration from KTM’s flagship, the 1290 Super Duke R. So, a more aggressive headlight with flared bezel can be seen, complemented by longer and more aggressive tank shrouds.

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But the updates are more than skin-deep. The bike features an updated cast aluminium subframe, similar to the bigger Dukes. Then there's a new asymmetrical aluminium swingarm which supports the offset monoshock. Unsurprisingly, the bike borrows the lighter rims and alloy wheels from KTM’s new RC range of motorcycles. Interestingly, the test mule has the front disc on the right side, unlike its siblings that have it on the left side.

We had spotted the motorcycle earlier too, and managed to take a closer look at the updated instrument console. The TFT unit too has been upgraded and now features a different layout and displays more information. A part of the console on the test mule was masked, hinting that it could have turn-by-turn navigation. The test mule also had an emergency brake light system, which flashes all indicators under hard braking.

KTM has also updated the engine casing for the new model. It is not clear if that would translate to improved refinement or more performance. Either way, the change would be welcome.

Considering the plethora of updates that the 2023 KTM 390 Duke will feature, the bike is likely to be priced above Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). While its international debut could happen later this year, it will likely only grace the Indian market in the first half of 2023.