The all new street bike, 390 Duke, from the stables of KTM and Bajaj has finally been revealed at the 2012 EICMA show, Milan. The Duke series made its debut way back in 1994 when the original Duke model hit the roads. Since then the Duke bikes have come a long way and has made its image among the bike enthusiasts. The all new KTM 390 Duke has sufficient power and ample torque, apart from flamboyant and edgy naked looks.
The 390 Duke houses a four stroke, 373.2cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine mated with a six-speed transmission gear and is capable of churning out a power as high as 44 bhp at 9500 rpm and a maximum torque of 35 Nm at 7250 rpm. The all new 390 Duke would be placed in the same league as Honda CBR500R and Kawasaki Ninja 300.
The much awaited 390 Duke will come fitted with tubeless radial tyres and will have a host of features like Bosch ABS, WP suspension and Brembo brakes. This bike has a beefy, steel trellis frame with seat in an upright posture, giving it a completely sporty look. The 390 Duke is less than 150 kg in weight, which not only raises its dynamics but also provide sporty alternative to many high priced bikes available in the market.
Since the inception of first ever Duke bikes in 1994, the duke series have always impressed the buyers owing to its dynamic looks and superior performance. Falling in line with its previous versions, the Duke 390 is not likely to disappoint buyers.
The 390 Duke would be manufactured in the country itself at Bajaj's Chakan facility located on the outskirts of Pune. It would be shipped to Europe and other global markets just like its 125 and 200 Duke versions, which have already received good response there. It is expected to be launched in the country in early 2013 and would come with a price tag close to Rs. 2 lakhs. With such a high price tag, it would be good to see how this bike is received in the country.
