It’s no secret that KTM is working on an update for the 790 Duke. Last year, images of what appeared to be a close-to-production-spec bike testing in Europe surfaced online, revealing a lot about what to expect from the updated middleweight street naked. Now, thanks to type-approval documents filed in China, we have a clearer look at what the motorcycle will offer.
- New design inspired by 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R
- 799cc parallel-twin engine carried over
- Features new WP brake calipers
2026 KTM 790 Duke: All you need to know
Fresh styling brings it in line with bigger Dukes.
The most significant changes to the 2026 KTM 790 Duke are visual. The updated model adopts a new headlight design that’s similar to the 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R, using a central LED headlight with DRLs on either side. However, while it shares similar design cues, it isn’t the same unit as either of the bigger Dukes. The fuel tank and tank shrouds also appear sharper than before.
Another notable change is that the bike features an all-new subframe. While the image in the type-approval documents only reveals the left-hand side of the bike, earlier spy shots from Europe also showed that the upcoming 790 Duke gets a completely redesigned exhaust.
While significant mechanical changes aren’t expected, the updated bike now features WP brake calipers instead of the KTM-badged J.Juan units from the previous generation. Whether the accompanying hardware, such as the discs and ABS components, will be revised as well remains to be seen. On the other hand, the WP suspension and the main steel trellis frame appear to be carried over from the existing model.
The 799cc parallel-twin engine also appears unchanged, which would mean peak output figures should remain in the 95hp and 87Nm region.
The new 790 Duke will be manufactured in China as part of KTM’s joint venture with CFMoto, which explains why it has surfaced in Chinese type-approval documents first. There’s no official word yet on which markets the new KTM 790 Duke will go on sale in, or whether it will return to India.
Source: AMCN
