ROAD NEWS
KTM 990 DUKE RETURNS
With the KTM Duke line hitting 30 years old this year , KTM has announced the return of the 990 Duke moniker with the 2024 KTM 990 Duke . The new bike will enter the market with some interesting features , including what KTM calls a Coming Home light function as standard . For this , the bike ’ s headlight will remain on after the ignition has been switched off , with the idea being that it will give the rider a few seconds of guaranteed light to open doors or for better visibility in the garage . In a world where high tech features are all the rage , this simple function might possibly be one of the more useful for real world riders to debut in years . Power comes care of a dramatically updated version of the LC8c engine found in the KTM 890 range . Now measuring in at 947cc , the heart of the new KTM 990 Duke receives new pistons , crankshaft , and conrod producing a roaring 123hp and 103Nm , while in true peak performance fashion it only has to propel a total motorcycle weight of just 179kg . In typical Duke fashion , KTM has bestowed the 990 with a stiff trellis frame and a new closedlattice swingarm together with high-quality adjustable WP APEX Suspension components . WP APEX suspension is fitted to the 990 Duke ,
43mm forks up from with five clicks of both rebound and compression . On the rear , the WP APEX Monotube shock absorber has rebound and manual preload adjustment . Once seated , riders are greeted by a 5-inch , anti-scratch bonded glass dashboard providing all the information a rider pilot could want . According to KTM , the new dash has revised graphics and menu structures that are designed for faster , more intuitive access to the various features of the KTM 990 Duke . This includes a new function that displays Lean Angle data , with an optional Track Mode complete with lap timer and telemetry stats . The cockpit also features a USB-C connection for device charging duties . While most of the visuals of the new 990 Duke follow the lines of the previous 890 , we ’ ve got to talk about that headlight . While not everybody ’ s cup of tea , the LED headlight is new with position and daytime running lights located on the profile of the headlight , which also auto-adjusts in intensity according to ambient light conditions thanks to a light sensor integrated into the dashboard . KTM New Zealand is yet to announce local arrival and pricing for the new 990 Duke , but you ’ ll definitely notice it a mile off when it lands in dealers .
108 KIWI RIDER