KTM 790 Duke returns to refreshed street roster from Austria

KTM has announced its 2023 street range, with visual updates to many models, as well as the return of the 790 Duke. 

KTM’s 2023 street range features many updates, although most of them are restricted to new paint jobs. The 790 Duke, though, is new for 2023, as it returns to the range for the first time since the introduction of the 890 Duke in 2021. 

2023 KTM 790 Duke

The KTM 790 Duke returns for 2023 after being replaced in 2021 by the 890. The 790’s return sees it with 95 horsepower and revised electronics. This is only for the European version, though, as elsewhere in the world the CFMoto-built motors will produce 105 horsepower.

Alongside the 95 horsepower, KTM gets 87Nm of torque from the 799cc parallel twin-cylinder engine, which is of course Euro5 compliant.

In 62 miles (100km), the 2023 KTM 790 Duke will drink 4.4 litres of fuel, while it can also be detuned to 48 horsepower to suit A2-licenced riders. Once the A licence has been granted, the full 95 horsepower can be unlocked.

In a similar way, it is possible to unlock optional electronic settings. These optional settings are:

• Quickshifter+, allowing for clutchless up and downshifts
• Motor Slip Regulation (MSR)
• Track Mode
• Cruise Control
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• KTM My Ride providing a hands-free connection to phones and music

The 2023 KTM 790 Duke will be equipped with these electronic settings, but they are not unlocked unless you specifically pay for them. KTM is introducing a “Demo Mode” that can be active for 1,500km (932 miles) which will allow the owner of the bike to test out all of the electronics settings in a sort of trial period. When the trial ends, the owner can visit any KTM dealership where they can pay a fee to install the electronics options they want.

There are also a multitude of standard electronics options, of course. These are:

• Cornering sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC)
• Cornering ABS with Supermoto mode
• 3 standard Ride modes (Rain, Street, Sport) to quickly change the feel of the engine and level of MTC
• Full-colour 5-inch TFT display
• LED lights all around

UK prices for the 2023 KTM 790 Duke are still to be announced, but we do know that the motorcycles will arrive in dealers from January 2023. 

2023 KTM street range colour updates

Elsewhere, KTM is bringing new colours to bikes across its Duke and RC ranges. 

Both RC models, the RC 390 and RC 125, feature the new “KTM GP Orange” colour with a black exhaust and a dark-tinted screen. 

For the 125 Duke, KTM says there is a “fresh colour update, introducing a blue-on-white motif, accented by an orange tailpiece and striking orange wheels.”

Moving up to the 390 Duke, there is a new “vibrant orange and blue/grey” colour, as well as “stealthy black and matt grey”.

Finally, the 890 Duke GP receives a new black and white option with an orange subframe and orange wheels.

New 2022 KTM RC 390 and KTM RC 125 | Full Specs and Features