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EICMA Milan Show 2017 roundup: KTM's new shizz

The Princes of Orange finally (finally!) unleashed their new parallel-twin 800cc class Duke. The firm’s been crying out for a halfway-house between their nice-but-limited single cylinder motors and their full-beans 1200cc+ V-twin nonsense. What they needed was a nice super-middleweight lump: something light, compact and capable of an easy 100bhp or so.

And here it is: a new engine, bolted into a 790 Duke (dubbed ‘the Scalpel’) for 2018. Numbers are good: 105bhp, and 169kg dry, and it’s also dripping in kit: ride-by-wire throttle, power modes, IMU traction, cornering ABS, quickshifter, customisable track mode, and a colour dash that links to your phone so you can call A&E before you’ve even finished flipping that wheelie.

The chassis is good if unsurprising: WP suspension all round, radial 4-piston calipers up front (not branded Brembos tho), and a steel tube trellis frame using the engine as a stressed member. You even get LED lights all round.

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What would put us off on the dealership floor? Not much really, especially if the price is right. We would be haggling for some new rubber though: it comes with Maxxis Supermaxx ST hoops, which we’re not so sure about…

- 2-cylinder, 4-stroke DOHC in-line engine, eight valves actuated via DLC-coated finger followers, electronic fuel injection, two balancer shafts, semi dry-sump lubrication with oil cooler 


- 6-speed transmission and PASCTM slipper clutch
- Max. output: 77 kW (105 hp) @ 9,000 rpm, 
max. torque: 86 Nm @ 8,000 rpm
- Ultra lightweight chrome-molybdenum steel frame with 
aluminum rear subframe, die-cast aluminum open lattice 
swingarm
- 43 mm split open-cartridge upside-down fork 
by WP Suspension with progressive springs
- High quality WP Suspension gas-assisted rear shock 
with progressive spring and preload adjuster
- 12-stage adjustable tapered aluminum handlebar
- Two 300 mm front brake discs with radial 4-piston 
calipers and radial front brake master cylinder
- Cornering ABS including Supermoto mode
- Lean-angle sensitive motorcycle traction control (MTC) 
and motor slip regulation (MSR)
- Quickshifter+
- Launch control
- Multifunctional dashboard with color TFT display and 
illuminated menu switch
- LED lighting all around
- OEM Maxxis Supermaxx ST tires as standard

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