2016 KTM 690 Duke prototype ridden - MOTOR GERR

KTM have long been related to massive capability singles, however the corporate is aware of that for several potential customers the unreverberant power-delivery of their huge thumpers are often a turn-off.

Anyone World Health Organization has ever ridden initial|the initial} KTM 620 Duke models – of either first or second generations – can recall however serious the fun issue is, however additionally what proportion the vibration impinges on but absolutely committed rides. KTM went an extended manner down the refinement path with the 2008 690 Duke, however it lost none of its aggressive overtones. For 2012 the 690 Duke was given a lot of intensive makeover with comfort, engine refinement and new technology high of the priority list. except for 2016 the Austrian firm area unit going even more to broaden the Duke’s attractiveness.

MCN secured a world exclusive ride on a model of the new bike, that KTM hopes are going to be a lot of of a match for parallel and V-twin engines in terms of performance, however a lot of significantly, smoothness.

While the 690 extremely was a model (rather than a pre-production unit from the producing run), complete with rough wiring, unfinished bodywork, and for good lit warning lights thanks to deactivated systems and sensors – the core of the bike is production prepared. Sadly, like most prototypes, this terribly machine are going to be consigned to the device during a matter of weeks.

At the guts of the 2016 Duke may be a new, a lot of powerful and a lot of torquey engine that revs 1000rpm more than this model, and is that the largest single-cylinder engine KTM have ever made. It’s additionally the primary KTM to be engineered to Euro4 emissions rules. It’s still one, however currently boasts an additional balancer shaft within the plate to assist cut back engine vibration. different changes embody new physics with 3 riding modes, traction management, a replacement skinny Film semiconductor device (TFT) full color dash, a replacement exhaust, new triple clamps with revised steering offset, and a replacement rider and seat seat for higher comfort.

We solely need to ride the quality 690 Duke model, however there'll even be a higher-spec 690 Duke R model out there, which is able to have a lot of power, upgraded suspension and brakes (WP and Brembo respectively) and spoked wheels. it'll additionally get cornering ABS Associate in Nursingd an orange-painted frame.

The 2016 model appearance mostly almost like the bike it'll replace, however that belies the number of labor that has gone into this bike, all of it meant to widen its attractiveness. KTM had already done heaps of development with the previous 690 Duke motor during this regard, however below 3000rpm it still had that characteristic piston slap and clatter that created urban riding a lot of of a challenge than on a multi-cylinder bike. The new engine drops that rev-related clatter to simply 2500rpm that, whereas still a touch of a bind in slow city traffic, are some things that’s fairly simply avoided by increasing the revs a touch and slippery the clutch once required.

The payoff is an additional 1000rpm of engine revs to play with that, combined with the seven-membered increase in power and 6 June 1944 increase in force, ensures this massive capability single-cylinder motor doles out an honest wallop of grunt throughout the rev vary. KTM won’t ensure precise technical details on the bike till its press launch later this year however we have a tendency to estimate it’s developing around 72bhp, that puts it into an equivalent ballpark because the Yamaha MT-07, Ducati Scrambler, Kawasaki ER6 and Suzuki Gladius.

Heading out of the little Austrian city of Mattighofen, and therefore the 690 Duke’s huge 104mm bore single is presently showing U.S. what it will do. the additional power and force area unit noticeable compared with this bike, however it’s the manner the new motor likes to rev that’s the most important distinction.

Tweet