The KTM 790 Duke Prototype Is Here To Own The Middleweight Naked Category

If there's one bike (or bikes) I've been looking forward to this EICMA, it is KTM's supposed new 800cc parallel twin powered machines of awesomeness. Unfortunately, it appears as if we aren't going to see production models from them today featuring the new motor, but they did give us a prototype to tide us over. And boy is it a good one.

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The KTM 790 Duke prototype gives us a first look at what KTM are calling "the bike to bring unparalleled poise, telepathic levels of feedback and lightness that’s off the scale" to the mid-sized sport naked category. As a fan of said category, or someone who prefers the little brother to many of today's offerings in the super naked category, the 790 Duke is a welcome sight.

They're calling this new motor the LC8c (c for compact), and say the new bike will feature ride-by-wire throttle, variable fuel modes, and multi-level traction control. Hopefully I've done enough good in this world and earned enough karma points that they give us cornering ABS as well.

Obviously, there's a lot about this prototype that won't make it onto the production version. That insane exhaust? Gone. Some sort of weird headlight that isn't a headlight, but they might have somehow hidden a projector LED in there? Nope, also gone. The extreme shape of the tank? Likely not like that, no. But, if this thing makes close to 100 horsepower and manages to come in under the 420 pound FZ-09 (and comes void of the fueling and suspension issues), this thing is going to be monster.

Supposedly, the motor will also be used in an adventure bike (which some say we'll see from Husky later today), that should could give the current crop of adventure bikes, including the new Honda Africa Twin we love so much, a run for their money.

Sadly, it will likely be another year before we get to bring you all the specs, as it appears KTM plan for this to be released as a 2018 model. So, so sad. Until then, let these pictures be saved as desktop backgrounds and pinned onto cubicle walls around the globe.