2027 KTM 790 Duke: First Look

KTM’s beloved middleweight Duke is back, and this time around, KTM says it’s better than ever, thanks to the biggest update in the bike’s history. For 2027, the KTM 790 Duke introduces an all-new styling, refined ergonomics, and significant updates to the electronics package. Starting at $9,799, the 2027 KTM 790 Duke is expected to arrive in dealerships this September. Here’s what we know the new Duke brings to the table.

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Ever since its global launch in 2018, the KTM 790 Duke has been one of the most impressive middleweight naked motorcycles on the market. So much so that when KTM replaced it with the more potent 890 Duke platform, it soon had to bring it back because of its popularity. Roughly one year ago, in mid 2025, KTM North America removed the 790 Duke from its lineup, and we almost thought that was the end of its mid-sized machine Stateside.

Fortunately, KTM brought the Scalpel, as it calls it, back with major updates, building on its predecessors while incorporating key refinements inspired by the flagship 1390 Super Duke R Evo and the 990 Duke/990 Duke R. According to the Austrian manufacturer, the older 790 Duke was known as the sharpest tool for carving up corners, and the new model only reinforces that ability, thanks to its most extensive evolution so far. Let’s look at the updates in detail.

Adapts The Same Aggressive Stance As Larger Dukes

KTM / Sebas Romero

The 790 Duke’s most obvious update is in its visual design, as it now adapts the same aggressive stance as the larger 990 and 1390 Dukes, headlined by predator-like headlights and streamlined bodywork. There are also larger front fairings and a reshaped fuel tank with a flatter top. The latter is said to offer better knee contact and a connected riding position. Speaking of which, the new design also brings a reworked riding triangle, thanks to a new handlebar and an updated seat design, which are said to offer a more natural, connected riding position.

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KTM / Sebas Romero

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The 790 Duke looks more physically imposing than the outgoing model, but KTM says it is actually 4.4 pounds lighter. That’s thanks to its new subframe that incorporates the airbox and side-mounted air intakes. The bike still retains the same chromoly steel trellis frame, now paired with updated WP Apex suspension. The front is a 43mm open-cartridge USD unit with adjustable compression and rebound damping, featuring easy-to-use 5-click adjusters. At the back is a fully adjustable gas-assisted monoshock with 5mm more travel than before.

Elsewhere, the bike now features the all-new WP radial braking system, which is an in-house brand that also lives under the KTM AG umbrella. KTM says the new braking system delivers greater braking power with a smooth, linear response, and without a harsh initial bite. Rounding out the chassis updates are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires that are said to complement the bike’s razor-sharp handling characteristics.

More Intuitive Tech Package With A New TFT Display

KTM / Sebas Romero

This year, the 790 Duke brings various updates to the tech package, starting with a new 5-inch TFT display featuring revised graphics and a more intuitive menu system, which is navigated via a new handlebar switchgear. The bike also features 3 riding modes: Street, Sport, and Rain, as well as Supermoto ABS, which lets you disable the rear ABS. KTM also offers the optional Track Pack, which adds launch control, a dedicated Track mode, anti-wheelie control, MTC slip adjustment, and a telemetry screen with a laptimer. The optional Tech Pack ($899) builds on the Track Pack by adding motor slip regulation, cruise control, and Quickshifter+.

One area where you won’t notice a big evolution is the bike’s powerplant. It retains the proven 799cc LC8c parallel-twin engine that delivers nearly 105 horsepower. A minor update here is the newly designed exhaust and muffler system, mainly to comply with ever stringent Euro5+ regulations.

KTM / Sebas Romero

The 790 Duke occupies a unique place in the middleweight segment. With the sharpest steering geometry, IMU-enabled electronics, and over 100 horses on tap, it outclasses several of its middleweight parallel-twin rivals. However, it does not have enough power or features to rival larger sub-900cc middleweights, either. And that unique positioning is part of what made the earlier 790 Dukes so special, and the same should apply to the 2027 model.

Its closest rival sits in a similar spot, too: the Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. The Italian naked is built like a performance-minded middleweight sports naked, featuring a 105-horsepower parallel-twin, a competitive electronics suite, as well as high-end components like Brembo brakes and Öhlins suspension. Starting at $11,599, it’s also significantly more expensive than any of its rivals, including the 790 Duke, which starts at just under $10,000.

The Honda CB750 Hornet E-Clutch and Suzuki GSX-8S come close with 90.5 horsepower and 83 horsepower, respectively, but they are more value-oriented. Meanwhile, the Yamaha MT-07 and Kawasaki Z 650, while considerably cheaper, sit in the lower tier of the segment and lack many of the electronics and sporty underpinnings found in their more expensive rivals.

The 2027 KTM 790 Duke Is Priced At $9,799

KTM / Sebas Romero

The KTM 790 Duke earned the nickname The Scalpel for its ultralight handling and a punchy parallel-twin engine. It’s this very nature that made enthusiasts fall in love with the bike. And if the updates are anything to go by, the new Scalpel should feel even sharper and lighter. KTM will sell the 2026 790 Duke for $9,799 plus $800 freight. The bike is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in late summer 2026. Look to this space for more updates on the KTM 790 Duke.

2027 KTM 790 Duke Image Gallery:

2027 KTM 790 Duke Specifications:

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Dimensions and Capacities

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