The KTM Duke series is a family of standard motorcycles manufactured by KTM and Bajaj Auto Limited since 1994. The Duke was KTM’s first street bike and first supermoto, as the company had previously made only off-road and racing motorcycles.
KTM Duke at a glance
| Maker | KTM with Bajaj Auto |
|---|---|
| First Duke | 1994 |
| Type | standard / streetfighter motorcycles |
| Significance | KTM’s first street bike and first supermoto |
| Duke 620 | 1994-1997 |
| Duke 640 | 1998-2007 |
| Duke 690 | 1994-2018 |
| 125 Duke | 2010-present |
| 200 Duke | 2012-present |
| 250 Duke | 2012-present |
| 390 Duke | 2013-present |
| 790 Duke | 2017-2020, reintroduced 2023 |
| 890 Duke | 2020-2023 |
| 990 Duke | 2024-present |
| Super Duke | from 2005, 999 cc then 1,301 cc |
based on one source
History of the KTM Duke
The first street bikes
The Duke was KTM’s first street bike and first supermoto, a major change for a company that had made only off-road and racing motorcycles. The first single-cylinder Dukes, the 620 of 1994 to 1997 and the 640 of 1998 to 2007, established the formula: a light standard motorcycle with a long-travel suspension and an upright riding position. The 690 Duke, listed from 1994 to 2018, became the longest-running member of the family.
Supermoto influence
In 1998 KTM introduced the 640 Supermoto, and the Duke line became a more street-oriented standard or streetfighter while retaining some off-road characteristics such as relatively long suspension travel. Initially the Duke was KTM’s entry-level street bike, but the range later expanded in both directions.
Small Dukes with Bajaj
KTM partnered with Bajaj Auto to produce the 125 Duke, 200 Duke and 390 Duke in India, which placed the 600 cc class Dukes in the middle of the range. The 125 Duke has been made since 2010, the 200 and 250 since 2012 and the 390 since 2013; a 350 Duke is listed as still to be determined. These models share a single-cylinder engine architecture and, in the case of the 125 and 200, an identical tubular steel frame.
Super Duke
In 2005 KTM introduced the Super Duke to expand the range above the middle Duke, initially with a 999 cc engine and later growing to 1,301 cc. The Super Duke used the 75-degree LC8 V-twin, the engine family that had begun with the 950 Adventure, and the 990 Super Duke was made from 2004 to 2012. The 1290 Super Duke R followed from 2013 to 2023 and the 1290 Super Duke GT from 2016.
Twin-cylinder Dukes
A new chapter opened with the parallel-twin LC8c engine. The 790 Duke was made from 2017 to 2020 and reintroduced in 2023, the 890 Duke from 2020 to 2023, and the 990 Duke has been built since 2024. At the top of the range, the 1390 Super Duke R arrived in 2024 and the 1390 Super Duke GT is delayed until 2027.
Design and features
- First street KTM: the Duke opened KTM’s road range in 1994.
- Supermoto roots: long suspension travel and upright ergonomics carried over from off-road bikes.
- Shared platform: the 125 and 200 Dukes use the same steel frame.
- Wide range: from 125 cc singles to 1,390 cc V-twins.
KTM Duke versions
- Duke 620 (1994-1997) and Duke 640 (1998-2007): the original single-cylinder Dukes.
- Duke 690 (1994-2018): the long-running large single.
- 125, 200, 250 and 390 Duke: the small singles built with Bajaj.
- 790, 890 and 990 Duke: the parallel-twin LC8c generation.
- 990, 1290 and 1390 Super Duke: the V-twin performance models.
The small Dukes have their own pages: the 125 Duke and the 200 Duke. The big single is covered with the 690, and more models are in the KTM collection.
Sources
- KTM Duke series, English Wikipedia: history and model list
