NEW BIKES: KTM adds 990 Duke to its range of scalpel sharp naked’s

That’s right. KTM’s adding to its ever growing range of bonkers ‘middleweight’ naked bikes – and if the current range is anything to go by, the new £12,999 990 Duke’s going to be an absolute belter.

The Austrian firm’s making big claims about the bike that’s being built at home. They’re saying it’s the lightest, sharpest and most performance-focused mid-class naked ever manufactured at KTM’s HQ. That’s a good start, don’t you think…?

Its not just an 890 Duke with a bigger motor. A good example of the work that’s gone into it is the chassis. There’s a completely new steel tube frame which has increased in both side and torsional stiffness to improve handling – while the swingarm stiffness has been substantially reduced to improve traction on the rear wheel. And that’s just the start…

It gets top brakes, WP suspension, loads of technology and is powered by a new, punchy 123bhp LC8c engine, which KTM says is the most compact twin cylinder in its class. Yes please.

For the full lowdown and the tech specs, click HERE to nip over to the KTM website.