KTM has introduced the new look of its popular naked sports bike, the KTM 990 Duke, for 2026. Interestingly, only the design has been updated, while no changes have been made to the mechanical package. The company believes that the 990 Duke is already so performance-oriented and modern that it does not require any major mechanical upgrades. After its launch in Europe, it is expected that the bike will come to India soon, especially because Bajaj has now taken over the operation of KTM and many models will be made in India. It also means that the price in India may be more competitive than before.
Price
The 2026 KTM 990 Duke is priced at EUR 12,990 in the euro market, which is approximately Rs 12.5 lakh (before tax and import duty). If the bike is made locally in India, it can be quite good in the Indian market.
Design
The biggest feature of the 2026 model is its new color scheme. This time, KTM has introduced a white, black and bright orange mix, reminiscent of previous racing and street style. No changes have been made to the sharp body panel, low-set headlamp unit and compact tail, but the new graphics give the bike a refreshed showroom appearance. This update adds the bike to the Duke Series’ original 200 and 390 models, which were the most popular in India.
Performance
The real strength of the KTM 990 Duke is its Powerful 947cc twin-cylinder engine, which gives 122 bhp and 103 Nm of torque. This engine is not only agile in its class, but also gives excellent performance in both overtaking and fast acceleration on the highway. Low- and mid-range torque is so strong that the bike looks very responsive even in the city. In addition, the engine’s compact design keeps the bike’s body slim and manable, making it easy to handle on both the road and the track.
Features
KTM has not made any hardware changes to the 2026 version, but its electronics package is as advanced and reliable as ever. The bike has multiple riding modes, traction control and corner-sensitive ABS. Wheelie control and engine brake management systems are also included, making the bike very stable and safe during aggressive riding.
