It’s amazing how far single-cylinder engine design has come. The introduction of the modern four-stroke motocross racer in the 1990s was the main driving force behind development, while the advent of the Moto3 class in Grand Prix roadracing in 2012 ushered in even more advancements. KTM was one of the first to take on the challenge of creating a modern four-stroke single streetbike, the Austrian dirtbike manufacturer introducing the Duke 620 way back in 1994. Twenty-two years and four different design iterations later comes the 2016 KTM 690 Duke.
The previous 690 Duke was the most powerful production single to date, but the new model is even stronger. Two key design elements have enabled KTM to reach an even higher level of power and smoothness: the introduction of KTM’s Ride Mode technology along with a revamping of more than 50 percent of the LC4 motor’s mechanical components.
This latest Duke is geared toward maximum performance, but it’s also designed to be user-friendly for beginning riders. Even the chassis, which retains the same lightweight stainless chromoly-steel trellis-type frame as previous Dukes, received some subtle-yet-significant changes to improve handling. The new bike also gets some slight tweaks to its styling while retaining the minimalist, narrow lines so beloved by Duke enthusiasts.