- Gets 1390 Super Duke-inspired styling
- Now gets WP-sourced brakes
- Could be showcased in the next few months
After months of spy shots and online speculation, the 2026 KTM 790 Duke has finally been revealed in what appears to be full production form, thanks to leaked images emerging from China. And while the mechanical package seems familiar, the visual changes are impossible to miss.
The biggest shift is at the front. KTM has abandoned the previous twin-element headlight design in favour of a sharper, irregular hexagonal unit. The new setup mirrors the look seen across much of KTM’s current line-up, including its larger Dukes, Super Adventure models and the latest 390 Adventure. At the centre sits a single projector-style headlamp, framed by slim daytime running lights tracing the outer edge of the hexagon. The result is a more unified and aggressive family identity.
Beyond the headlight, the rest of the bodywork continues KTM’s established design direction. The fuel tank remains deeply sculpted, with pronounced extensions that push forward toward the forks, giving the bike a compact and muscular stance. The side panels follow the same angular theme, reinforcing the Duke’s sharp streetfighter image.
Up front, the suspension is supplied by WP, nothing new there, but what stands out is what sits alongside it. The 790 Duke now features WP-branded brake callipers, marking the first time KTM has fitted its in-house subsidiary’s braking components to a production model. WP has long handled suspension duties within the KTM Group, but from 2026 onward, it appears the company is expanding into braking hardware as well.
That move signals a broader strategy of tighter vertical integration within the group. While the forks are a known quantity, attention will naturally turn to how these new WP calipers perform once media test rides begin. On a bike like the 790 Duke, known for its sharp handling and lively character, braking feel and consistency will be under close scrutiny.
With the styling now aligned more closely to KTM’s current design language and new in-house braking components entering the mix, the 2026 790 Duke represents an evolution rather than a reinvention, but one that clearly signals where the brand is heading next.
