KTM says it’s bringing its updated small-bore Duke models to the US and Canada for 2024. The 250 Duke and 390 Duke revisions had already been confirmed for other markets, and now, lo and behold, we’ll get our own chance to buy them.
Duke 390 changes
When we first saw the updated machines back in August, here’s what we told you:
Since its debut in 2020, the 390 has actually been a 373cc single-cylinder engine. Now, for 2024, that grows to 399cc, thanks to an increased stroke. The new engine meets Euro 5.2 emissions regulations, and is now rated for 44.2 hp and 28.8 lb-ft of torque. Depending who you ask, those may be slight improvements over 2023’s numbers, although the difference would be so negligible so as not to be noticeable—the bigger news is that max power kicks in farther down the rev range, which means a little less revving the guts out of your bike.
Wait, *is that a Kawasaki 650?* No, dear reader, it is a new side-mount shock configuration on the 390. Photo: KTM
We missed some of the details in that write-up, as the info was limited. Here’s some more info.
There’s also some new bodywork for the 390 Duke, and the steel trellis frame is updated, combined with a new aluminum sub-frame. The triple clamps are also repositioned. The WP Apex fork is unchanged, but the shock has a new offset so KTM could install a bigger airbox. The new airbox lets KTM drop the seat 0.4 in, to 32.3 in height. Take out a spacer, and you can drop seat height even further, to 31.4 in. There’s a new fuel tank, new self-canceling turn signals and new aluminum footpeg mounting brackets. Wet weight is now a claimed 363.7 lb.
Much of the rest of the machine is the same, with TFT screen, IMU-governed ABS and TC systems (including a supermoto ABS mode that lets you slide the rear wheel) and Street and Rain ride modes (there’s a new Track mode for 2023). A quickshifter is available at extra cost.
The quarter-liter Duke also gets a lot of updates, including a change from DOHC engine to SOHC. Photo: KTM
Duke 250 changes
The 250 Duke saw a really big overhaul. The 250 got a gearbox update and went from a double overhead cam setup to a single overhead cam setup, although it’s still rated for the same 30 hp at the crank. Ride-by-wire throttle is standard, and a new slip/assist clutch. The chassis is slightly different, but similar, with 43mm WP APEX fork and shock, but there’s no adjustment possible on these units except spring preload on the shock. Seat height is lower for 2024, at 31.4 in.
Supermoto ABS mode comes on both the 390 and 250. Photo: KTM
The quarter-liter Duke gets some revisions to the bodywork around the tank, along with a new LED headlight. There’s a new 5-inch display as well.
We don’t know pricing for these bikes yet, but it’ll be here soon, just like the bikes themselves. And when will KTM bring similar updates to the 390 Adventure? Uh, we’re still waiting.
