The KTM 690 Duke is getting some new developments for the 2012 model year, among which are changes which should make it even more powerful. In a pre-production first ride, MCN says the world’s most powerful single-cylinder bike will be more refined and powerful next year as KTM hopes to make its mid-range sportsbike lineup more appealing.

The 2012 KTM 690 Duke will have a twin-spark cylinder head, ride-by-wire throttle and optional Bosch ABS brakes, all on about 70 hp. Still aiming at a younger audience, the 690 Duke will also have a price of about £6,000 - around €6,800 at the current exchange rate.

That sounds like an appealing package and KTM is taking things even further with new structural fairing on a subframe manufactured under high pressure. The aluminium alloy structure will reduce both weight and the number of components - we can’t wait to hear more.

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Here’s a lovely little gallery of the 2010 KTM Duke 690 R, with a higher performance motor than the standard Duke 690 version. The increase of 36 cc takes the 654cc motor up to its namesake of 690. The bore and stroke was increased to achieve this, and the compression ratio was subsequently modified, achieving another 5 hp extra, with the Duke 690 R now having a total of 70 hp.

Some carbon fibre elements feature, and the colour is the classic KTM orange. The Duke 690 R has a dry weight of 150 kg, and should prove to be a lot of fun. It costs about 9,350 euros, depending on the market.

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KTM is renewing its single cylinder model and it’s likely that 2010 will see the arrival of the Duke 690R. In these spy shots we see a more agressive Duke that will probably be more powerful with better handling and more adapted to road use.

In these images, the finished look is still not the definitive version, but the orange colour is characteristic of all KTM “R” series. A more sporty suspension should appear, with improved performance Brembo brakes. The 72 hp engine could be inherited from the road prototype, the RC4.

And as a little sweet touch, the weight should be very impressive, coming in at even less than the 148 kg of the current Duke. Fun is certainly guaranteed with this new model, expected to appear in a presentation in autumn 2009.

Source | Visordown

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GPR is proposing a new exhaust for the KTM Duke 690 2008. The exhaust has a greater intake and is longer than the original, to reduce noise and guarantee better performance at higher revs.

This is latest generation technology, using the Grand Prix Evolution (GPE) made from titanium. Weight is reduced by about 10 kg with an increase in power of about 4hp. GPR has also developed a fuel distribution system that more evenly distributes fuel.

Continue reading: GPR exhuast for the KTM Duke 690

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