2027 KTM 790 Duke Gets New WP Brakes, Adjustable Suspension and a Sportier Fit

The 2027 KTM 790 Duke is more than a paint update. KTM has changed the parts riders actually touch and feel: new WP brakes, an adjustable WP fork and shock, Pirelli tires, a new headlight and a reworked riding position. The engine figures stay the same.

KTM first announced the 2027 bike in a June 22, 2026 European release and laid out the hardware changes in detail in a September 2 story on its U.S. site. The U.S. model page, checked October 7, lists a base MSRP of $8,999 plus $800 freight.

The short version

• Brakes: an all-new WP system with twin 300 mm floating front discs and four-piston radial calipers.
• Suspension: a 43 mm WP upside-down fork with 5-click compression and rebound adjustment, and a WP APEX shock adjustable for rebound and preload.
• Tires: Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV.
• Ergonomics: same 825 mm (32.5 in) seat height, but a flatter, thicker seat, a slimmer tank shape and footpegs moved back and up.
• Engine: unchanged on paper at 105 PS and 87 Nm from the 799cc LC8c twin.
• U.S. price: $8,999 MSRP plus $800 freight on KTM's U.S. page.

New brakes, made by KTM's own WP

The brakes are the headline change. KTM says the 2027 system was developed in-house under its WP brand. The U.S. spec lists:

• Front: twin 300 mm floating discs with four-piston, radially mounted calipers
• Rear: a 240 mm disc with a single-piston caliper

KTM hasn't published comparative stopping data, so how the new setup feels against the outgoing brakes is something only a ride will tell. What's clear is that this is new hardware, not a revised pad or line.

Suspension you can now adjust

For 2027, KTM fits a 43 mm WP open-cartridge fork with five clicks of adjustment: compression in the left leg and rebound in the right. At the back, a WP APEX shock offers five clicks of rebound plus preload adjustment.

Five clicks isn't a race-level range, but it gives you room to firm things up for a passenger or a fast road, or soften them for rough pavement. KTM's own wording is that the shock stays "sporty" while still "comfortable enough for longer trips."

Tires and headlight

KTM switched to Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires. In the September 2 story, the company says it chose them partly on feedback about wet-weather grip.

The front gets a revised LED headlight with floating daytime running lights, styled to match the bigger 990 Duke and 1390 Super Duke R.

A sportier seat-to-bar relationship

Seat height doesn't change at 825 mm, but nearly everything around it does. KTM lists:

1. A flatter seat angle with more foam
2. A thinner fuel tank shape where your knees go
3. A handlebar position that puts more weight toward the front wheel
4. Rider footpegs moved further back and up
5. Reshaped passenger pegs

KTM's stated goal is a more front-focused, sporty position that keeps the comfort. Pegs moved back and up usually mean a little more knee bend, so riders with long legs or sore knees should sit on one before buying.

Electronics and the end of Demo mode

KTM's U.S. page lists Street, Sport and Rain riding modes, plus a Supermoto ABS setting that lets the rear wheel lock for skids. Road ABS and a 5-inch TFT are standard.

Extra features sit in two paid packs:

• Track Pack: launch control, throttle response adjustment, anti-wheelie control, adjustable traction-control slip, Track mode and a lap-timer screen.
• Tech Pack: everything in the Track Pack, plus Motor Slip Regulation, Quickshifter+ and cruise control.

KTM's June release also says the Demo riding mode is being phased out in response to rider requests. On earlier KTMs, Demo mode let new owners try the paid features for a limited time. The release doesn't say when the change takes effect across the range or whether it affects bikes already sold, so ask your dealer how it works on a 2027 790 Duke.

Engine and chassis carry over

The 799cc LC8c parallel twin keeps its listed 105 PS at 9,500 rpm and 87 Nm of torque, now meeting Euro 5+ in KTM's global specs. The chromoly steel frame and cast open-lattice swingarm carry over, along with the wheelbase.

Those are KTM's global figures; U.S.-specific emissions certification is a separate matter that KTM's story doesn't address.

What it means for riders

The 790 Duke has long been a value-priced way into a KTM twin. The 2027 changes put more of the money into brakes, suspension and tires, the parts riders notice first. At $8,999 before freight, the price on KTM's U.S. page leaves it in the same territory.

If you're cross-shopping, compare the full price with freight and dealer fees, and decide early whether you'd want the Track or Tech Pack, since those features aren't included. Before signing, get an insurance quote. A naked bike with this much power can price differently from a commuter, and your record, location and coverage choices count too.

What we don't know yet

• U.S. delivery timing. KTM's page shows a price but no arrival date.
• Pack pricing. The cost of the Track and Tech Packs isn't on the page we checked.
• Demo mode details. Timing and scope of the phase-out across KTM's range.
• Independent testing of the new brakes and suspension.

Bottom line

The 2027 KTM 790 Duke gets new WP brakes, adjustable WP suspension, Pirelli tires and a sportier riding position, with the same 105 PS twin. KTM's U.S. page lists it at $8,999 plus $800 freight, with extra electronics sold separately.