KTM 390 Duke With Cruise Control Incoming?

Patents of a radar-based cruise control system for the 390 range have emerged online

• The radar device is mounted on the headlamp.
• The patent image features spoke wheels and minimalistic body panels.
• Expect KTM to introduce this feature later this year.

Patent images of KTM’s radar-based cruise control system for its 390 range have surfaced online. The bike looks like a next-generation KTM 390 Duke with minimalistic body panels and an aggressive naked design. It also comes with spoke wheels, presumably for representation. 

The radar-based cruise control, which first appeared on the 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure, looks set to trickle down to more affordable motorcycles from the Austrian brand. The radio-signal sensing device is mounted on the headlamp so it can beam the waves without any obstruction. The waves bounce back from any object in front of the bike and the position of the object is measured by the system. It then alters the cruising speed of the motorcycle accordingly. The patent image also shows the device mounted on a circular headlamp, which is a clear indicator that the upcoming Husqvarna Norden 901 might get it too. Perhaps, later, it might also be available on the smaller Huskies. 

All said and done, the cruise control system might be featured only in the international-spec updated KTM 390 Duke. The upcoming India-spec model might just do with a relatively less sophisticated conventional cruise control system to keep costs in check. With multiple price hikes over the years, the KTM 390 Duke has already become a bit expensive for its class. In fact, the on-road (Delhi) price of the current-generation KTM 390 Duke is slightly more than the on-road price of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. 

Expect KTM to launch the updated model sometime this year. With the new cruise control system, it will be one of the most feature-packed motorcycles in its segment.