KTM E-Duke Prototype Goes On Display At KTM Motohall in Austria

Just days after Bajaj saved KTM, there have been new developments at the firm’s facilities in Mattighofen, Austria. Besides the plant, the Motohall exhibition centre displays KTM’s creations that celebrate its legacy. And in the interesting prototype “Zunukft Gestalten” section (Shaping The Future), the E-Duke Prototype has now been displayed.

Thanks to KTM’s stunt rider Rok Bagoros, we got to see some delicious details of the electric prototype. For starters, the bike looks no larger than the 390 Duke, and in some regards it also seems like it is built on the same platform. The chassis looks similar, the offset monoshock and swingarm look similar and so do the lightweight 17-inch rims and brakes. 

Originally, the bike was supposed to bear a 5.5 kWh battery pack. No range figures were shared back then but with a decent experience of electric two-wheelers so far, it would be good for roughly 150 km of real-world range, if ridden sanely. But this is a Duke that we are talking about, meant to evoke an electrifying hooligan, and hence, the same battery pack would be great if it lasted even 100 km.

You can evidently see KISKA’s styling inferences on the E-Duke Prototype. It is the same third-gen Duke styling but evolved for electrics. A lot of sharp and edgy body panels with a sleek hind. And the stunning bit here is the seat, which seems to be made from 3D foam material for that light and airy feel. More so, it extends towards the traditional fuel tank area, which would eliminate the need for tank grips altogether. 

It is likely that the E-Duke Prototype is going to have on-board charger cable with the battery charge level status right on top of it. KTM has also designed an air-scoop to direct air towards the battery to cool the pack.

This wouldn’t be surprising that KTM had already envisaged a modular platform for EVs when designing the third-gen 390 Duke. Such modularity is seen on cars like the Tatas and Mahindras but on motorcycles, it would be amongst the first. And considering the electric charge (no pun intended) is stronger in India than in Austria as well as the fact that the 390 Duke is made in Chakan, we could very well see the E-Duke also being made in the country. 

As far as performance electric bikes go, there is just the one true option: the Ultraviolette F77. Be it the Mach 2 or the Superstreet, the popularity of the motorcycle is growing steadily. But with the E-Duke, Bajaj can open up another dimension to the electric game, adding another feather to its cap as it will manage to cover both bases, mass-market focused Chetaks and the E-Dukes for the performance lovers.