Japan is a place known for its underground motorcycle culture. Presenting an example of the same, a new cafe racer project based on the KTM 890 Duke R took the streets of Yokohama. Blending the aggression of the Duke family with a cafe racer design, the motorcycle gets fully reversible bolt-on custom elements. The unique-looking machine, christened "NA 890 Kranich," has been created by a Japanese designer, Nobuki Kato, in collaboration with specialist builder ASK Motorcycle.
The NA 890 Kranich began its life as a KTM 890 Duke R, using an 889 cc parallel-twin engine. The bike is also known as the "super scalpel," known for its compact chassis and sharp, upright ergonomics. Kato's concept reinterprets the naked bike as a modern cafe racer, with a focus on visual transformation rather than structural. Based on the information available, the frame remains untouched, and the custom work centres on components that can be bolted on and removed without cutting or welding.
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In place of the Duke's stock headlamp and minimal bodywork, the NA 890 Kranich receives an angular, fully faired front section with a single circular headlight merging into a sharp nose cone, as seen in the riding shot. The fairing and side panels get flat, geometric surfaces with ventilation holes, giving the bike an almost prototype-racer stance while clearly exposing the original trellis frame and engine. With white bodywork, the bike gets "NA 890 Kranich" lettering and KTM branding sitting above the familiar orange main frame.
Nobuki Kato describes the build as a "bolt-on custom style," positioning it between a showroom bike and a full one-off special. The strategy allows owners to retain the Duke R's performance package, 121 hp twin-cylinder engine, WP Apex suspension, and Brembo braking hardware while adopting a completely different silhouette. This approach also means the bike can theoretically be returned to stock specification.