KTM is expected to launch the 125 Duke in India soon. Judging by a video of the bike on test and according to multiple dealers, the India-spec 125 Duke will feature styling similar to the 200 Duke, which is currently on sale in India. The upcoming bike will also share most of its mechanical components with the 200 Duke, aside from the engine, of course. Many dealers have also started accepting bookings for the entry-level Duke and have estimated a price tag between Rs 1.30-1.40 lakh (ex-showroom). They are also claiming that it could be launched as early as next month.
The 125 Duke is expected to feature the same body work, wheels, seat, and headlight as the 200 Duke. It will also get the same underbelly exhaust and instrument cluster. The only difference on the outside will be in the colour schemes; expect graphics that denote it as a 125. The video reveals that the bike rides on the same WP USD fork and monoshock, and features the same 17-inch wheels and MRF Revz tyres.
The test mule in the video also features an ABS ring on the rear disc, but multiple dealers have suggested otherwise and said that the 125 will only feature single-channel ABS. If that is the case, then KTM could be using an ABS system similar to the one found on the Bajaj Pulsar RS200, where the rear ring is present to monitor the wheel speed and provide a rear wheel lift mitigation function under hard braking.
While the sport-naked bike will miss out on many of the features found on the international-spec 125 Duke, we believe it will produce similar power figures of 15hp and 12Nm of torque. The transmission will be a 6-speed gearbox. With figures like these, this bike will be the most powerful 125cc motorcycle in India. That said, with its high expected price tag, it will go up against more powerful, higher-capacity motorcycles like the Yamaha R15 V3.0, TVS Apache RTR 200 4V and the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 in India.
If the rumours are to be believed, the 125 Duke will cost around Rs 10,000-20,000 lesser than the 200 Duke (ex-showroom). While it loses out in terms of power and torque figures, compared to its larger sibling, it will most likely provide better fuel efficiency, but that remains to be seen. What also remains to be seen is how well the 125 will do against the 200 Duke, which has consistently been KTM’s bestseller in our market.
What do you think of the upcoming India-spec KTM 125 Duke? Let us know in the comments section below.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
