KTM has launched the 125 Duke in India at Rs 1,18,163 (ex-showroom, Delhi), making the street naked the Bajaj-owned bike maker's most affordable offering for the Indian bike market. Unlike the international-spec motorcycle, which takes design cues from the new KTM 390 Duke, the India-spec 125 Duke shares its styling with the KTM Duke 200, which recently got equipped with ABS.
To visually distinguish both the motorcycles, the new 125 Duke features redesigned graphics. The new motorcycle has been equipped with a single-channel ABS unit similar to the 200 Duke, while the 390 Duke features a dual-channel unit. The 125 Duke is also the first 125cc segment motorcycle in India to feature ABS; which will be mandatory for all two-wheelers above 125cc capacity from April 1, 2019.Technically, the Duke 125 falls just under the 125cc limit and it didn't require ABS, but it must have been easier for KTM to fit the bike with ABS which was already developed for it, rather than developing a brand new CBS (combined brake system) for the KTM 200 Duke.
Powering the bike is a 124.7cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC motor producing 14.5hp at 9,250rpm and 12Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission, albeit with no slipper clutch – as is the case with the 200 Duke. Cycle parts are also similar to its 200cc sibling – a trellis frame, 43mm USD fork and an adjustable monoshock are available as standard. Braking hardware consists of a 300mm single-disc brake at the front and a 230mm unit at the rear. Seat height for the KTM 125 Duke is 818mm and the bike weighs 148kg (kerb weight).
There isn’t any direct rival to the new KTM motorcycle and it’s currently the most powerful and premium 125cc motorcycle on sale. However, with respect to pricing, the KTM 125 Duke competes against the Yamaha R15 V3.0 (Rs 1.27 lakh), TVS Apache RTR 200 4V ABS (Rs 1.11 lakh) and the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 (Rs 1.12 lakh) in our two-wheeler space. (All prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Delhi).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
