KTM’s swashbuckling Duke 200 has been launched at an introductory price tag of Rs 1.17 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which makes it an excellent buy for enthusiasts looking for an entry-level performance machine with looks to match.
Here in India, KTM will be backed by the sales and service might of the home-grown giant, Bajaj. To make way for the all-new Duke, Probiking outlets, spread over 30 cities, have already been converted to KTM showrooms. With an exposed trellis frame, meaty tyres, upside-down forks, an almost non-existent underslung exhaust and streetfighter bodywork - the Duke 200, unmistakably, is a KTM. This supermoto-like machine shouts aggression from every inch of its bodywork. The eyeball grabbing bit is the snazzy black and orange paint scheme – a KTM trademark.
The Duke comes with a single-cylinder, 200cc engine. This 4-stroke unit is fairly modern; featuring fuel-injection and four valves per cylinder. It churns out 25bhp of power @10,000rpm and 1.99kgm of torque@ 8000rpm. But here’s the best bit – the featherlite Duke weighs just 137kgs (much less than its rivals) so we expect it go like stink. KTM claims a 0-60km/h time of 3.33 seconds which is quite impressive. What's also equally impressive is the introductory price tag of Rs 1.17 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Honda CBR 250R, on the other hand, starts at Rs 1.45 Lakh. With bookings set to open from February 1, this little orange monster is sure to set sales charts on fire.
