KTM Duke series is extremely popular in India and capitalising on the success, the upcoming model will be the cheapest ever
KTM Duke brand has gained an immense popularity in the Indian market. The Austrian brand, which has a tie-up with Bajaj Auto, manufacturers bike in India to export all over the brand. However, there are a few bikes which are made in India but are not sold here. The KTM Duke 125 is one such bike.
The Duke range starts from the 200 Duke in the Indian market but that may soon change! KTM India is planning to launch the most affordable Duke in the Indian market. It will be the 125 Duke and is expected to be launched by next month.
It will become the most-affordable KTM in India and will attract the young buyers, who cannot afford the 200 Duke. The 200 Duke is currently the most-affordable KTM bike in India and retails at around Rs. 1.43 lakh (ex-showroom). The KTM 125 Duke is expected to be priced at around Rs. 1 lakh, which will make it position against the likes of Yamaha FZ and Suzuki Gixxer.
Even though the KTM 125 Duke comes with standard features like dual channel ABS for the European market, we may see a different version of the local market. ABS will become mandatory for the Indian bikes from 2019 but it is only applicable for the bikes that are powered by a minimum 125cc engine.
The 125 Duke uses a 124.7cc engine that will entitle it to be without ABS but once the new rules kick in, the combi-braking system will become mandatory for all the two-wheelers below 125cc, which means KTM will have to replace the system.
The single-cylinder 124.7cc engine in the 125 Duke produces a maximum of 15 Bhp at 9,500 rpm and 11.8 Nm at 8,000 rpm. If the rumours are true, it could well come the sportiest and performance-rich 125 cc bike to be on sale in the domestic market. KTM will likely be targetting huge volume sales from it.