KTM 125 Duke- What to expect

We recently reported that dealers have started accepting bookings for the KTM 125 Duke, suggesting that the bike will be launched in India soon. KTM manufactures the bike in India for international markets, but what can you expect from the India-spec model? 

Design 

The KTM 125 Duke looks like the exact replica of the 390 Duke. One would even mistake it for the latter if the ‘125’ stickers on the tank go unnoticed. It gets the low-slung split-headlamp, muscular tank, split seats and exposed sub-frame. 

Features

The 125 Duke sold in international markets is loaded with features like a full-LED headlamps and a TFT instrument display. However, the Indian-spec version is highly likely to miss out on these to keep costs in check. 

We expect it to come equipped with a headlamp and instrument setup similar to the 250 Duke which gets conventional lighting with LED DRL and a LCD display. 

Engine

The 125 Duke is powered by a 124cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled motor that produces 15bhp of power and 12Nm of torque. The unit is mated to a six-speed gearbox.

Cycle Parts

The bike rides on 43mm upside down forks and a monoshock at the rear sourced from WP. Braking is taken care of by a 300mm disc at the front and a 230mm disc for the rear with ABS as standard. It also gets Metzeler M5 ‘H-rated’ tyres. 

While the suspension hardware is likely to be the same, the ABS could be replaced with a CBS (combined-braking system) on the Indian version. The KTM 125 Duke might also use MRF REVZ C1 tyres instead of the higher-spec Metzeler rubber. 

Pricing

Understandably, KTM will price the bike competitively by excluding some premium components. We expect it to carry a price tag of around Rs 1.2-1.3 lakhs. This puts the 125 Duke in direct competition with the Yamaha YZF-R15 V3 and the Fazer 25.