DUKE 'EM UP!!. Review on KTM Duke 200

I’m back with my take on the new baby Duke from KTM. KTM actually is the abbreviated form for “Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen” where “Kraftfahrzeuge” means a motor vehicle in German, Hans Trunkenpolz was the one who founded this company in 1934, and Mattighofen is a town in Austria where the journey of KTM began in a small metal shop. Mr. Kronrief became a shareholder and later acquired the company in 1955, thereby including his name in the brand, so now it is known as Kronrief Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. Words would not suffice to speak about its pure dominance when it comes to off road racing. The very fact that they have been undisputed in the Dakar Rally (the most gruesome, longest, and most testing conditions for any automobile) for the past 10 years since 2001, except for the year 2008 where the rally was not held, speaks about their obsession with performance. Let’s not waste any more time and jump right into the action.

LOOKS/DESIGN:

The design is not entirely fresh as the naked street-fighter concept premiered in the form of Yamaha FZ16. However, the Duke clearly stands out as a sharper, edgier, and meaner machine. The tank design is macho enough with the chunky and well sculpted tank shrouds to give it adequate road presence. The trellis frame adds a touch of class to its design. The headlamp design is nice and solid. The step seating design also leaves a better impression when compared to other step seat designs currently available in the market. Then we have the jet inspired digital cockpit that carries almost all the information as to what is happening on the bike. Thankfully, it stops there and doesn’t go on to display some of our personal info. Most you might be left searching for the silencer. Well, this is the first Indian bike to carry an underbelly central exhaust. With the monsoon season fast approaching, one might raise a question of water logged roads, which is a common thing in India, and the problem of wading through knee deep water with an underbelly exhaust on board. I too had a similar question in mind. Please do check out the following link… I mean you must…. to believe what you are seeing youtube.com/watch?v=oqMc1q_dEGc. All our questions will drown without a trace. Right from the well crafted engine cowl to the sharp LED indicators and the well capsulated tail lamp, the international feel is pretty evident the moment you set your eyes on the Duke 200, so much so that you cannot take your eyes off it.

COMFORT:

The moment you mount the Duke for the first time, something seems to hinder you almost immediately and that is the seat that protrudes slightly to the sides, enough to bother your thighs. The moment your feet are off the ground, there is no hindering factor though. Of course, it might take some time for you to get used to the posture, but once you get used to it, you and the bike tend to become one, which is the hallmark of a good design. The foot rests are placed in such an angle that they are intermediate between an upright to a racing posture. I personally feel a slightly bent back would assist in making you feel comfortable with your ride. Also the side stand is right underneath the rider’s footrest, which makes it hard to reach and takes some time of getting used to. Both the seats are slightly on the harder side, but are not to the point of annoying one’s ride. The pillion seat is a tad smaller and practically not ideal for ladies with the absence of a lady's footrest. The handle on the left tended to vibrate a bit every time I used the horn switch. The state-of-the-art WP suspension (found on higher end models like the RC8 and Duke 690) with inverted forks at the front and 10-step adjustable monoshock at the rear, though on the stiffer side, does justify its reputation by absorbing any unwarranted pot holes or bumps on the road.

BRAKING:

The prestigious ByBre (By Brembo) brakes have been deployed for the latest Duke. With 300 mm disc on the front and 230 mm floating disc on the rear, the braking experience just couldn’t get better. I must admit that the braking seems spot on and is right up there with the best in this segment.

PERFORMANCE/HANDLING:

KTM is a brand that is performance personified, let’s face it; their stint at the Dakar Rally clearly speaks more than just loudly of what they are capable. So, does the Duke 200 keep up with their reputation? It definitely ought to and it does. The engine is a rev happy liquid cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, 4 valve 200 cc mill generating 25 bhp of bone-jarring, jaw dropping, heart-thumping, adrenaline pumping …….you can come up with as many “ings” as you can, but you will feel it is still not enough to describe the unparalleled, unadulterated, and unforgiving raw power generated and delivered in the most untamed form. Slot it into the first gear and the monster surges ahead as if it was just waiting to be unleashed – courtesy the incredibly high power to weight ratio. Second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, voila and you are there in the twinkling of an eye. The shorter gear ratios leave you awestruck. The throttle response leaves you dumbstruck. The “is that all you’ve got” nature of the bike leaves you star-struck. The 17 inch wider MRF rubber of 110 mm at the front and 150 mm at the rear combined with the lightweight, top quality, die-cast swing arm makes you feel pretty secure while taking corners. Well, people have been raving about the performance of this untamed beast all over and I feel the Duke deserves it, it demands it, and it commands it.

MAINTENANCE AND AFTER SALES SERVICE:

Apart from the 91 octane fuel like Speed and Power petrol that needs to be used, here are the following points you need to keep in mind if you choose to own a Duke:

1. Check coolant level daily.

   
   




2. Air filter cleaning at regular intervals.

   
   




3. Check disc brake oil level, front and rear, and engine oil level daily.

   
   




4. Disc pad wear inspection.

   
   




5. Chain lubrication spray to be used every 500 km, etc.

   
   

FUEL EFFICIENCY:

The Duke delivers around 30-35 kmpl in city conditions and a figure close to 40 kmpl on highways if ridden in the top gear at speeds of 45-55 kmph. Clutch riding, frequent braking, and higher revs may tend to lower the above figures slightly as well.

CONCLUSION:

Killer pricing has been the name of the game for Bajaj’s stupendous success. At around 1.22 lacs ex-showroom Hyderabad, you get exceptional build quality and equipment coupled with power-packed performance that is next to none. This places the Duke strategically between the R15 and the CBR250R and on par with the CBR150R.

However, the choice is personal and ultimately a bike needs to blend into one’s lifestyle. I have tried my best to gather as much information as I can. I hope it is helpful to the existing owners as well as the prospective buyers. That’s about it from me for now guys. Ride safe, keep your eyes on the road, wear your helmets, set the headlight on low beam while in city limits, and please do not use your cell phones while riding.

Bye and God bless.