KTM 200 Duke: Technical Highlights

Having spent over half a day riding the KTM 200 Duke at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan facility near Pune, no matter how hard I tried I found myself inept in exploiting the KTM’s full potential. Part reason for this bungling feeling is the fact that the equipment on the KTM 200 Duke is truly world class – starting from the WP-licensed made-in-India 43mm dia upside down front suspension to the radial mounted twin-pot Bybre (By Brembo) calipers biting a 280mm rotor upfront to the exquisitely crafted inverted lightweight swingarm unit holding in place a WP mono-suspension with preload adjustment.

The list of quality equipment and top notch parts featured on the 200 Duke is astonishing, including the overall build quality and the finish on the final product which is up to the international standards going by the fact that the 200 Duke is only and only made in Chakan and exported to various global markets of KTM similar to its younger sibling the KTM 125 Duke, which is sold in Europe but made in India.

Always the one to boast the incredible power-to-weight ratios on all its motorcycles, KTM has continued the tradition with the 200 Duke as well. Weight just 136kg (kerb weight) and pumping out 25PS of power has translated into a class-leading power-to-weight ratio of 184PS/tonne, resulting in impressive acceleration that none of its present day rivals can match up to. The 199.50cc liquid-cooled fuel injected 4-valve DOHC motor employs an ultra-short stroke bore x stroke configuration of 72mm x 49mm, presenting the 200 Duke with high-revving characteristics, essential for a sporty machine. Mated to a 6-speed transmission, the engine is grunty and extremely rev-happy throwing 25PS of power at 10,000rpm and churning out 19Nm of torque at 8,000rpm.

While the engineering of the powerplant is spot-on with its crisp power delivery and oodles of torque to play with in every gear, a larger vote of thanks needs to be given to the chrome-molly trellis frame that offers exceptionally good balance of flex and rigidity presenting the 200 Duke with superb agility that goes hand-in-hand with its engine performance. Since the 200 Duke is going to be exported to other international markets, the KTM-Bajaj Auto alliance has left no stone unturned in providing top-of-the-line components and features like lightweight multi-spoke wheels shod with radial tyres on front (first time in India) as well as rear.

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The fully digital compact dash upfront with its orange backlit display might look tiny but packs in enough data like side-stand indicator along with ignition cut-off system, horizontal bar-style tachometer, speedometer, engine warning light, clock, fuel gauge, temperature meter, two trip meters plus the provision to calculate average speed as well as average fuel consumption. The aggressively styled headlamp too packs in a powerful 12V 60/55W H4 halogen bulb for excellent illumination while the tiny yet stylishly drawn LED indicators add to the bike’s naked appeal complimented by an equally neatly done LED taillight.