KTM India has finally launched the 125 Duke based on the 2017 390 Duke’s platform. Priced at Rs 1.5 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, the 125 Duke is now available at all KTM dealerships across the country.
The 125 Duke is still powered by the 125cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC motor and churns out 14.5bhp at 9250rpm and 12Nm at 8000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox.
Coming to the updates, the all-new trellis gets a new bolt-on subframe like on the rest of the Dukes sold in the country. The seat height is now 835mm; which is higher than the previous iteration. Thankfully, the new platform bring with it a larger 13.5-litre fuel tank which should give a lot more range. Expect the 125 Duke to do over 500km on a full-tank quite comfortably. The brakes are same as that of the 200 Duke with a 300mm rotor at the front and 230mm rotor at the rear. There’s dual-channel ABS but it’s now switchable at the rear. The kerb weight is 159kg now thanks to the larger fuel tank and new components.
Speaking about the launch, Sumeet Narang, President (Probiking) at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said “Spawned from the 1290 beast itself and packed full of Duke attitude, the KTM 125 DUKE exudes qualities never seen in this category before. The ultra-lightweight trellis frame and subframe provide razor-sharp control, and the new styling is an absolute head turner. The launch of KTM 125 DUKE in late 2018 had been a point of inflection for KTM’s stronghold amongst the young biking enthusiasts in India. Upgrading that model with this new all capable entry level KTM is another testimony of the brand’s commitment to bringing pure performance to its valued customers.”
Mind you, these are introductory prices and are expected to change by February 2021.