With the surprise entry of the Duke 250, KTM India has a power-packed arsenal to attack the small displacement streetfighter category.
The KTM Duke 390 in India has been something of a revelation. The fact that it’s locally built meant that KTM and Bajaj could price the bike extremely aggressively, making it highly accessible to the masses. It may not be the most refined bike in the world, but the Duke 390 was the first properly fast motorcycle to give the average enthusiast a real chance to race. And now the latest iterations of the Duke are here to dazzle its cult following.
The major changes to the new Duke 390 are cosmetic. The new bodywork is directly inspired by its older sibling the Super Duke. This is clearly evident from the split twin LED headlamps and the muscular integrated bodywork. There is a new trellis frame that is dual tone in colour. KTM orange at the front and white at the rear. A new beefy side mounted exhaust that hosts an updated catalytic converter completes the new KTM Duke 390’s aggressive and fresh outlook.
In terms of the powertrain, the single cylinder 373cc gets some minor updates to meet Euro 4 standards. Power output remains the same as the older bike at 43 HP and 37 Nm of torque. The updated bike is slightly heavier than its predecessor weighing 150kg dry. The new Duke 390 also gets a larger 13.4-litre fuel tank, a welcome update along with a set of H rated Metzeler M5 tyres.
On the electronics and safety front, the new KTM Duke 390 receives ABS as standard along with a ride-by-wire throttle. The Duke also gets a slipper-clutch for aggressive downshifting. Another very interesting update is a large TFT colour display that replaces the old and rather dull orange backlight instrument panel. All these updates make the Duke 390 a much more desirable motorcycle. Brakes have been improved too with a new bigger 320mm front disc that features Brembo-developed ByBre callipers. The WP suspension system has undergone an update as well with a 41mm USD front fork and a WP rear mono shock.
To encompass the gap between the explosive Duke 390 and the rather humble Duke 200, KTM India has also launched the all-new Duke 250. The Duke 250’s styling is inspired by the bigger Duke 390 but it losses out on the new LED head lamp setup. It also misses out on the bright TFT display. What it does get though is a slipper clutch and a fresh paint scheme. The 250 is equipped with the standard WP upsidedown forks for the front and a single monoshock for the rear. Braking is powered by smaller a 300mm front disc and a 230mm rear disc.
Unlike the orange Duke 390, the Duke 250 features black wheels wrapped with the inferior MRF Revz tyres. The Duke 250 sadly doesn’t feature ABS which will definitely be a major drawback. Like the 390, the 250 gets a large side mounted exhaust unlike the conventional underbelly affair. Powering the new Duke 250 is a 249cc single cylinder mill which is derived from the 375cc Duke 390 motor. It churns out a healthy 30 HP and 24 Nm of torque. The new 250 is therefore a properly quick bike and offers tremendous value-for-money performance. We expect it to make a killing for the Indo-Austrian outfit.
The third and final update to the KTM stables is the launch of the updated Duke 200. The Duke 200 retains the previous generation’s avatar but comes with a set bold new paint schemes. The engine has also been updated to meet new BS IV standards. Power remains the same at 25 HP and torque produced is 19.2 Nm. The 200 retains its underbelly exhaust as well. Other subtle changes include an improved seat, updated instrument console, wider mirrors and a choice of new graphics. KTM has priced the Duke 200 at Rs 1.43 lakh (Ex-Delhi).
The new KTM Duke 390 and 250 look extremely aggressive and also pack the punch its predecessor were so famous for. In its new sophisticated avatar, the Duke 390 is a more wholesome and refined street fighter and demands big bike respect and at Rs 2.25 lakh (Ex-Delhi) it remains a steal in this market. The wild card Duke 250 priced Rs 1.75 lakh (Ex-Delhi) promises to fill the void in an already packed segment. What are your thoughts on the new range of Dukes?
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