KTM has become a well-known brand in India because of their performance oriented motorcycles which are divided broadly into two categories – the RC series and the Duke series. The company launched the updated the RC series last month and have now launched the 2017 model year line-up of the Duke series.
The launch includes the updated Duke 200, the 2017 Duke 390 and the introduction of an all-new model – the Duke 250.
The Duke 390, which sits at the top of the Duke hierarchy, was first showcased at EICMA 2016 and comes with several changes and updates. The biggest attraction of the motorcycle, though, has been the design which takes inspiration from its eldest sibling – the SuperDuke 1200. The changes to the styling have made the bike a lot sharper and edgier than before which is complimented by the new LED headlamp cluster with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The fuel tank is now bigger as well at 13-5 litre capacity, as compared to the 10.5-litre fuel tank capacity in the outgoing model, and gets a new TFT colour display which can be connected to your smartphone through an app.
Powering the Duke 390 is a 373cc single-cylinder engine which comes with fuel injection and liquid cooling and delivers 43.5 horsepower. In order to make the engine BS IV emission norm compliant, the bike has been fitted with a new exhaust which is mounted on the side and gets ride-by-wire technology.
The new Duke 390 gets a new two-part trellis frame and 43 mm upside-down forks at the front which is now adjustable for rebound and compression. The brakes have been updated too as now it comes with bigger 320 mm discs at the front.
The 2017 Duke 390 has been launched at a price tag of Rs 2.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The Duke 200, though, does not get such a long list of updates as compared to the outgoing model. The biggest update is that the engine of the Duke 200 is now BS-IV compliant but it still manages to squeeze out 25 horsepower and 19 Nm of torque from the 200cc single-cylinder engine that is also liquid-cooled and fuel-injected. Other changes include the change of body graphics and rim colours which are now in-tune to the updated Duke 390.
The Duke 200 has been priced at Rs 1.43 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The wild card launch by KTM has been the new Duke 250, which fills in the gap between the Duke 200 and the Duke 390.
In terms of appearance, it is similar to the Duke 390 which, in turn, means that the bike also takes styling inspiration from the SuperDuke 1200. It misses out on the sharp LED headlamp cluster, ride-by-wire technology and the TFT colour display that the 390 gets. The Duke 250 uses the instrument cluster like the one on the Duke 200 instead.
In terms of appearance, the Duke 250 gets black rims unlike the Duke 200 and Duke 390 (which have orange rims) and a slightly different colour scheme as compared to the Duke 390.
It will be powered by a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 250cc engine that also gets fuel-injection and delivers 30 horsepower and 24 Nm of torque and comes mated to six-speed transmission and a slipper clutch, which will help the rider with aggressive downshifting. When it comes to stopping the bike, the Duke 250 gets 300 mm disc brake at the front and a 230 mm disc brake at the back.
Interestingly, the Duke 250 gets MRF RevZ C1 tyres and not the super-grippy Metzelers like the Duke 390.
The Duke 250 has bene launched at a price tag of Rs 1.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Surprisingly, though, the updated Duke 200 and Duke 250 miss out on Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) system which would have made the bikes better value for money offering. On being asked why, KTM said that these bikes do not offer the level of performance, like the Duke 390, and hence it’s not necessary and also, it helps KTM to price the motorcycles a bit more competitively.
Bookings for the 2017 KTM Duke 390, Duke 250 and Duke 200 have begun and the company claims that the deliveries of these motorcycles will begin within a week.
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