2021 KTM 125 Duke vs 2020 KTM 125 Duke: What’s Different?

How different is the new smallest member of the Duke family from its predecessor?

KTM silently launched the 125 Duke yesterday and there are a bunch of changes that have been made to the bike. The baby 125 Duke now looks a lot like it’s elder siblings. Let’s address everything that’s new and everything that has stayed the same on the bike.  

What’s different?

Design:

This is where you find the biggest change in the new 125 Duke. Starting from the front fascia, the headlamp unit is the same unit from the new 200 Duke. It houses LED DRLs with a halogen bulb. The tank design has also been revised along with the addition of sharp tank extensions as well. Not only that, but the 2021 125 Duke can now munch more miles as the fuel tank capacity has been bumped-up by 3 litres, and now has a total capacity of 13.5 litres.

Ergonomics:

KTM decided to get rid of the old chassis and replaced it with the split-trellis frame, similar to the 200, 250 and the 390 Duke. The suspension too has been tuned for a softer and more plush riding experience. All of these changes have led to an increase of 7 kg in the overall weight. So, the 2021 125 Duke now tips the scales at 159 kg compared to 152kg for the 2020 model. Last but not the least, the seat height has also been increased by 5mm and hence the saddle is 823mm high. 

Price:

The latest price for the 2020 KTM 125 Duke was around Rs 1.42 Lakh, but now with the updates made to the 2021 model, it now wears a price tag of Rs 1.50 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

What’s the same? 

Like it’s predecessor, the 2021 Duke 125 uses the same, 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that’s mated to a 6-speed gearbox. In its BS6 guise, it makes 14.5PS of power and 12 Nm of torque. For 2021, braking hardware stays the same, with a 300mm disc and radial calliper at the front along with a 230mm disc at the rear. The 17-inch alloys come shod with MRF Revz radial tyres, the same as before.

After the BS6 update to the 200 Duke, it was just the 125 Duke that still carried the old design. While we’re glad that the 2021 125 Duke now looks properly modern, the bump up in price puts it among bikes that offer a lot more cubic capacity as well as performance. So the value proposition of the bike remains questionable, although buyers seem to disagree as the 125 Duke still is the second-highest selling KTM in the country.