KTM 125 Duke India Launch Soon

Expected to be priced around Rs 1.25 lakh

Various KTM dealerships across the country have confirmed that the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer is set to launch its baby streetfighter, the 125 Duke, in India in a couple of months. When launched, it will be the first performance-oriented 125cc motorcycle in the country, complete with a liquid-cooled engine.

The latest version of the 125 Duke gets plenty of design cues from its bigger sibling, the 390 Duke. However, it remains to be seen whether the India-bound bike will get a similar design or or sticks to the design of the last-gen motorcycle that’s still seen on the 200 Duke. For KTM, bringing this motorcycle wouldn’t require much effort as the brand already manufactures this bike locally for export markets. However, the question is - does a high performance 125cc motorcycle really make sense for the Indian market? When manufacturers are going up the displacement range, it is interesting to see that KTM’s going the other way around. Moreover, the brand already has a strong portfolio in the under-400cc segment and is set to launch the 790 Duke in the middleweight category soon.

However, the launch of the 125 Duke will open up a space which could invite more performance oriented small capacity bikes like the Aprilia Tuono 125 and Yamaha MT-125, among others. 125cc performance motorcycles are much sought after in developed markets like the UK since they can be ridden by anyone aged 17 or above and hold an A1 licence. Is India ready for a small displacement, high performance motorcycle like the 125 Duke? Especially when Indian buyers equate price with engine capacity? Hopefully, we’ll soon find out with the launch of the baby KTM.

The 125 Duke is powered by a 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which produces 15PS of power and 12Nm of torque. The engine works in tandem with a 6-speed transmission. Brakes include discs on both ends with dual-channel ABS as standard. When launched, the 125 Duke will be the most powerful 125cc motorcycle in the country, which is a given considering most other bikes in the segment are commuter motorcycles at best. We expect KTM to utilise the 200 Duke’s design and body panels to give it a price tag of around Rs 1.25 lakh. If the bike has the 390 Duke’s design, replete with LED headlamp, TFT console, etc., the price will surely go up. Stay tuned for more updates regarding this entry-level KTM.