KTM Duke Timeline In India: 390 Duke, 250 Duke, 125 Duke and more

We revisit the old and new Dukes KTM got to India

KTM is celebrating 25 years of the Duke and with close to a decade worth of India-operations, the Indian Duke range is a big part of its successful run as well. So let's go back in time and revisit the early Dukes and also check out the improvements that still keep the Dukes as desirable as before. 

KTM 200 Duke (2012 to present):
This is the bike with which KTM set foot in India on 24 January 2012. It was also the first bike to come out of the KTM-Bajaj alliance and manufactured at the Bajaj facility in Chakan, Pune. Priced at Rs 1.18 lakh, it is still the most powerful/quickest 200cc motorcycle you could buy in India. Power came from a 200cc liquid-cooled single that delivered 25PS! Factor in the lightweight nature of the bike and you have a bloody quick motorcycle. Along with a whacky styling came features like a comprehensive digital instrument console, LED tail lamp and turn indicators. The motorcycle has remained largely unchanged since launch apart from the engine receiving a new BS4 update, new graphics and a single channel ABS setup.

First-gen KTM 390 Duke (2013 to 2017): 
The year following the 200 Duke launch, KTM launched the larger 390 Duke on June 25, 2013. At that time it was priced at Rs 1.8 lakh (ex-showroom) which meant you could get it on the road at around Rs 2 lakh. While the 200 Duke and 390 Duke shared the same bodywork and features, the larger 390 Duke could be differentiated by the 390 stickers on the fuel tank and KTM signature orange frame and wheels. Its 373cc liquid-cooled motor made around 43PS and in the hands of the inexperienced was quite a handful. Since launch KTM has been making tiny improvements to ‘Indianise’ the 390 Duke. Some notable ones are changing the radiator fan location and timing for better airflow and cooling, revision in gear ratios, slipper clutch and a dust cover for the rear monoshock. The 390 Duke saw a generational update in 2017. 

KTM 250 Duke (2017 to present):
Launched on February 23, 2017, the KTM 250 Duke was more of a middle ground between the 200 Duke and 390 Duke. It was priced at Rs 1.73 lakh then. The 250 Duke carries the same design as the second-generation 390 Duke which was launched around the same time. It, however, does not get the 390 Duke’s LED headlamp and colour TFT screen. Power comes from a 250cc liquid-cooled motor that delivers 30PS. The bike was recently updated with a dual-channel switchable ABS setup. 

Second-gen KTM 390 Duke (2017 to present):
Around the same time as the 250 Duke, KTM also launched the next-generation 390 Duke. The new Duke gets a complete redesign and looks quite sharp. It gets LED headlamps and a nifty looking colour TFT screen. The 373cc motor was revised for emissions and now made 2Nm more torque than before. In 2018, KTM launched the motorcycle ina new white paint scheme and also introduced several refinement updates. Know more about them here.  The new updates pushed prices of the bike to Rs 2.5 lakh (ex-showroom). Even then, the KTM 390 Duke offers the best value among the 300 to 400cc segment.  

KTM 125 Duke (2018 onwards):
KTM launched its latest and smallest Duke on November 27, 2018. The 125 Duke has a similar bodywork as the 200 Duke but gets more vibrant graphics. It shares its features and suspension setup with the 200 Duke. The only difference is the 125cc liquid-cooled motor which makes around 14PS. Like the 200 Duke, the 125 Duke is the most powerful motorcycle in its segment. In mid-2019, the 125 Duke was updated with single-channel ABS which drove up its price. Currently, the bike is available for Rs 1.3 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). 

Bonus:

KTM 790 Duke (Upcoming):
The 790 Duke launch is just around the corner and this one promises to be as exciting as the 390 Duke. It gets a 799cc parallel-twin motor which delivers a healthy 105PS and with the motorcycle weighing just 169kg (dry), should be a hoot to ride. The bike will come to India via the CKD route and is expected to cost between Rs 8 to 8.5 lakh. Know more launch details about the upcoming 790 Duke here.