Why The KTM 125 Duke Doesn’t Make Sense For India

The most affordable Duke is almost here, and along with the usual excitement that comes with a bike launch, we’ve got a lot of questions as well

A few days ago we heard rumours of the KTM 125 Duke being readied for its entry into the Indian market. We were obviously sceptical because KTM already sells the 200 Duke, the 250 Duke as well as the 390 Duke here in the country. However, our skepticism was put to rest when we got to know that KTM is indeed serious about it. That said, we still believe it’s going to be a bit of an uphill struggle for the 125 Duke to make a mark in the Indian market. Here’s why.

The premium 125cc segment works well in developed markets like Europe. This is primarily because motorcycling is more of a leisure activity there and the licences in such countries are given out as per the bike’s engine capacity and one’s riding experience. Hence, this particular segment makes perfect sense for learners as the bikes have controllable power without being too barebones (USD forks, liquid-cooled engine, ABS, et al). Riders vying for an A1 licence often go for bikes like the 125 Duke.

For the uninitiated, the A1 licence in Europe is applicable to young, first-time riders (aged 16-17) for motorcycles / scooters up to 125cc, producing up to 11kW (15PS). Premium European 125cc bikes like the Duke come with sophisticated powertrains and underpinnings which provide customers the experience of much bigger bikes, but at the same time adhering to the licencing norms. These motorcycles also help in keeping such riders invested in these premium bikemakers as they’ll often go for the same company’s bigger-engined variants once they are able to get a license for more powerful bikes. Considering that in developed markets, these premium motorcycle manufacturers earn a major chunk of their revenue from these big bikes, it makes a lot of sense for them to have these small bikes as part of their portfolios.

The Indian market, however, is radically different. Here the 125cc class is usually considered as a step-up from basic commuter bikes and scooters. Performance motorcycles lie higher up the displacement, with pricing to match. Going by how our market works, a European premium 125cc motorcycle might end up being priced dangerously close to, if not more than, bikes in the 200cc territory in India. Indian customers often relate pricing with displacement, and the 125 Duke may not sound like a good proposition for many, barring some hardcore enthusiasts.

And here’s where the current European 125 Duke doesn’t make any sense in India. It comes with the 390 Duke’s styling, aggressive bodywork, full-colour TFT screen, ABS, cartridge forks and the whole shebang. If KTM brings this bike, it is likely to cost more than the current-gen 200 Duke’s Rs 1.51 lakh ex-Delhi pricing.

Now factor in that the 125 Duke employs a 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill which generates 15PS of power and 12Nm of torque, with a 6-speed gearbox. The front and rear disc units get dual-channel ABS as well. These output figures are very close to its rivals in the 160cc naked segment. Case in point, the Suzuki Gixxer -- it makes only 0.2PS less than the 125 Duke but makes up with better torque output, at 14Nm. Plus, the Gixxer’s less complicated air-cooled engine will be easier on the pocket to maintain in comparison to the sophisticated liquid-cooled powerplant in the 125 Duke. The icing on the cake is the Gixxer’s pricing. At Rs 87,871 (ex-showroom Delhi), the single-channel ABS variant of the Gixxer will in fact be considerably cheaper than the 125 Duke.

Why the 125 Duke might make sense?

The big reason that KTM India is likely to be considering this move is that with the newly introduced 5-year insurance in place, on-road prices of the 200 Duke are touching nearly Rs 2 lakh in some cities. Moreover, with ABS mandated from April onwards, the 200 Duke will actually cross the Rs 2 lakh barrier, on-road. KTM needs to play in that Rs 1-2 lakh zone, where they've seen so much success in India. This actually leaves room for the 125 to come in. Also, we've got to know that KTM India believes that there are customers now, albeit a small number, who would like to jump on the KTM bandwagon but find a 200 Duke too much of a jump in terms of power.

What makes us hopeful is that, from what we’ve come to know, KTM will be launching the 125 Duke with the 200 Duke’s design specifically for India as that won’t be as expensive as the international-spec model. Even with that kind of design, we expect the motorcycle to undercut the 200 Duke by around Rs 35,000 - 40,000. This would put the 125 Duke at approximately Rs 1.20 lakh, ex-showroom. But understand that this baby Duke will also come equipped with dual-channel ABS. So while it might not be the picture of perfect value that the 200 used to be, it should still be a fun entry-level KTM for a lot of newer riders.