KTM 200 Duke

The KTM 200 Duke is an iconic motorcycle, and one of the first offerings from the Austrian manufacturer in India. It is the bike which started off the KTM hype in the country. With the gen 2 update, the bike has received a brand new look and feel. The brand also recently followed up with the addition of a new TFT console and more features.

The 200 Duke features a design that is similar to the higher capacity 1290 Super Duke R, thanks to the sharp looking headlight and tank extensions. Compared to the first gen-Duke, the bike looks entirely different, it also feels much larger thanks to the longer subframe. The bike overall has a commanding road presence.

The exhaust used on this bike is an underbelly unit, and comes with a small protective bash plate but it doesn’t cover all the exhaust components. So overall, it doesn't offer the kind of protection you would expect.

The 200 Duke features the same engine that we had seen on the 1st gen 200 Duke, which is a 199cc liquid-cooled single cylinder motor that outputs 25PS and 19.2Nm. Not much has changed and the engine still retains that peppy nature which we have come to associate with the previous-gen 200 Duke. That said, the issues that were present in the older bike such as vibrations that creep in above 6000rpm are still here. The vibrations can be felt at the fuel tank and the bike’s footpegs.

The bike has undergone quite a few changes to its underpinnings that have altered the handling characteristics. The bike now has a kerb weight of 159kg, which is an increase of 9kg. But thanks to the addition of wider handlebars, the rider has more leverage when making turns, and this helps minimize the effect of the increased weight to a great extent.

Along with this, the seat height has also gone up by 5mm, with it now being 823mm, which is a bit tall for shorter riders. The bike now feels a bit harder to handle for shorter riders, who might have a difficult time getting both feet planted on the ground. 

Now, the increased size of the bike has brought a few welcome changes, such as the addition of a larger and more spacious seat. This seat allows the rider to shift around more easily, and adjust the riding posture to their preference. The larger seat is quite roomy and also well-cushioned and it has enough room for larger riders as well, when compared to the previous generation bike. The seat also absorbs a bit of vibrations that come from the engine, which is quite nice and increases the riding comfort overall.

The new 200 Duke gets the same TFT console as the 3rd gen KTM 390 Duke, and this increases the premium feel the bike has to offer. The TFT console brings many new features to the bike such as smartphone connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, call/SMS alerts. Other features on the bike include supermoto ABS, which allows the rider to switch off ABS at the rear wheel.

The 200 Duke is a potent streetfighter in the 200cc segment and with the addition of the new console, it has the necessary features needed to stay competitive in this segment. But when compared to the other offerings in the market, the 200 Duke is a bit towards the expensive side, coming at an ex-showroom Delhi price of Rs 2,03,412. 

When you compare it to its rivals like the Bajaj Pulsar NS200, it is around Rs 44,436 more expensive. This might be a bit high and it doesn't make much sense to pay this high of a premium for slightly better performance and features, unless you’re a die-hard KTM fan who really wants the exciting performance and the unique riding experience the bike has to offer.