Duking it out

The KTM 200 Duke rightly lives up to its name. Experience the thrill of racing in style while others turn green with envy

 Siddharth TSS

 This tangerine monster comes from the famous KTM stable. KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer and is most commonly known for its off-road motorcycles though in recent years it has expanded into street motorcycle production. Now the Austrian motorcycle maker aims to make India its largest market with the release of the KTM Duke 200.

Most motorcycle companies prefer not to tinker with the set formula and especially with the looks of the bike. But the KTM is not your ordinary bike and ev­en the most fastidious folks will be bound to praise this monster. Chiselled body, high performan­ce and a light weight chassis, add all this and you get the KTM Duke 200 . The combination of brute force with perfect bike co­ntrol is what makes the KTM Duke 200 click with the Indian crowds. Most of this bike’s perfo­rmance comes from its well-pla­n­ned but aggressive ergonomics and power to weight ratio. The appearance of this naked bike has been designed to look as brute like as possible. The muscular curves, edgy and sharp monikers adorning the fuel tank and 25 horses in the engine make this bike a must-have.

Watch this flash of orange on the city streets and the number of heads it turns is proof enough that it knows to get its own way. The handling and manoeuvrering of this bike is as simple as handing a bicycle, as its weight is just a bare 126 kilogrammes as compared to other bikes of this segment. Since it is a naked bike many ponder upon the question of its durability during extreme conditions, well KTM has considered that also as it has made it extremely water resistant. Well, what seems to attract most buyers is the absence of the exhaust canister on either side. It has been placed under the belly of the bike just adding to the motorcycle’s exterior makeup. The exhaust also has been designed in such a way to avoid any scope of water entering the engine. The body is a Tubular space frame made from steel tubes which are powder-coated to give it a matte finish sort of look.

The bike can push itself to 140kmph at the max. Another interesting fact of this bike is that it can reach 0-100 in 9.3 seconds. As for the question of comfort, the seat of the bike can seat the rider comfortably; ironically the width of the fuel tank does not seem to hinder the riding experience. The front end of this bike is supported by an inverted telescopic WP Suspension 4357 and the rear rides comfortable on a solo WP Suspension 4618 EM. The wide handle bars too do not cause too much stress on the rider or his spine. The short and stubby tail lights are enough to make heads turn.

The engine of this beast is to be lauded as it produces 25BHP at 10000RPM. The bike also ma­i­n­­tains its integrity in terms of mi­­leage as it can run for 30-35 ki­lometers per litre which is commendable considering the power it can shell out. The bike is hea­vy duty with a high RPM which just seem to make the Duke’s ca­se even stronger, but with all go­od comes a bad which in this ca­se is the heat which emanates fr­om the engine. The flat and wide saddle is a bit hard over long distances. But if you thought this is it— hold on, Bajaj Auto is already hard at work on developing a 350 Duke which will make its international debut soon and will hit the Indian roads by 2013. Till then this ruffian is enough to rule the roads.

Tags: featured, full-image, KTM 200, KTM Duke 200, motorcycle

Category: Automobiles, Science & Tech