A Buyer's Guide To the KTM Duke India Lineup

Ready to Race. With a tagline like that, you cannot ignore a brand like KTM.

Despite the shoddy image the brand has accumulated lately in India, you cannot ignore the fact that KTM motorcycles are the fastest and most aggressive machines in their respective categories. Be it the corner carver Dukes or the off-road expert Adventure models, KTM motorcycles stand for one thing -- brutal performance.

The Duke, however, is a series closer the hearts of Indian enthusiasts. The 200 Duke came at a time when India wasn't used to the idea of performance-centric aggressive naked sports. As soon as people started to warm up to 200cc corner carver, KTM brought the 390 Duke and all hell broke loose. India suddenly had a locally built premium motorcycle that required riders to scale up their skills fast.

But KTM didn't stop there. As part of their partnership with Bajaj, KTM went ahead to bring more variants of the Duke to the masses. The 250 Duke has been the easy-to-recommend street-naked machine for those who love cornering. 

As for the 125 Duke, eh! It is the priciest 125cc motorcycle on sale today and if the 200 Duke wouldn't exist, KTM could be selling that in truckloads. The 125 Duke comes with a 124.7cc engine that produces 14.3bhp at 9,250 RPM! That's way more power generated compared to any other 125cc motorcycle in the country today. In fact, the 125 Duke is more powerful and better to handle than the Bajaj Pulsar 150! 

And now, KTM India is bringing more Dukes our way. Rumours of multi-cylinder Duke are in the air and we could be seeing the 1390 Super Duke R making headway to our shores.

Hence, for all the Duke fans, we have compiled the ultimate guide to gloss over KTM's most desirable road-going motorcycles. But before that...

KTM India’s brief history

KTM’s journey in India is as interesting as its bikes. In 2007, Bajaj Auto Ltd bought a 14.5 per cent stake in KTM Power Sports AG and within six years, Bajaj's shareholding in the company increased to 47.7 per cent.

In 2012, KTM introduced the KTM 200 Duke for INR 1.18 lakh, thereby stepping into the 200cc motorcycle category. The brand then launched two bikes with its 390cc platform: the 390 Duke on January 25, 2013 followed by the RC 390 on September 9, 2014. Both motorcycles made an impact in the market with their engine performance, brutal throttle response and attractive price tag. The 390 models of KTM are still among the brand’s most popular models.

Over time, the brand also added the KTM Adventure series to target off-road riders.

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KTM Duke lineup in 2024

The KTM Duke lineup features a super naked streetfighter-style design and aggressive states of tune for the engine. Over the years, the brand has made the motorcycles look and perform sharper. 

KTM 125 Duke

This is the most expensive and fastest 125cc segment bike available in India. The design of this entry-level KTM is inspired by the previous generation KTM 1290 Super Duke. It is powered by a 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that makes is 14.3 HP at 9,250 RPM, with a maximum torque of 12 Nm at 8000 RPM. 

In this range, we have the MT-15 from Yamaha, but the handling and acceleration are more brutal with a straight posture. The 125 Duke is numble,smooth and gives you all the taste of Duke-style handling and seating posture.

Although not the fastest, the 125 Duke is perfect for beginners seeking to hone their handling skills while having adequate power on tap.

KTM 200 Duke

The 200 Duke targets those beginner riders who seek more performance in a manageable package!

KTM India recently updated the 200 Duke with new colours and a Duke 390-inspired digital coloured instrument cluster. The motorcycle is powered by a single-cylinder four-valve liquid-cooled 199.5cc engine, producing a maximum power output of 25 PS at 10,000 RPM and 19.3Nm torque at 8000 RPM.

If you're someone who commutes daily in the city and you who have moved beyond the beginner stage, it offers the ideal blend of stress relief and everyday reliability—an excellent choice for both commuting and unwinding on the road.

ALSO READ: KTM Duke 200 Launched at Rs 2.03 Lakh; Gets a Duke 390 Feature

KTM 250 Duke

The Duke that's good for everyone. Beginners and experts alike!

Featuring a single-cylinder 4-valve liquid-cooled engine, the 250 Duke produces 30 PS of power at 9,000 RPM and 24 Nm of torque at 7,500 RPM. The aggressive styling echoes the aura of the 390 Duke, especially with its LED DRLs surrounding the headlamp. The coloured LCD display makes it engaging for the rider to keep a tab on the electrical settings and rider assists. The Duke 250 is ideal for enthusiasts who want to have accessible performance in urban traffic scenarios. 

The KTM 250 Duke is undoubtedly powerful, though not as intense as the 390. Should you buy it to beat a 390 rider? No. Should you buy it to go insanely fast? No. Will the throttle response throw you from the rider's seat to the pillion? No. The 250 Duke offers a safer alternative to the 390 Duke—it's fast but not excessively so. The throttle response is thrilling but doesn’t compromise safety.

For most riders, this bike is a better choice than the 390 if you're not chasing big numbers. The 250 Duke handles everything you need on busy Indian roads, just as the 390 would. It’s the perfect machine for performance-focused riders who frequent regular Indian roads and want to avoid the heating issues associated with the 390 Duke.

KTM 390 Duke

This Duke in the KTM Duke lineup is known for its raw power, often outperforming its competitors in drag races on the track. It can even put the Royal Enfield twins to shame!

The bike is powered by the latest generation LC4c engine with a 399cc capacity, producing 46 PS of power at 8,500 RPM and 39 Nm of torque at 6,500 RPM. It can reach a top speed of 160 km/h effortlessly and handle technical corners with equal grace. Critics have praised its brutal acceleration despite the aggressive styling with garish colour schemes.

If you’re lazy, weak or a bit of a sleepyhead, this machine isn’t for you. If you lack precise control over your throttle hand, this bike is definitely not for you. The 390 Duke is crafted for expert riders who truly know how to handle a power-packed machine and understand the fine line between gradual and aggressive throttle.

The bike's initial power is potent enough that an overly enthusiastic throttle pull in first gear can result in an accidental wheelie. Thankfully, it’s equipped with traction control as a safety feature to prevent excess power from reaching the wheel.

This bike is recommended strictly for thrill-seekers with the expertise to handle it responsibly.

ALSO READ: KTM 390 Duke vs KTM 250 Duke: Which one should you pick?

Upcoming Duke models in India

Bigger Dukes are coming to India soon!

The company has started taking bookings for the 1390 Super Duke R and 990 Duke. These additional bikes are likely to be imported as CBUs. 

1390 Super Duke R

The 1390 Super Duke R is KTM's flagship super naked bike and whichever feature you name it, this machine likely has it. However, it’s not recommended for beginners or even intermediate riders. This torque-hungry powerhouse generates an impressive 145 Nm of torque and 190 horsepower at 10,000 RPM, making it capable of leaving competitors like the Ducati Streetfighter V4, Yamaha MT-10, and Suzuki B-King in the dust. Such brutal power demands high-performance braking, with dual Brembo Stylema Monobloc four-piston brakes with radially mounted callipers in the front and twin-piston Brembo brakes with fixed callipers and disc brakes in the rear.

The Super Duke R is more of a showroom marvel than a daily commuter on Indian roads. It’s a dedicated track machine, best taken to circuits like NATRAX to unleash its full potential.

KTM 990 Duke

The KTM 990 Duke, also known as the "Sniper," hits every corner with precision. If you’re tired of talking about the Kawasaki Z900, this fresh rocket is here to shake things up.

On paper, the bike's specifications can easily overshadow the Z900. Equipped with a 990cc LC8c parallel-twin engine, it generates 130 hp and 103 Nm of torque—figures, along with its aggressive looks, that are enough to intimidate any beginner.

This is a pure fun machine. If you consider yourself in the Z900 league but want more control and a better power-to-weight ratio, this bike could be your dream ride.

Hence, going forward, the Duke badge will be synonymous with brutally fast motorcycles in the premium category. 

Now you tell us which of these KTM Duke motorcycles is your favourite?

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