Motor
maglanka.lk
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TEST RIDE
KTM DUKE 125O
n the 8th of May this year, KTM’s
Duke 125 was introduced to Sri
Lankan motorcycle lovers. Even
before the Duke 125 landed on our shores,
the KTM Sri Lanka order books had seen
much activity, we are told by the KTM people,
and since the official launch many more
riders have happily fallen for the thrills of the
Orange Fever.
The ‘Baby’ Duke is the spitting image of
its elder sibling the Duke 200, and the family
line is taken deep into its very being, sharing
most of the same underpinnings as on the
bigger Duke. Sorry, not bigger, just older, for
even in dimensions the two Dukes are similar.
Brakes, tyres, suspension front and rear,
most of the body work, fuel tank (with different
graphics), curb weight (148kg), wheelbase
(1366mm), ground clearance (175mm)
and seat height (810mm) are common to
both Dukes. The Duke 125 rider takes his
position on the bike higher up than on most
other 125s and this is reflected in the road
presence of the bike and rider, too.
In a smart move both KTM and local
Sole Distributor David Pieris Motor Company
(DPMC) followed on the success of the
larger KTM models to introduce the littlest
of Dukes to our riders with strategic timing.
This instantly opens out the KTM line-up
available to the local two-wheeler fans, while
from a sales and marketing point of view
the Baby Duke could be an important tool in
the KTM stable, successfully enlarging the
footprint of the brand. By this timely step,
KTM and DPMC offer the riders of 100cc
and less-advantaged 125cc, and even
150cc, bikes an instant step-up towards the
premium segment. This would normally have
been 150cc and 160cc and higher, but theKTM, only a ‘little’ 125 though it is, faces up
squarely to these larger capacity bikes both
on the road and in the hearts of the riders.
KTM is an inspirational and aspirational
brand and the arrival of the Baby Duke,
with its price tag reachable by a good many,
gives the rider a great opportunity to buy and
ride European, especially so the renowned
Austrian brand to boot. Manuranga
Nayanajith of DPMC Group Corporate
Communications says “This is the first time
we (DPMC) have launched a 125 which has
ABS and EFI.” And, of course, KTMs have
Double Overhead Cams driving 4 valves in
the cylinder head, and are liquid-cooled too.
Also motorcycle fans know well that all KTM
bikes come into this world race-ready and
kicking and raring to go. How juicy is all this!
On the road the Baby Duke behaves itself
well. The linear torque provides for friendly
acceleration when the throttle is gently
twisted open (as in everyday riding), the close
ratio gearbox is easy to use and the engine
characteristics allow
the bike to be in a high
gear through urban
traffic, the commanding
riding position helps in
slicing through traffic
blocks, the powerful
disc brakes front and
rear so encouraging
and reassuring, the
wide tyres (especially
the rear 150/60 x 17)
with such enthusiastic
grip through corners,
the WP rally/grand
prix-bred suspension
(designed and built byKTM for KTM) front and rear (with 43mm USD
fork up ahead), and the ABS feature which
also marks this littlest of Dukes. All of these
motorcycling pluses combine to provide the
rider with the unique-to-KTM ride experience.
On a bike, especially one that professes
a sport type DNA, ergonomics is a critical
part of its construction. On the Duke 125,
however, I felt that the foot pegs were
positioned slightly off of ideal. For my taste,
at least. The rest of the bike build I found just
nice - the saddle height and position, fuel tank
size shape and location, handlebar grips and
brake levers, handlebar mounted switches,
rear view mirrors, all seemed to be just right.
Given that the Duke comes from a long
line of competition and highly successful
off-road machinery I tried changing my
riding style partway through our ride. Initially
where I had ridden with a more conventional
(sport type) elbow position used for road
riding, I later stuck my elbows out somewhat
to a cross between road and dirt riding. IHello Baby!
KTM Duke 125
DILIP
VAZIRANI
Motor
maglanka.lk
70