By now, you have probably seen reports that the KTM 125 Duke and RC 125 are going to be discontinued in India. However, these reports only paint half the picture. That’s because KTM is planning to replace these two bikes with bigger 160cc motorcycles specially designed for our market.
The reason behind this move is to take on the highly successful Yamaha R15 V4 and Yamaha MT-15, which collectively account for as much as 20,000 units per month.
- Will be more powerful than Yamaha's 155cc motor
- Likely to be priced competitively against the Yamahas
- The launch is expected before the festive season
KTM 160 Duke and RC 160: what to expect?
Will be based on the existing 200cc models
The new KTM 160 Duke and RC 160 will be based on the existing KTM 200 models. This means the 160 Duke will retain the same second-gen Duke design already seen on the 200 Duke, while the RC will move to the current RC design philosophy seen on the RC 200 and RC 390.
The 160s will use the familiar trellis frame chassis with 43mm USD forks and monoshock rear suspension. Expect to see similar levels of kit and equipment as the bigger 200cc siblings, which means features like dual-channel ABS and LCDs can be expected.
KTM 160 Duke and RC 160 engine details
The new KTM 160cc engine will also be based on the 200 Duke’s motor, and we expect it will produce around 19-20hp. This will be a significant step up from the current KTM 125cc motor, which makes 14.5hp. It will also make the KTM more powerful than the competition from Yamaha (18.4hp) while remaining comfortably lower than the 25hp that you get from the 200cc KTM models, which will continue to be on sale.
KTM 160 Duke and RC 160 expected price and launch timeline
Unlikely to undercut Yamaha rivals
Expect to see competitive pricing against the Yamaha models, which retail at Rs 1.83 lakh to Rs 2.1 lakh for the R15 V4 and Rs 1.69 lakh to Rs 1.74 lakh for the MT-15. However, given that the current KTM 125cc models are priced at Rs 1.81 lakh for the Duke 125 and Rs 1.92 lakh for the RC, it is unlikely that these new 160cc motorcycles will undercut the Yamahas on price.
Launch expected by mid-2025
The launch of the new KTM 160 models should take place sometime in mid-2025, just before the festive season starts. The RC 160 may launch alongside the 160 Duke or shortly after. This upgrade will come as good news for potential entry-level KTM buyers, as they will now be getting quite a lot more bang for their buck.
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