KTM 200 Duke review, test ride

Indian bike enthusiasts have long clamored for a sporty, thrilling streetbike. Does KTM’s latest, the 200 Duke fit the bill?

Published on May 04, 2012 04:17:00 PM

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There’s no dearth of high tech features on the 200 Duke’s alloy cased, dohc, button-started engine. This is a 199.5cc, four-stroke, fuel-injected powerplant with liquid-cooling, four-valves and a close ratio six-speed gearbox. It’s really smooth everywhere in the powerband. A powerful engine for its class, the 200 Duke makes 25bhp at 10000rpm.

On the go, the KTM 200 Duke exhaust sounds delightful, really sporty and healthy for a single. Although throttle response is crisp higher in the powerband, fueling does feel slightly unsettled in a narrow band between just past idle up to 3000rpm. Once past this hurdle, the 200 Duke engine feels pretty much flawless, power building smoothly anywhere post 4500rpm, and surging strongly with a vibe free nature into the meat of its powerband over 7000rpm in every gear. The clutch feels perfectly weighted, and works with positive action and just enough progression. This is clearly an engine tuned for city riding, the 6-speed box geared short.

It’s a shortstroke engine that begs for high revs before you find serious power. The enthusiastic 200 Duke engine displays a flowing, sweet revving character that adds a lot to riding pleasure. It’s quick for a 200cc bike, taking an impressive 9.52secs to pass 100kph after launch.