KTM Duke 125cc with ABS launched in India at Rs 118,000: All details here

While baby duke is the most affordable offering from KTM’s stable, it is also the most powerful as well as the most expensive 125cc in the Indian market

Automobile News: The Austrian bike-maker KTM has finally unveiled the 125cc Duke in India at a price of Rs 118,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), making it the most expensive offering in the the 125cc segment. Already popluar in the international market, the KTM 125 will be available at all the 450 KTM showrooms across India. However, unlike the international edition which takes design cues from Duke 390, the Indian version of KTM Duke 125 shares its styling with the KTM Duke 200. The only visual difference between the 125cc and 200c Duke is the redesigned graphics while majority of the design stays the same.

The street-naked bike is powered by a 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that produces a max power of 14.5hp at 9,250rpm and 12Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. The powertrain is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox but misses out on a slipper clutch. The new motorcycle also comes equipped with a single-channel ABS unit similar to the 200 Duke, making it the first 125cc motorcycle in India to feature ABS (a safety feature mandatory for all two-wheelers above 125cc capacity from April 1,2019).|KTM Duke 125

The bike also borrows a trellis frame, 43mm USD fork and an adjustable monoshock from the 200cc Duke. All these features are available as standard and is a segment-first feature in the Indian market. The seat stands at a height of 818mm and the bike has a kerb weight of 148kg.

Interestingly the bike is more powerful than the Bajaj Pulsar 150. Bajaj Auto, which owns 49 per cent stake in KTM, is placing the product as an introductory bike to the world of racing. Speaking on the occasion Amit Nandi, President, Probiking at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said “KTMs are always about high performance, edgy design and a thrilling ride. The 125 Duke will be the new stepping stone into the KTM brand for riders starting out in the world of racing”

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Note ban idea itself is wrong, don't blame execution: Rajiv Bajaj

Bajaj Auto's total domestic sales were down 16% to 1,35,188 units

 

LATEST NEWS | Peeved at the hurdles being faced by his company to launch its quadricycle in India, industrialist Rajiv Bajaj on Thursday said stifling of innovation by regulatory agencies will turn Made In India into Mad In India, taking potshots at the Centre’s flagship manufacturing initiative.

Stating the quadricycle is being sold across countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, the managing director of Bajaj Auto wondered why a vehicle, which is cleaner, fuel-efficient, safer and whose benefits are as “obvious as daylight”, is facing troubles.

With the adverse impact of demonetisation continuing to hamper two-wheeler sales, Rajiv said the idea of demonetisation itself was “wrong” and it is incorrect to blame only the execution side of it.

“If the solution or the idea is right, it will go like a hot knife through butter. If the idea (demonetisation) is not working, don’t blame execution I think your idea itself is wrong,” he said at the annual Nasscom leadership forum in Mumbai.

The ban on 86 per cent of the total currency worth Rs 15.55 lakh crore in circulation impacted economic activity across sectors with the consumption-driven ones being the most affected. Notably, the two-wheeler sales are yet to recover from the impact of demonetisation and industry data releases over the past two months have been showing a slump.

Bajaj Auto recently said the company’s total domestic sales in January dipped 16 per cent to 135,188 units from 161,870 units sold during the same period last year.

Based on data provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, two-wheeler sales stood at 1,243,251 units in November, compared with 1,320,552 units during the corresponding month last year. 

Rajiv said individualisation and uniqueness is important to stand out. “We are able to deliver 22 per cent earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), which is double the industry standards, which means there is something unique. Something that is good for Infosys may not be good for Tata Consultancy Services, especially in recent times.”

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