BOSS BABY

The new 160 Duke has arrived, boasting class-leading power and tuned to be even more agile than its 200cc sibling. Is it too good to be true?

- WORDS KARAN MATHUR PHOTOGRAPHY SUNIL CHAUHAN

The Duke single-handedly redefined performance motorcycling in India, pairing a potent engine with a lightweight chassis that was nothing short of exhilarating. Now, for 2025, KTM is bringing that same ‘Ready to Race’ ethos to the fiercely contested 160cc segment with the all-new 160 Duke. It replaces the 125 Duke as the family’s entry point. Interestingly, it's not just the most powerful 160cc machine on paper but also, according to KTM, has been tuned to be even more aggressive than its own 200cc sibling. The question, however, is - does it have what it takes to become the new segment benchmark? Let's find out.

PURE DUKE DNA, DISTILLED?

No, the 160 Duke is unmistakably part of the family, with the sharp, aggressive Gen-2 silhouette we've come to expect. It’s only the subtle differences that set it apart. The rear tyre is a slimmer 140/60-section radial (down from the 150-section on the 200 Duke), mounted on new five-spoke ‘bionic’ wheels, borrowed from the RC range. This revision was necessary to accommodate a massive 320mm front brake disc — up from 300mm on the 200 Duke and significantly larger than the 282mm unit on its main rival - the Yamaha MT-15. In terms of weight, KTM’s engineers have managed to shed a full 12kg compared to the 200 Duke. The trellis frame, while structurally similar, now uses thinner tubing. The 37mm WP Apex front forks are lighter, thanks to slimmer outer tubes. Further weight savings come from cast pillion footpegs, a narrower rear tyre, and even redesigned grab handles.