Another AUSTRIAN Attack

KTM has launched their entire line up of BS6 bikes. We head to Pune to try out the almost all-new KTM 200 Duke and the new 390 with the quickshifter+

- Dipayan Dutta

KTM and their 200 Duke sparked a wild-fire in India way back in 2012. It was simply unlike any motorcycle that was made in India at the time. The 24 horsepower on tap may just have been a small cut above average, but it was the way it handled that changed the way that India looked at light-naked sports bikes. It was so good that KTM managed to get away with not really changing it for the better part of decade sans some liveries and a mandated ABS update. Now though KTM says the new 2020 200 Duke BS6 is ‘pretty much’ all-new!

Which is almost correct; strictly speaking. The chassis is largely shared with the 250 Duke, as are the front forks and the rear sub-frame. As is the bodywork, the (halogen) new-headlamp and the LED tail-lamp. The only way to tell the 200 apart visually, in fact, are two unique liveries and the fact that the 250 gets additional bar end weights. Luckily for KTM, this parts bin transplant fits like a glove! As an added bonus, the KTM 200 Duke has the capacity for three more litres of fuel. Overall though, the new look does add fresh appeal to the Dukes’ presence. The instrument cluster remains the same, while it is all digital one couldn’t help but glance over longingly at the 390s colour TFT. All considered, we could wag a finger at KTM for making us wait eight years for a parts bin update, we’ll forgive it in the interest of keeping costs down and keeping the 200 Duke affordable.